Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-31

metaphor be preferred, the nationalist
wolf with the Ulster sheep; but what
does really seem to be taking shape is
a general desire to study seriously the
scheme of home rule based on Canadian,
Australian and South African models,
which would give Ireland provincial
assemblies. with a central senate rep
resenting all sections of the country
and maintaining both national and i'm
perial cohesion.
Program Is Uncertain.
The Sim Fein rejects in advance any
solution of that kind. 1t accepts moth
ing, and so far as it's rather vague and
nebulous program can be judged from
the conversations of De Vadera and
Arthur Griffith, who are, respectively,
the popular and intellectual heads OF
the movement counts either upon a
successful revolution driving England
out of the country by force of arms,
or upon an appeal to the peace con-
ference which is to make a new world
when the war is over. Griffith appear
ed to base his hopes rather on the latter
than on the former contingency.
among the dozen or SO American.
Canadian, South African and Austria
liam newspaper men who heard Griffith
and De Vadera expound their theories,
there was not one who thought them
anything but visionary. Illogical and
impracticable in the highest degree
terminate program. There can, however
be no Disgusting the fact that it has can
tured the masses in Ireland. The nation
alists admit they would lose a large num-
Der OF seats In parliament-about half
seems to be the most generally agreed
upon fgure-if there were a general eIec
ton Griffith and De Vadera make more
sweeping claims, contendng that tney
would win in towns, whereas the nation
alists say that the urban population re-
mains with them. and the Sim Feins
strength lies chiefly In the agricultural
The growth of the Sim Fein is due TO
several broad causes. Some of them can
be best illustrated in the following anec-
dotes:
What about home rule?" one Irishman
was asked.
Want Fighting Policy.
oo Hone ONE rule 1,, he replied, in accents of
fighting policy"
Another Irishman was asked about
the convention, then meeting in Dublin.
What convention" he inquired, and
when the question was made more spe-
enc ne exclaimed: "Oh. you mean the
Besides the love of fighting policy,
and distrust of everything English
even England's offer to give Ireland
en- opportunity of settling her own af-
fairs by convention of Irishmen sit
ting IN Dublin. the basis upon which
the Sim Fem has developed includes
tne policy pursued by the British au-
| thorities after the Easter rebellion and
the dread Of the application of con-
seription to Ireland. Several good au-
thortties in Dublin agree that the
blood Of the martyrs has been the
SEED from which the Sim F'ein move
| ment has developed like a mustard
tree. ~
The English authorities, regardless
OF appeals from many responsible
quarters at the time, refused to make
public facts which. had they been
known to the world generally. might
| have altered the verdict as to either
the necessity or the righteousness of
! the methods of repression enforced.
The Irish nationalist leaders are held
responsible by the Sim Fein for doing
| nothing to prevent the executions. The
| charg, Is groundless, but it spread like
wildhre throughout Ireland. and the
nationalists have had difficulty in over
| taking it. In like fashion. the British
government has suffered from the Sc
cretive methods which ruled at that
time.