The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-05-26
IR|sAMEN TO DECIDE.
FUTURE GOVERNMENT OF IRE.
LAND IN HANDS OF IRISH.
David Lloyd George Offers Simple
Solution Of Irish Problem That
Shifts Responsibility from Shoulders
Of English to Those of Irish.


London, May 21.-For the first time
in modern history the destinies of Ire
land are to be placed in the hands of
the Irishmen alone. The British
prime minister, David Lloyd George,
announced to the house OF commons
today that the new government will
call q convention Of Irishmen to frame
constitution for Ireland and if Irish
men are able to agree upon any
scheme for the administration Of their
country it will attempt to enact It into
legislation without delay. All Sec
tions. parties, creeds and factions,
with clergynen and laymen as we'll
as politicians and even revolutionists
of the Sim Fein society, will be in
vited to get together.
If this final attempt succeeds q
political miracle will have been &C.
complished. There is no great opti-
mism apparent respecting the success
of the plan, for Ulster stands where
she has always stood. Sir John Ions
dale, Unionist. predicted the same old
deadlock. declaring that Ulster would
not be driven into a home rule par
lament and predicting that the Ma
itionalists will not consent to the ex-
clusion Of six Ulster counties.
But il the attempt fails, the failure
will deprive the ancient charge that
John Bulls greater island is 1.-The
oppressor" Of much Of its force, and
1t is pointed out that Ireland can hard
ly be hailed before the European
peace conference as another Poland
while America and the colonies can NO
longer reproach Great Britain with
having neglected her own house in
order.
Both houses Of parliament discuss
ed Ireland today with hardly q ripple
Of the old animosities and feuds dis.
turbing their harmony.
'The patients must administer tc
themselves" said Mr.. Lloyd George
and a noteworthy feature of the plar
is that politicians must play second.
ary part to the men from other walk.
OF life." The premier specified the Ma.
tionalist factions. Of which John Red,
mond and William O'Brien are tho
leaders, the Ulster Unionists, the
southern Unionists and the Sim Fein.
ers as the political bodies which
should be represented in the conven.
ton. but said that the government
considered it most important that rep.
resentatives Of local governing bodies
the churches. trades unions and COM
mercial and educational interests
should participate.
Mr.. Redmond agreed in this policy
and the veteran home ruler even Of
fered to obliterate himself in the in
terests of harmony. But the house
refused loudly to accept his offer.
Even Lord Lansdowne, who has
been charged by some with the wreck
age of Mr.. Lloyd Georges previous
work CT reconciliation. told the lords
that the road to home rule had been
travelled too far for turning back and
referred to the Importance of facili-
tating the task Of those who are
friends in America"
The conception OF the convention
for all Ireland finds it's inspiration In
the making Of the Union Of South
Africa, after the Boer war, when the
British and the Africanders. whose
enmity then certainly equalled that of
the Irish factions. were able to thresh
out constitution.
For the position of chairman of the
convention. a colonial might WELD
strong influence for harmony and Bar
on Shaugnessy, president Of the Cana
dian Pacific railway, who was born in
the United States of Irish parents. is
mentioned, as also are ex-Premier As.
quith and. Lord Donoughmore.