New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-20
A LACK OF LOGIC
No Parallel Between the Cases of Ireland
and of Belgium.
To the Editor OF The Tribune

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: Having been a reader Of your paper
for several years, am taking the liberty Of
writing to you commenting on your article
captioned THE Irish Folly" in your issue Of
May -.
| have been impressed by the sense of
fairness, the unbiased attitude and the logic
of your editorials in general, and I feel sure
that the article was written with an un-
BIASED mind and with honesty of purpose,
but feel justified in criticising your lack of
logic in the above mentioned article.
1t is inconceivabe how even a person with
the most elastic Imagination could cite as
parallel cases the Irish rebellion and the
Belgian movement. In the case OF Belgium
we have a nation united in their determine
ton TO be not too proud to fight" when that
greatest of earthly possessions-lib erty-is
at stake. The Belgian soldier is fighting,
guided by one impulse-the love of his coun-
try. Can the same be said of the Irish re-
bellion? In the latter case, does the body
Of men who caused the uprising represent
Ireland as a whole? Do they represent any
definite political section Of Ireland? Do thew
represent any definite class of people in Ire
land? The answer is No. Ireland, az
whole, IS satisfied with its present political
status, just as are Canada, Australia and
the other colonies Of Great Britain.
Another parallel case that you cite is our
own Civil War. The Civil War was not pro-
mulgated by band of marauders with a
campaign of pillage and destruction in view
IL was concerted movement of that entire
section of the country, the South. which ac-
ton was only taken after due consideration
and deliberation. They were not marauders
nor outlaws in any sense of the word They
were lighting for the right Of secession. and
IN so lighting, fought as a governmental
body. They at least were not traitors 10
their cause, but the Irish rebel is not only
traitor TO the British government. but he is
also a traitor to his own people He is wag.
ing war against the government of which his
people are part and of which the majority
desire, and have always desired to remain
part.
Supposing that several thousand men in
my state, the State OF Connecticut. banded
together for the purpose of severing this
state from the Union. and such action was
rot the result of general movement By the
state as a government Would they not be
traitors, both legally and morally, especial
ly If they chose time when the country was
IN the throes of its greatest war, in a life
and death struggle?
In times of warfare sovereignty must rule
with an iron hand, and its subjects must ex.
pcct TO suffer the consequences for any acts
which they may perpetrate against the gov
eminent during such crisis. The Irish re-
bal1
any faction in Ireland am sure it was not
approved of by the leader of the Nationalist
party, Mr.. Redmond
Inc cartoon accompanying your article is
absurd You represent Ireland and Belgium
as sisters IN their trouble, apparently. Do
you call it sisterly of Ireland. at a time ike
this. when England is giving her life blood
and is straning every effort toward the sal
walton of Belgium do you consider it sister
ly, | ask, for Ireland, even were it the move
ment OF Ireland as a whole, to annoy and
hinder Belgium's defender at every turn Z?
Tine picture you have painted of Ireland. q
liberty loving people, fighting for the cause
of liberty. is beautiful thought, but il i'll
is founded upon such facts as appear in the
case OF the recent Irish rebellion it is a
beautiful thought misapplied. making the
whole theme OF your discourse liberty
ridiculous and a travesty.
How cruel of you. how unapprecistive you
are of the greater virtues of mankind, TO even
hint or suggest that there was the slightest
resemblance between the case of the Irish
rebellion and Miss Cavell's noble act. II
would almost lead one to question your sim
certy when you attempt 20 bring the noble
deed of that great woman down to the level
of the Irish rebellion.
In concluding. would request that this let
ter be published in your paper in the alb
sence Of any more forcible letter on the same
side Of the question, and take this oppor-
tunity of thanking you for the general all