New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-19
1.-THE IRISH FOLLY
An Opportunity for a Brave and Truthful
I.ish Leader.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: Mawkish or not. there are mary
among those willing to back the British gov
eminent with their lives who agree with you
and regret the severity that characterized the
Dublin executions and who at this distance
cannot help feeling that some one has blum
dered
What the effect will be in ireland God
only knows.
The business Of war and its urgency
silence many voices in England that would
repudiate as unnecessary this supreme vim
dcat.on of law and order just as there are
many who regret that fate should have
placed the fortunes Of England az this time
Of peril in the hands Of men who have
neither the knowledge to rule nor the cour-
age to admit their inadequacy
Nevertheless, it is the British people rather
than the Irish rebels who have been injured
most by the panic Of Mr.. Asquith and his
advisers, and the accounting must be 70
them.
! was in Dublin last December. when The
signs Of coming trouble were such that even
a blind man could see, yet no step was taken
, TO meet the danger IL is idle 20 say the
cause Of the rising was a plan TO disarm the
Volunteers The dream of Irish freedom
Ireland a nation ireland a separate nation
lay heavy on these young men. There was
much talk of small nationalitics. They
pointed to Belgium and its guarantees, 10
Norway and its position. 20 Serbia 70
Greece. The whole international horizon was
canvassed, and it was their belief that thi'
81 Sol 8 Drffr
pire.
They did not love Germany; they were
sorry for France: but the Germans were GER
tain to win-had already won-and the aim
of the Young lrelander was TO control a seat
at the final peace conference and secure IN
dependence. England knew this; has always
known it. Do Engishmen niggardly deny
Home Rule 10 Ireland? / do not think so.
Does the AsQuth Home Rule bill satisfy
Irishmen? Far from il. II defrauds them
they say.
Even Mr.. John Redmond would hardly deny
that the men who sent him and his party 10
Westminster and Ireland has undergone
change of heart since then, as Mr.. Redmond
knows, il he remembers his reception in
Waterford after his return from the trenches
in France saw in Home Rule merely step
70 the broader ground Of separation
The call of the Irish blood is echoed more
truly b. Mr.. John Dewey than By Mr.. shane
Leslie. but Mr.. Leslie's plan is practical,
whereas the separation idea remains ana
must remain an ideal Let Mr.. Leslie sra
those saner spirits who recognize that me-
at best or worst. is a compromise persuaae
their fellow countrymen TO 90 on open rec
ord against separation and their cause Is .
almost won in England
Irish members Of Parliament have one soy
OF words for English audiences and another
for home consumption Can England accept
as spokesmen FOR Ireland men who do no-
or dare not tell their constituents that sep''
ration is impossible? How many OF me
present supporters of Mr.. Redmond 10 gre
House of Commons would have won iheN
seats had they told their electors that theF
aim was 10 secure for ireland place wilma
the empire a place fitting to its geograph'
cal position and TO the welfare Of the wno.e
Is IL too late now 20 preach that gospei '"
Ireland? Whoever In England IS with I''
North is so because the North realizes VIVA.
is behind the Home Rule demand. Fas'
wrongs are reaping their harvest. but az
least England admits they were wrongs ana
would right them were il possible.
England needs a statesman. Let lrelsnn
give her one who will take his courage IN Ms
hands a. home and tell his people what may
and what may not be. EbON'
New York, May Is. 1916