The Irish standard., 1917-02-24
Trust lreIand's Welfare
To Her Betrayers
"Trust the Betrayer and Curse the
irish," Is the War Cry of the Irish
Party Under Redmond-DiIlon Tries
to Shuttle Out Of Responsibility for
Recruiting and Sham Home Rule.

Under the heading Of Mr.. Dillons
Apologize" the Independent writes:
Yesterday Mr.. Dillon expressed his
views ON the political situation in an
address at Swinford to his constitu-
ents. We do not find the customary
epithets 'cranks," "factionists.' and
traitors" in his speech. Probably
the chairman's observations persuad-
ed him that silly twaddle of that kind
did not pass as political wisdom. Mon
signor Conington made it plain that
he differed from some things that
Mr.. Dillon had said and done. Every
body had, he declared. a right to en-
press his opinion, and nobody had Il
right to call person who differed
from him fool or a knave. Was not
that a clear intimation to Mr.. Dillon
that in the direction indicated he was
a conspicuous offender? Proceeding
the chairman insisted that the Irish
Party, instead of Directing to criti-
cism, ought to invite it; and that
when the party did anything which
did not commend itself to the sound
reason Of the people they had per-
feet right to point that out to them.
We had ourselves consistently acted
on this policy. If we were to accent
the views of some members of the
party we should proclaim every day
that they are incapable of making a
mistake. 1t has been actually assert
ed on their behalf that they have
never committed a solitary error.
| Whenever measures which, according
to our conception, were ruinous or
inimical to the country, have been
brought forward, we have, as an in
dependent journal, pointed out their
effect; when unfair taxation has been
imposed, or when an attempt has been
made to withdraw useful grants, we
have, in common with all thinking
Nationalist, protestcd; but the party
were willing to let these proposals
go through until the voice of the
country became so strong that they
dare resist it no longer. 1t is fol
defending the interests Of Ireland thus
assailed that people have been called
'cranks" and TRAITORS" If there had
been no such criticism what, we may
ask, would be the condition of the
country today. Mr.. Dillon says the
| party object only to dishonest criti
cism. But all criticism that docs moi
belaud the party as an all-wisc an(
intallible body of statesmen, is re
garded by him and his colleagues as
dishonest.
Home rule for all Ireland, with com
plete fiscal autonomy, with adequate
safeguards for minorities. and Will
guarantees that the race for position
and appointments should go to tho
of the Bishop Of Achonry to The
meeting, the least that the gallan
defenders of small peoples ought tt
grant to Ireland. Complete lcgisla
tive and fiscal autonomy was our dc
mand before the Home Rule Bill wa!
introduced in 1912, but then we were
told it was "factionism" to formulat,
such a claim. We should trust Tho
party and crust Asquith."
The party should have insisted upOl
full fiscal autonomy in 1912, or earlier
in exchange for the Irish vote Sivel
to the Liberals at the polls in thu
two preceding elections. Then the.
ought to have made a proper bargain
for Ireland. Everybody acquainted
even with the rudiments of finance
knows that the financial provisions o
the Home Rule Act are not fair tt
Ireland; but when the defects uIdc
this head were exposed the part.
claimed that the financial provision
were most generous. Today Mr.. Di
lon is constrained to admit that the
are not the best conditions" but h
: does not see how they can get justic
} from England unless they beat her.
: But the parlys boast is that the
have been able TO secure victory afte
victory Mr.. DillOn's statement sin
ply means that when Mr. l.loy
e George, the astllte Mr.. Samuel an
: the willy Mr.. As4uith proceed to fran
e the financial provisions Of the HON
D Rule Bill. they were, to use Il vel
L known expression, able to put thci
: finger in the eye of the party. "W
u arc not says Mr.. Dillon, COMM
ted to anything. and the people {
rel md are free to give us orr dire,