The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1917-07-14
REVIEW OF PRE.coNvENTIoN DEBATE.

The day has been SET July 25, for the much discussed
Irish Convention project which is comparable with
Boyle O'Relys definition of mule Animal which
has little pride of ancestry and no hope of posterty
Owing its paternity and constitution to the exgences of
the British situation remembering how ruthessly
the Home Rule measure already encted had been cast
aside despite the pledges of the Government the
posa naturally has with distrs and suspicion by the
Irish people, They have not been slow to recognize in
of the willy Greeks bearing gifts AS the discussion
has progressed agnments have become sharply drawn
with perhaps the proponderance of opinion in favor
concatory and tolerant attitude toward it. 1t is by
means clear as yet what position will be taken by that i'm
po1tat section known the Sim Feiners whom
the mooted questions responsibility for the rebellion
Easter Week commonly placed This party is accredited
with five representatives in the Assembage, but it is
doubtful at the moment whether they will participate
all in the proceedings While the "Natonalists" the
Redmond following officially assigned the
Der OF representatives it is pointed out that they will
really have much larger representation from the fact
that many members of that party will be found among the
delegates who will be in attendance in the capacity of
mayors other administrative officials, totaling about
forty 1t is quite definitely settled that the orange"
tngent will be represented by five delegates the
number the Sinn Feners Nationalists
religious bodies will be represented by clergymen dis
tingushed ability and character.
AS might be expected the weeks preceding the opening
session have been characterized by and
debate in which the Government itself has been
inudcious factor Especially exasperating the
Orange contingent wherein he advised them that they
would not be coerced into compliance with the findings
the convention This piece of stupidity may indeed have
the effect of wreckng the whole project for has been
construed to be p to the recacrants "stand pat"
in their undemocratc and unreasonable demands Herein
rather than in the attitude Sim Feners lies
danger OF rendering abortve the proceedings of the body
for if it's judgments to be conclusive within the
province OF their deliberations the whole scheme will be
rendered nugatory and futile If the Orangetes be
permitted to rely such that of Bonar
Law their participation in the body will only be formal
and perfunctoy They will be there simply prevent the
substantial agreement which must be reached to
the acceptance of the Government.
Americans would look in some amusement at this
queerly constituted Convention not the
that vitality interested in it's outcome AS the mat
ter stands know that it is perhaps the serious
question in the realm Of world politics. settlement
of the questions involved fair democratic basis would
probably the shortening of the and the saving
of thousands of American lives and billions of American
money 1t great deal to to that fair play
is given in the makeup Of the convention in it's orderly
and democratic procedure in giving full faith and
acceptance to its findings.