New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-07-01
British Papers Say Hang
ing of Sir Roger Will
Not Cure Irish Evils.
SERIOUS SITUATION
rs NOW RECOGNIZED
People In Ireland Becoming
More Restless-Decision
Must Be Made Soon.
By ARTHUR 6. DRAPER.



tBy Cabs to Tho Tribunel
London, June 30. The Easement trial
ended yesterday, but it is greater
issue to-day than before it started. As
was anticipated, section Of the press Is
already urging clemency as the wisest
course for the government TO follow.
Though without exception the press OF
the country is agreed that Sir Roger
was found guilty after an absolutely
fair trial, some papers, notably The
Manchester Guardian" which all along
has counselled moderation in the pun
ishment of Irish offenders, believes the
moment for clemency has arrived.
Easement is a fanatic" says "The
Guardian" land his crimes are like
those of many other fanatics, free OF
the faint Of sordidness or meannees.
That a man of keen intelligence, with
a passionate love Of freedom and an
impulsive generosity of temperament in
the middle Of a war like this should
hold Germany to be friend and Eng
land an enemy of the freedom he loved
must, indeed, seem a strange thing,
and would be unintelligible apart from
the memory OF ancient wrongs over
which his spirit brooded.
"A sentence OF death has been passed
upon this strange, perverse spirit The
death penalty will do nothing TO kill
such dreams. Rather, IL Will give them
life. For the sake of the new Ireland
which we hope to see it IS the moment
for clemency."
Situation Is Serious.
"The Daily News" has an editorial
along the same lines. Some papers,
especially the provincial ones, print
long editorials replying TO Easements
political manifesto addressed to Ire
land and America, which shows that the
press is generally alive 10 the serious
ness Of the situation, and that, though
Sir Roger on his own statement is as
guilty as any man who ever stood in
the dock. he is no ordinary traitor. for
his death by hanging involves much
more than merely his life.
In the minds Of most Easement was
responsible for the Dublin rebellion.
Many English soldiers who enlisted TO
fight Germans and not Irshmen lost
their lives in that prolonged nightmare.
If they had died in Flanders they would
have been remembered as heroes. Now
their relatives and friends and English
people generally feel that they were
murdered by band Of traitors.
They consider Easement as the chief
murderer, but now that he is convicted
it is becoming evident that they are
satisfied. If the government decides
that ciemency is wiser than eXacting
the full penalty OF the law they will
agree, if they are assured that the &C
ton will not be interpreted as sign OF
weakness.
The Irish problem certainly looms
large now, second only TO the war itself,
and the general public fully apprecl-
ates 1t.
Two big forces, political 20 some ex-
tent, but really guided by higher mo-
tives than politics alone, are struggling
behind the scenes, while over in Ireland
the people are becoming more and more
restless, dissatisfied and suspicious.
Decision Must BE Quick.
Under such conditions the decision
must be reached promptly. 1t must be
no halfway measure. Leaders here
know that Ireland is being watched not
alone by the enemy. but by the world
at large, and especially by America, and
that delay is only heaping up trouble.
The Easement case is an embarrass-
ing puzzle, but its solution may mean
settlement of the great irish problem
which has baffled England for genera
tons OF course, there are many who
hold the view such as the following,
expressed by L. j. MaXse in the cur
rent number of THE National Review" {:
"Irishmen may mutilate Ireland as
much as they please, but they cannot
be permitted to endanger Great Brit
ain by establishing on our flank a hos
tile government which, whenever we
we're in danger. would become a Ger
man or an American base Of opera
tons" But they are minority, as the
events of the next few weeks undoubt-
eddy will show.
The appeal fled in the Easement
case alleges three reasons for setting
aside the verdict of guilty Of high
treason, as follows:
First, that no crime had been com
mitted under the statute Of Edward
III, by which Sir Roger wcs tried, be-
cause no such crime as treason with
out the realm" was indicated in the
statute.
Second that the Lord Chief Justice
erred in the use of the term aiding
and comforting the enemy"
Third. because the Lord Chief Jus
tice in his charge TO the jury did not
properly set forth the defendants side
of the case.
Sir Roger was to-day transferred 70
P. ltonville prison. Patrick Francis
DOYLE. of his counsel, found him in a
cheerful mood when he visited him. It
is expected that argument on appeal
will be heard within three weeks.
The Home Office announced to-day
that King George had directed Sir
Roger be degraded from his order Of
knighthood.