The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-04-29
CHURCH WAR IN
IRELAND0VER
DRAFT FEARED
Possibility Of Grave Relig-
ious Controversy Agitates
the British Press.
BISHOPS CAUSE ALARM
Pitting of Protestants Against
Catholics Suspected in Con-
scription Battle.
BISHOPS CAUSE ALARM
Special Cable DespofcA 70 THE srS.

Copyright. 1918; oil rtsAfs reserred.
LONDON, April 2S.--The possibility of
a grave religious controversy over the
responsibility for Ire!and's resistance to
conscription continues to agitate the
British press. In certain quarters It is
suggested that the movement, being ex-
tended with the idea of pitting Frot-
estant against Catholic. will have far
reaching and grave effects. This appeal
to ancient prejudice cannot be UNDER
estimated. The Intervention OF the Irish
Bishops Is regarded as the worst possible
occurrence Of the present crisis.
Strangely enough. a majority Of the
priests are against home rule. Although
in nominal alliance with the Nationalists
they have always opposed any specific
plan for homo rule. The reason for this
attitude 10 that they are aware that un-
der home rule their power would tend
to decrease. New parties would develop.
labor would begin to formulate It's own
problems and economic disputes would
overshadow the old religious differences
On the other hand. the indefinite atti-
tude adopted BY Sir Edward Carson and
the Obstetrics finds little supDeVt In 1Fit.
ish Parliamentary circles. ThS mora. sx-
treme Unfonists, who formerly CO.
operated with Sir Edward, now assert
that this is not the time for domestic
controversy, and that differences mus;
be sunk II only temporarily. and that the
M a issuc is xvinpip0 fha
Government Prestige Affected.
The whole situation strikes hard al
the prestige Of the Government. Lloyd
George must stand by home rule and
conscription. hoping for the support OF
Ire Liberals and Laborites to procure q
majority vote.
The lr!sh-American question continue.
to arouse considerable discussion. The
| Sunday Observer deals with the slt0a'
ton in Its entirety.
1.-THE position will bc unsatisfacto-J'.'
says the Observer, until home rule j.
| on the statute books. After that there
will not be the slightest remaining YES
tige OF excuse for Irishmen to shrl
equal compulsory service with Briton'
and Americans. The Bishops have gone
| to The length OF denying in principle ard
rerial Parliament on the very point oi
/ common service and defence. whicn II
most vital snd touches the very ex.st
erca Of these Islands.
"On this there Is no possibility oi
| compromise. Tho Bishops intolerabit
pretensions. into which a secret anti
| ally bias on the part OF 90 many o'
their body led them. must be faced with
the whole power of the State and beaten
otherwise imperial supremacy in com
| mon affairs will be a dead letter In Ire
land on all questions forever.
Crank separstism."
| 'Clster. on such terms. could not bt
brought into any system Of unity. nj
| Irish Parliament could be set up. The
! whole issue would have to be reopenet
at the polls. Home rule Is revealed a
last as rank separatisn. grasping ever,
| advantage for itself. but repudiating al
, the first opportunity corresponding OBJ
| legations.
| Promises and pledges would be over
whelmingly rejected by tho new British
democracy II the Liberals and Laboritei
on their part are not firm and are no
straight in upholding assurances that fol
over thirty years they have given to thu
country on this matter and have pu
into every home rule bill They viii
lose for long time all other politica
hopes.
I'VE trust to T. p. O'connor. who ha
hitherto done such admirable service
that the United States will not inter
cede for those. whether Bishops or Bol
sheviki, who want to get America ma
nipulated into helping an attempt &
lose the allied cause on the Irish front.
| "With one voice. from ocean to ocean
let America say that Irishmen canno
have Il both ways and all ways a. the.
please, any more than any other men
that rights and duties arc reciprocal
that even for Ireland's own sake cor
scription must be carried out throug
the whole OF the United Kingdom as
has been carried out through the Who'll
of the United States
Prominent Irishmen's Views.
The correspondent Of the Wcekl
Despatch, telesraphing from Dublin
quotes q prominent Irishman As saying
| "Give us Federal government and yo
will have recruits hocking to the color
by thousands Ireland will never accep
conscription. No Irish Parliament woul
ever dare to propose II. but there is n
need OF conscription II Ireland has sell
government These are tho only condi
tions upon which Ireland will hght as
united nation by the side Of the Allie
against Prussian despotism: give US a
Irish Parliament. with adequate safe
guards for Ulster There will then be n
lack Of iighting men for France"
"Ireland for the present." adds tn
correspondent. els a united nation. bu
cynics doubt whether all Of the rank
will remain closed very long. Alrs I'd