The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1917-01-06
ireland and lloyd George

supporters on the front opposition
bench. Lloyd George has renowned
the reversion to the Liberal leader
ship, just as Chamberlain did. He
may, like Chamberlain, spend the rest
of his life fighting Toryism in the
Tory Councils, but there is SO much
inertia to overcome that he can never
hope to obtain real mastery over
those who will show themselves his
masters as soon as they dare. AS for
the reforms he had projected, and with
which it seemed his fame would be
forever associated, they perish. His
speeches may as we'll be burned, his
committees disbanded, his famous
breakfasts discontinued, for all the
use he. will ever be in the future to
the causes he fought for so doughtily.
His Tory friends will have no more
of that nonsense.
While it is clear that, In a material
sense, Ireland is to be much affected
by the new organization for which
the Lloyd George government is pre-
pairing, it is equally clear that, spirit
ually, Ireland and the outer world
responsive to Irish impulses, is to-
tally unaffected-as yet. 1t may be
that the soil of Ireland will be put to
the uses for which Irishmen have con-
tended during centuries that it is fit
ted. It may be that the vast fertile
areas so long given over to cattle will
again come under the plough 1t may
be that the rich plains where one may
go for miles and see only cattle and a
few herdsmen will again be peopled by
men and women. But Ireland will not
be able TO escape the consciousness
that the change will be made wholly
out of regard for the convenience of
| others, and that there is utter indif-
ference as to whether it will be good
for Ireland or not. In the same spirit
that Germany will seek in Roumania
an addition to her food supply, Brit
ain will seek an additional food sup.
ply in Ireland. The land is fruitful, it
is convenient, it will be used; but up
to the present there is no sign that
1t matters the least whether Ireland
shows an interest, or has an interest
in the proceeding. Already one can
see Lord Davenport, the food dicta
tor, and his expert advisers in agri
culture, adopting the same tone as
Lord Kitchener used when he told
Mr.. Dillon he knew all about Ireland
and did not need Irish advice or Irish
cooperation. The land of Ireland is
to be exploited for food, but the effort
Is not to be made under Irish inspir
alton. So long as the matter rests
that way it must be expected that the
frame Of mind produced in Ireland by
the batting Of last summer will con
tinue; and out of Ireland resentment
will be heightened by the adoption
Of any policy the tendency of which
Will be to make the people of Ireland
forced purveyors to the necessities
OF others. At times Mr.. Lloyd George
has shown signs Of compromising
this. Dictator though he be, it is YET
to be seen whether, il he does under
stand it, he can induce the Tories who
pose as his assistants. but who are
really his masters, to act otherwise
than they did when last he applied
himself to the solution of the Irish
problem. Neither from him nor from
them can we hope for wisdom or fol
unselfish patriotism where Ireland is
concerned. Only to the patient deter
mination of the Irish people them
selves, and to the vigorous applica
tion of pressure by the Irish Party
now in an excellent position to exert
it, can we look for the progress the
circumstances seem to promise.
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