The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1917-06-16
undetermined, but from the
is reasonably inferable that

je) the convention is to be
hela behind closed doors, and the
cha r.44an is to be appointed by the
>rown; (f) nothing but special war
considerations would induce the Gov
eminent to take up the settlement of
the Irish Question at this time.
A fair and impartial analysis of the
foregoing provisos will convince the
unprejudiced mind that the proposal
to allow convention of 1rishmen to
adopt a constitution for the govern
ment Of their country is illusory and
deceptive. for the following reasons:
a. It excludes all means and op-
portunity for the adult population of
Ireland to give free and unrestricted
expression Of feeling and opinion.
o. 1t limits representation to GER
tain public bodies, professions, inter
ests, and classes, which in the major
ity Of cases are either under Govern
ment control or susceptible to its in
fluence.
sentative body with mandate from
the people to speak for them, since it's
members will be Government ap-
pointees, and consequently care will
be taken that majority will repre-
sent the Government.
a. The inclusion of the miscalled
Sim Feiners is specious semblance
of generosity. since among their brav-
est and most gifted are those con-
demned to Imprisonment, whose voice
and influence would be as useful and
potential as were the voice and infiu-
ence of the warning Beers who were
invited to council in South Africa.
60 A convention chairman ap-
pointed by the Government would to
all intents and purposes be a govern
mental instrument, having in his hands
the whole machinery of the conven-
ton, the formulation of rules and pro-
cedure, the uses of arbitrary power
without responsibility, and by reason
of the secrecy surrounding the pro-
ceedings, the authority to suppress
free discussion and bar public criti-
cism, so essential to constructive
deliberative body.
We therefore regard the proposal
as an insidious pretense, impractical
BILE in it's operation, and, because of
its lack of democratic honesty, fore
doomed to failure.
AS Americans, we assert and be-
lieve that in doing so we>are in har-
mony with sound public opinion in
America; and that, if England be sin
cere, in the words of Lloyd George,
that she would not forget that restitu-
ton and reparation began at home -
she will concede> to the Irish people
the right to elect their own represen-
tatives, that those representatives
shall have the right to elect their own
chairman, and conduct their proceed
ings in the light of day, frame the gov
eminent the people of Ireland want,
and that the constitution which they
may draft for the government of Ire.
land will be promptly accepted and
enacted by the Parliament of England
Opinions Of Other Leaders.
Among the many prominent New
Workers who have given the result OF
their study of the propositions are
Father Wynne, Judge Cohalan, Sen
ator OGorman, Judge Golf and w
Bourke Cochran, none of whom ex
press unqualified approval of the meas
ure. Father Wynne sums up his con
illusions thus:
+ Restraining Influences Needed.
" But another factor complexities this
question of representation. Most OF
the Republican leaders are in Jail. The
wisest Of them all, Professor John
Mcneil, the man who, failing to pre-
vent the Easter Rising, yet succeeded
in restricting it to Dublin, has just
completed the first year of penal ser
vitude to which he was condemned
for his political activities. His re-
straining influence was never more
sorely needed in Ireland than at this
moment. A party deprived of it's lead
ership in a convention, no matter how
great it's numerical strength there, is
a party without real and effective rep
resentation. AS Mr.. Redmond has
stipulated and Mr.. Lloyd George has
promised that the convention will be
truly representative of all shades OF
Irish opinion, the adjustment of this
difficulty is doubtless now under con
sideration by these statesmen.
The Southern Unionists, the only re-
naming Irish party, return two mem
bers to Parliament. Insofar as they
are Unionists, their sentiment coin
cides-with the Obstetrics, and they are
in no need of special consideration
But insofar as they alone represent
.Episcopalian interests in Ireland, toe
groa: tenderness cannot be shown in
heir regard. Perhaps a separate
committee of the convention com
mittee consisting of clerical represen
:atives Of the Roman Catholic prim
acy, of the .Episcora ian hierarchy, OF
the Presbyte-a ass mbly, and CT the
other governing bodies of non-conform
ity in Ireland could, in these days
when Christian ul.i;y is as vital an