El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-05-23
SIDES Of
IRISH QUESTION
Noted Playwright Gives the
Pros and Cons Of the
Irish Trouble.

LONDON EuB-f NAY cat p" 1-AN
seem to be clear that Il IS not expe-
dent to conscript ireland under ex-
listing conditions. because
Rightly or wrongly. the sentiment
Of the majority OF the Irish people
is against It. and TO compel a man 10
fiEbt by your side who does not wish
to do so. or to do so under your COM
pulsion. is to make an enemy, not to
gain an ally;
The additional man power obtained
viii not be worth the price that may
have TO be paid for IL;
The application OF force may lead
to general instruction, and so put
back for another century the recon
Citation OF the Irish and British peo-
The long hoped for and much her
aided healing of home rule may be
stayed or destroyed
Need for Action.
tt IS equally clear that principle
demands the conscription Of Ireland,
Consumption has been found neces-
sary to the safety Of the United King
dom;
There is urgent need Of more men
on the battlefield. and Ireland con-
tains large numbers who have not
volunteered and have not yet been
called up:
The war is Ireland's war as much
as England's, and il is a manifest in
justice to cOnscript the one and not
the other:
ireland consented to the war at the
beginning. and cannot with honor
withdraw from her compact now on
any grounds Of subsequent dissen-
sion:
ireland. through her representa-
lives I'm nHsnf "a hanuanH n HrHrrIr.ea
cOnscription upon England. Scotland
and Wales whether they voted for
or against IL. or did not vote at all
being q matter OF complete indiffer-
ence- since they were members of the
legislature which enforced and there
fore became responsible for it,
Question Of Defence.
National defence being an imperial
question, il would be impossible to
leave II at the mercy OF opposing
Wills under the same government au-
thority. and IL never has been and
never can be so left
ireland has no more right than
scotland or Wales to decide for it,
self whether or not IL shall fight
against the national enemy since IL
is equally unable 10 defend itself
alone when attacked. and an assault
on one is an assault on all
ireland. having representation IN
the British parliament can urge no
such claim to self determination" on
the point Of conscription as that OF
commonwealth and dominions which
have no representation there and ere
living under quite different condi-
lions thousands OF miles away
Internal Dissertation.
Where principle and expedienCy
are apparently plowinE such widely
separated burrows. Il IS not easy 70
foresee al the consequences Of fol-
lowing either at the expence OF the
other: but Il would seem TO be only
too sure that one result viii be in
ternal disruption Of a lamentahle and
perhaps violent kind at a moment
when unity OF national aim and har-
mony of national spirit are above all
things necessary. not only to the fu-
ture welfare OF Ireland. but also to
success in the prosecution OF the war
and when issues Of even greater mag
nitude than the welfare OF Ireland
or vet OF ENGLAND are at stake
But IL such violent disruption
should come. as come il NAV. and
leave a scar on the face OF history.
IL can never he thought by anv clear.
reasonable and instructed mind that
the government alone has been to
blame