The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-04-29
BE LEN1ENT WITH EASEMENT.

BE LENIENT WITH EASEMENT.
! For many reasons the capture of Sir Roger
! Easement by British warship is to be re-
GREETED Probably no one regrets it so much
as the British ministry. No more embarrass-
ing problem could be landed on their embar-
raised shoulders at this time than the DISPOSE
ton of this lineal descendant of Wolf Tone and
Robert Emmett, this strange contradiction OF
patriotism and treason. old paradox Of princi
Piles and passions, such as only the cause OF Ire
land seems capable of producing.
From any direct point of view Of either mu-
inicipal or military law, Easements life unques-
tonably stands forfeit for his activities since
/ the war broke out Not only British subject
but high and trusted official of the govern
ment for many years and enjoying many hon
1 ors as the reward of eminent services, he cast
off his allegiance as soon as hostilities began
and threw his lot with Germany. He has spent
the last two years in planning to assist the Ger
man arms, trying to induce Irish prisoners OF
! war to desert the British colors and enroll in
an Irish legion in the service of Germany Now
! he is caught participating in a German exped.
ton to promote an armed insurrection in Ire
land
| According to the law in the world. there can
be only one penalty for conduct of this sort;
but the British government would make stu
pendous blunder in visiting upon Sir Roger
Easement a vengeful retribution. If he were
of English blood and descent there would be no
salvation for him and he would not get spark
of sympathy anywhere in the world. But he is
an Irishman and a fanatical devotee Of the ideal
of complete Irish independence. In the eyes OF
his fellow countrymen, even OF those who re-
gard his course as unfortunate and injurious to
the best interests Of Ireland, he is sure to be
III =, orl,1I
and unselfsh votary of patriotic cause and,
should he pay for his devotion with his life, he
will beyond doubt be cherished in the hearts oil
his people as martyr for all time to come.
What is more, impartial outsiders, even though
condemning his course as political blunder
and an alteration of moral principle, will see
still more clearly the generosity and devotion
in the victim and will deeply lament his fate
No doubt the British government perceives
all this quite clearly 1t can hardly have any
desire to add at this time to the long roll of
names that serve to keep disaffection sullenly
smouldering in the Irish breast Therefore
the capture Of Sir Roger red-handed In an at
tempt to stir up civil war must be dreadful
embarrassment to it, for no doubt there will be
certain element in England to clamor for
compromising ssjustice,' in other words for its
pound of flesh Assuredly the government, if
it fails to push the case against The prisoner to
the bitter end, will be accused by extremists of
weakness and unfitness and even at conniv-
ing at and condoning treason. Perhaps the
pressure may be hard to resist But it would
seem that it will be the part of real wisdom in
the government to stand out against the clam
OF Much may be done to disarm extreme
separatist Irish leaders, much to win over the
Irish people by display of clemency on this
occasion.
The mule is found to be of greater endurance
and more adaptable to military service in
Mesopotamia than the native camel. The mule
is not the most attractive of our lovable ami
mails, but is dependaby useful both in war and
in peace It has earned the right to be per