Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-05-23
IRELAND AND HOME RULE.


Every time q fair proposal is made that the Irish
be allowed measure of real independence and self
government some oblector arises who proclaims
that the Irish never have settled their troubles and
never will-that internal dissensions will wreck
any such plan.
SO at the present time. Premier Lloyd George, a
democrat to the core and England's greatest COM
Inoner, announces that ireland is to be given an
opportunity to agree upon its form of home gov
eminent. Immediately there goes up the cry that
ireland cannot be trusted to settle anything.
The truth il that never In the centuries since the
first AngloNorman invasion of Ireland nine hun
dred years ago. has Ireland been given fair chance
! TO settle anything The history of the Emerald
Isle has been one long story of political and mill
tary interferencet the stronger neighbor England.
Not since Henry timersaye for one short period
THAT Of Henry FI-has the island been free .!
cruel persecution and embarrassment SeIfgoVsrn:
nent has been given no chance to work itself into
permanent form. Political and religious factional
ism have been encouraged, and the professional
baiters Of Englands parliament have let no oppor-
uniy slip TO taunt the Irish at repeated failures in
which Highlands politicians played leading if
stealtIy part.
Under Henry VII there began the long years Of
specn oppression which eliminated late in the last
century Englands admitted violation of the Treaty
of Limerick but one of innumerabe instances in
which the Irish, after reaching an agreement that
promised peace for their troubled land were treac
erously victimzed Breach after breach Of faith oc
Cured against their religions their property their
political structures At times so great was the OPP
preston that hundreds of thousands embittered,
Impoverished and in some cases actually suffering
for lack Of food and clothing emigrated to America
Ever since Gladstone's home rnIe plan was reject
ed in the late eighties the home rule question has
been made the football of parliamentary politics.
With m recent history readers Of the Star Bulletin
IRE fairly familiar sufhce ii to say that the Slim
Fein uprising last year, and the execution Of Sir
Roger Easement appear to have awakened the Eng
lib to clearer sense Of the United Kingdoms duty
70 give Ireland fair chance at settling its troubles
No one doubts that grave questions OF creed re-
main to be disposed Of before ireland can be said
truly to have home rule The many years OF bitter
6iesession have left their scars. Old wounds are
smarting The Irish temperament admittedly makes
the task hard. Ireland has been betrayed BY her
own blood as well as BY her neighbor But why
should il be said that ireland cannot settle her
ffbubles until she has had fair chance and failed
II took French revolution and the establishment
81 three blood.won republics to settle Frances gov
ernment 1t took revolution and the greatest civil
war in history to settle the government Of the United
States What student Of history would say that
France and the United States cannot settle any
thing!
Give ireland fair chance, plenty Of time, free
dom from outside intriguers, and see &c Lloyd
George vision has not been right rs