The Washington herald., 1917-08-05
THE open FORUM.
IRISH CONVENTION A FARCE.
P. I. Moran Says People Are Not
Properly Represented.
-dItor % The HeraId

Editor of The Herald:
In response to your request that
give you a few of my thoughts as
to the ultimate success or failure of
the convention now being held in
Trinity. College. Dublin, to draft a
beneficial constitution for Ireland. I
have this to say:
The convention called by Lloyd
George to determine. the scope Of
freedom and self-government for Ire
land Is not representative of the Irish
people. The members are selected and
not elected by popular vote. They
are chosen under the direction of the
British military. OF whom more than
10000 are stationed in Ireland.
The crown has the upper hand: has
dictated the proceedings, appointed
the chairman and knows the views
- three-fourths Of the assembly
Redmond. once a leader, is there
with several delegates. but the have
been repudiated as representatives of
tne Irish people on account of their
vacillating policy. The Sim Feiners
were expected to supply five men,
hers. but refused to be present at
what they termed a farce convention.
II is reasonable to suppose that such
a gathering will not represent the
aspirations of the Irish people. II
by chance there are present eloquent
and patriotic Irishmen who differ from
those with pro-British leanings 1t will
not avail, as they will not have a
chance to be heard. being vastly out
numbered in this assembly.
Another uncanny thing about this
CtIvcntion Is that 1t Is to be held be-
hind closed doors in Trinity College,
which is Ideally located to keep the
proceedings strictly private Why so
much privacy il the people of Ire
land are to be given a square deal?
Again. II a leader of the persuasive
eloquence of Patrick Henry should
arouse the audience it will not avafl,
as The defense of the Realm Act
gag will be applied and only the CEN
sored proceedings will be published.
Many Of the people of the United
States cannot understand why the
people Of Ireland should not rejoice
at. the liberality of England granting
Ireland a convention: but We who
have lived under English rule in Ire
land doubt the good will Of the donor
and suspect 1t to be a trick to keep
the Irish people from making an
appeal for democracy in Ireland at
pCdIc CuhNchlAOH Inc
IN Ireland is now dif1cult to under
stand. so many changes have evolved
in the last few years. The move
nent at the present time is largely
one Of young men and women. 1t Is
following new lines of division. Very
Bhortly religious differences and preju-
dices win be the dominant power in
Ireland 1t is idle to say that the first
step is for the Irish people them
selves to agree. Would any nation
ever have obtained self-government IL
Il had to wait until the choice was
unanimous? When America gained
her independence her population in
cluded a strong loyalist minority
which put up a great fight against
the majority which advocated separa-
lion from England and independence
OF the colonies.
tits to the advantage of the British
yoyernmenet- to have q divided Ire
and; therefore religious disputet have
been .fostered to weaken the strength
of a concerted movement by the young
Irish party. Catholic and Protestant
irishmen unite every year to honor
The memory of Robert Emmet, the
weIl-belovedd Irish Protestant patriot;
other leaders almost as well-loved are
Wolf Tone, Lord Edward Fitzgerald
Iohn Mitchell and Charles Stuart Par
nell
Such a galaxy of revered names
should have the power of calling to
he new movement all lovers Of de-
1ocracy in Ireland, irrespective OF
.reed Many Americans do not know
hat in the last 100 years from the
1ays Of Henry Grattan to the days
II Douglas Hyde almost every leader
II Nationalist Ireland was Protestant
80 u Is useless for the small minor
ty in Ulster to stir up religious pre-
udices at this late hour Cwhen we
Snov the great minds Of the present
lay are not intolerant on religious
Iue5tions) to thvart movement des-
ined we hope to bring freedom and
happiness to a land called by her chill
iren the Mother of Sorrows" of ma
ions. P. T. MORAN.