The sun., 1916-10-08

80 w y w thhhSo "'AN'
the people OF other countries do for
themselves. The rising was a perver-
sion of its first and real intent.
Since the rising the feeling toward
the organization throughout the oun
,ry among Nitionalists has been much
more sympathetic than 1t was before
the rising happened. although there
was little sympathy with the rising IT.
self because OF the muddling W. the
Lloyd George settlement. which pro-
posed to divide Ireland and was
brought about by .trickery. breaking
when the trickery became obvious.
Add to this the u%ndoubted fact that
many of the people felt that the treat
ment of the rebels. while undoubtedly
justified, was a psychological mistake.
and you have the present situation.
II do not say that II is quite impossi-
that Ireland should ever be a partner
in the British Empire, but Ireland must
not forever be held the sport Of British
politicians. each trying to secure Irish
votes and not caring really at all for
Ireland.
The Irish question must become
one OF imperial moment instead OF re-
naming a mere party issue II this is
to be brought about. The best brains
OF the empire must be put into the set
tlement. The emf Tres best brains as
a whole never yet have been put into
an Irish problem.
The factors in the problem are,
ances that the newly erected self-gov-
erning Ireland will be friendly to i'm.
perial interests.
Custom and the common sense OF
nations always will be behind the Brit
ish Government In refusing to allow
Ireland to set herself up as an inde-
pendent and hostile country. No ma
ton. no matter how high a political
morality 1t processes. could blame Eng
land for refusing ireland se%lf-govern-
ment until she could be certain that
once this was granted ireland would
be friendly to her.
THE second factor Ia the political
minority Of Irishmen mainly resident
in Ulster. Their requirement ia the
same as England's. that any self gov-
erning Ireland which they enter shall
be friendly to Great Britain and the
empire.
"A considerable part OF the industry
OF Ulster. as. for instance, its ship
yards. wherein are built ocean liners
costing millions OF pounds annually.
comes to 1t because Ulster Is a COM
munity accepting imperial ideals. II
never would go to a community whose
politicians always were nagsing, with
a kind OF feminine spite, at the Gov
eminent across the Channel.
Ulster also would demand a real.
not merely a verbal guarantee that It's
economic and religious interests should
not be ~prejudiced by its acceptance
OF self-government. 1t says verbal
guarantees are Of no account, being
less tangible than scraps Of paper
and that 1t is useless to speak Of
Irish self-government when the party
talking Of liberation makes its own
party machine ~sectarian and semi
secret.
Thu Great political organization In
Ireland. the Hibernains, which is the
dominant factor in all political confer
cnces for the choice OF members OF
Parliament. is s~ectarian. A Protestan nj
cannot belong to 1t. and II Is semi
secret.
Until the Irish Nationalis,s cease
TO rely wholly upon sectarian organi-
cations which exclude. Protestants
from their membership they must ex-
pect suspicion from the Protestant
minority.
THE development OF the Hibernlans
was the greatest Irish political blum
der since the beginning Of the century,
II is h reason why listers nerves
begin to tingle the. moment any one
speaks. ever softly, OF home rule.
~ don't believe the Hibernians are
guilty of as many crimes az their po-
lit!cal opponents charge. FOR most OF
their branches In the rural districts
fulfil merely the functions Of n friendly
society. but nevertheless no society
ever was better calculated by Its con-
stitution to arouse suspicion In men
such as those who live in the north
east corner Of Ulster.
The remaining factor In the Irish
problem Is the ideal of Irish National
ism. which demands that Ireland shall
be a political unit with complete con-
troll of its W affairs.
~ We nave ifteu inc SoriiiictiHG
elements which must be harmon!zed
IL any permanent settlement OF Irish
affairs is To be made. 1t ought not to
he beyond the power Of serious minded
Irishmen to find "A way Of bringing
this about.
Theoretically there are four posi-
BILE ways in which this may be done
or at least in which some sort OF so-
luton may be found.