The Washington herald., 1917-04-08

suggest that only In Ireland the same
medicine will not work. At any rate, war
or no war, there is no other way to peace
between the two islands thantto try its
potency.
TT will be for every Engiishman to
make up his mind what benefit he has
received from propping up- and maintain
ing the existing ascendency In ireland in
the interests of a fraction OF the popula-
ton, and what benefit he Is likely to get
by making the population as q whole CON
tented and satisfied. 1t Is his affair as
much as ours. It Is, as the prime minis
ter finely said. one of national pride and
of ancient race, and these impulses, or
what, they stand for. unless touched to
finer issues will haunt British states
manship to the end Of time. The war only
quickens an interest In the Irish problem
which peace has dulled. but the question
itself is eternal. 1t cannot be downed or
glazed over" .-.
MAtter Rests with Ireland.
Maj. William Redmond. NJ. p, brother
of the Irish leader, consented Just be-
fore he left London to rejoin his regi-
ment at the front to discuss the new
crisis. and said the issue Is whether
Ulster will agree to a united ireland.
Referring to the Irish debate when the
Nationalists left the House of Commons,
he said, Nothing was more remarka-
BILE than the almost unanimous way in
which members of all parties expressed
sdesire for settlement. Member after
member told me in conversation that
the whole matter really rests with Ire
land now. that IL Irishmen can but agree
among themselves to a settlement there
can be no possible doubt that the set
tlement will be endorsed by a practi-
cally unanimous House of Commons and
glad NJ he hal 81,
people.
Everybody seems anxious to know
what really stands between an agree
ment among Irishmen. exactly what 1t
is that the Ulster Unionists really object
to. Now, what is it? They object to
meet in legislative assembly in Ire
land the rest of their countrymen. This
is the point of the difficulty. There Is
no use. in my mind, in referring to any
possible settlement on the basis Of ex-
cluding certain Irish counties from an
Irish authority. After all, Ireland must
remain one and undivided. Only in that
way can real settlement be arrived
at Any scheme of partition could only
be at the best a very temporary Sx-
tory to all parties.
Unionists Real DinicuIty.
THE refusal OF a section of the Un-
ionist representatives to meet the rest
of their countrymen in council for the
government of Ireland is. then, the
real point of the difficulty. If only
they would make this concession, I
personally believe there is no guaran-
tee or safeguard, however unnecessary
1t might be considered. which would
not be gladly conceded to allay the
suspicion or fear of the Ulster I'm
ionists. If the followers of Sir Ed
ord
forward and agree to the principle OF
meeting their own countrymen in an
assembly for the good governing Of
Ireland. 1 believe everything else would
be comparatively easy.
The whole of Ireland, the Cnionists
as we'll as the Nationalists, would
rally to the support of such a settle
ment. and within a short time the
government of Ireland would be on a
satisfactory and popular basis and
have the strenuous support of % out
of every 100 Irishmen.
Appeals to Carson.
Tho real question which everybody
who desires settlement is asking is
whether it is not possible. in view OF the
tremendous issues at stake, for Sir Ed
ward Carson to make this one forward
step. II he did so I am convinced the
action would be hailed with gratitude
and appreciation in every party of the
English-speaking world.
This war has made wonderful changes
1t has brought men together who a short
time ago could never have believed II
possible that they would be In touch.
witness the present government itself
The war has erased old hatreds, obIiterat-
ed bitter pretudices. T think 1t was the
King who remarked the other day that
hrnI oh yHl
Must 1t really be said that the only
feeling that remains unsoftened in the
face OF the common danger is the old
feeling OF certain section of Ulstermen
that under no circumstances will they
ever join hands with the majority of their
countrymen?
War Softens Hearts.
The bereavements and sorrows Of the
war have been common to the homes Of
Ulster, as we'll as the rest of the ooun
try In spite Of all the apparent bitter
ness. believe the hearts Of the irish
people are softened toward each other.
and that 1t would be very easy thing
for Sir Edward Carson and his friends,
by taking little step toward the rest
OF Ireland, to unite the whole country.
After all. everybody recognizes that IN
this war Great Britain and ireland un-
duestionably stand together. There is no
sane 1rishman who contemplates with
anything but repugnance the very idea
Of German authority over ireland. and.
stripped of all unrealities, that is what a
German victory would really mean.
81 refuse to believe that a satisfactory
settlement will not be reached But IL It
should not, what would be the result?
Dissatisfaction and disappointment. I be-
lieve. from one end of Great Britain to
the other, a similar feeling undoubtedly
in every part OF the empire. and beyond
all question in America from the Atlantic
to the Pacific In ireland what would the
result be? Trouble undoubtedly. trouble
which might overthrow the present Irish
party and destroy all the influence of the
present leader of that party. 1 do not
think that even the bitterest opponent of
home rule can contemplate that result
with satisfaction"
|. TOMORROW'S MENU.