Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-24

people of the country the will of that noisy
minority Of minOrities-the Orange faction
OF Ulster. THE suggestion" says the edi-
torial, may have been an awkward COM
promise, but at least 1t was something
Yes, 1t was something-but not something
which any liberty.loving people could ac-
cept without sacrificing that which In Ire
lands case is the sole survivor Of Brit
ish rule in Ireland-a nations honor There
was blocking OF efforts to help her"
but justifable and righteous reputation
Of the outrageous tenet that the minority,
as OF right. is entitled to overrule the ma
jority; that the irreConclable Orangemen
of northeast Ulster are superior personages
and that all those desiring Irish nationality
are an inferior brood to be contemned and
despised and that as a voting, a political
unit, one Orangeman outweighs four Ma
tionalists. What would we Americans think
OF a theory which would discard the prin-
ciple which governs all our political affairs
majority rule?
But the greatest objection to Mr.. Georges
scheme is that 1t ignores the existence of
the Irish nation and resolves the Irish peo-
pie into the dwellers in a number of inde.
pendent counties, each of which is asked to
decide upon its political future, to choose
between permanent subsection and a home
rule which is prima facie sham and
delusion.
The willy Welshman follows a character
| istic instinct in this suggestion. He realizes
| that TO submit the question simply to the
| Irish people would be an Acknowledgement
| of their national existence and rights in
| cluding their right to manage their own
| affairs without English help or Interference
| II Is obvious that the plan is a miserable
| makeshift or justice, intended to deceive
| the unthinking ESPECIALLY in the United
| States) into the belief that England is will
| ing TO become the friend of the small ma
| tionalities. Is 1t any wonder that a mani
| festo signed by eighteen Catholic bishops
| -FOUR Protestant bishops and five chairmen
ca county councils was published strongly
| uehouhcing such mutilation of their coun-
| try?
No, It is not ireland which is blocking
| the way to freedom for the oldest of the
small nations Could our forefathers be
said to have placed obstacles in the way
| or EFFORTS TO help them" by refusing and
| spurning after the victory at Saratoga the
| oner OF representation in Parliament, ten
dered them when England, weakened bv
the fear OF impending defeat, saw that her
endeavors 10 hold America in subjectlon
were doomed TO disappointment and failura9
our forefathers knew their rights and would
accept no gilded substitute. The Irish neo.
pie know their rights and ask for nothing
| more. They cannot ask for less
President Wilson has said that every
people has right TO choose the sovereignty
under which they shall live" The IrisS
nation the Irish people, demands this
right The vast majority is unalterablv
opposed 10 partition or county option; the
| minority favors IT, Which, then. Is to ho
| taken as the choice Of the Irish peopIeS It
does not require a skilled dlplomatist or n
learned logician to recognize the answer
CLARE GERALD FENERTY.
Philadelphia, May IS, 1917