Evening star., 1918-07-14
BR|TON DEMOCRACY
CONTROLS ENGLAND
So Says Sir Horace PIunkett.
Thinks Government Willing
d to Satisfy Ireland.
SETTLEMENT WAR NEED
BY WILLIAM H. BRAYDEN.
Cnblegram to The Sunday star and
Chicago Daily News. Copyright, 1918.


Cnblegram to The Sunday Star and
Chicago Daily News. Copyright, 1918.
DUBLIN. July 13.-The state Of feel
ing in Ireland never was worse within
living memory than at present. The
worst feature is the despair felt by
many moderate men of any hopeful is
sue out of the prevailing discomfort.
Sir Horace Plunkett, who was chair
man of the Irish convention. while fully
appreciating the seriousness of the po-
sition, thinks it his duty not to abandon
hope. Accordingly. he has prepared a
series of articles stating his views and
telling the truth as he sees it to every
body, indicating a promising policy for
the future.
He regards 1t as certain that Brit
ish government and Is willing to satisfy
the reasonable wishes of the Irish de-
mocracy. He believes it unthinkable that
Ireland should not be willing to take
glorious part in the war
Urgent War Necessity.
An Irish settlement is an urgent war
necessity and the British people ur-
gently demand it. If such q settlement
Is not made promptly, the influence OF
England at the peace conference would
be seriously impaired with Ireland at
her door demanding the application to
herself of the principles for which the
allies profess to be fighting. Further in
the reconstruction which must follow
the war there must not be an unsettled
Irish question obstructing the course OF
democratic legislation
Sir Horace Plunkett is deeply I'M
pressed by the opinion of the United
States, which. he declares, he knows
well. According to his view, America
still desires Irish home rule while
condemning utterly those extremists
who since 1914 have been made the
tools of Prussian intrigue. The large
body of American opinion holds 1t to
be Ire1and'S duty and best play to
secure the concession or what the
Americans regard as her democratic
rights to fight whole-heartedly on
the side of the allies no matter what
grievance she may have against
Great Britain.
But neither the war nor Ireland's
America to justify the postponement
OF home rule in Ireland. He points
out that the great majority of the
people were never before so pros
porous as at present and never be-
fore so anxious for settled condition
perity.
Urges Compromise Put Into Law.
It was the belief that self-govern-
ment was at last secure that sent
thousands of Irisnmen into the Brit
ish army. 1t was the shattering of
that belief that made it useless to
expect a continuance of Irelands will
ing support of England and her allies.
The true remedy was discovered by
the convention, at which. he asserts
q vpfaa nf ia
reached upon the principal details of
Irish self-government than had ever
previously been attained.
Sir Horace urges the government to
then arrived at between the national
lists and the southern unionists. Be-
fore the Irish parliament thereby con-
stituted can be summoned some time
must elapse. He proposes the ad
interim establishment of a provisional
executive committee of Irishmen to
govern the country and that it
be made responsible either to an Irish
senate. which could sit Immediately,
or to the Irish convention, which has
never been dissolved.
In the meanwhile he advises the
government definitely to announce
the withdrawal of conscription and
ask Ireland to provide voluntarily
the necessary soldiers.
Differ on Voluntary Enlistment.
There is some difference of opinion
among members of the Irish parlia-
mentary party as to their attitude to-
ward the appeal being made by the
Irish recruiting council for voluntary
enlistment. They are united in op-
posing conscription, but some take the
view that 1t is necessary for Ireland's
honor to provide voluntarily the $4,000
asked for by Viscount French.
John Dillon. leader of the party
characterized as pathetic and absurd"
the Irish recruiting councils appeal
for men. Recruiting, however, is act
lively urged by influential members of
the party. one of whom is Capt Ste
phen Gwynn, member of the council
Another leading member. Sir Walter
Nugent. NJ. p. of Westmeath. writes:
Il have always taken the view that
1reland's interests as well as honor
bind her to the side of Great Britain
and the allies. I cannot see how the
shortcomings and mistakes of sue
cessive British ministries In any way
release US from the fulfllment of our
honorable obligations. take the line
that though we are opposed to con-
scrtptfon we still want to help win the
war. Then to decline to assist in any
way voluntary enlistment seems to me
an impossible attitude. At any rate,
1t Is one to which I personally shall
never subscribe"