The Irish standard., 1918-04-13
full trial and ample time.

II the Convention failed to agree,
the Irish question would be there next
week or the week after in q more for.
midable shape than ever, and they
; mteht be sure when the Irish Party
invited him to take upon himself. at
this time of life the burden of the
chairmanship, he did so most unwill.
ingly, and with a deep sense of the
difficulties by which that task was
beset. for he was of opinion that in
all probability Ireland today was ON
the eve of one of the most momentous
and terrible struggles of all her tragic
history.
The Republican Claim.
Ireland" he went on, els in very
terrible condition at this moment. We
are invited by clamorous, and, no
doubt, numerous body of young Irish.
men, to abandon the claim for Home
Rule, or self-government, as it is
called, and to set up a claim for an
independent Irish Republic, separated
totally from Great Britain" He
didn't think that the men who advo.
Gated that view were quite so numer-
Gus as they imagined, but still thew
should recognize that they represented
and spoke for very large section,
probably, of the younger people of the
country. He knew they came up to
Ulster and told that the South was
solid for Sim Fein. Well, they would
see that in Waterford.
He didn't think the South was solid
for Sim Fein. He knew the North
was not. They had the case of South
Armagh the other day, and they had
that meeting there that day and had
the young men and the young girls
who marched in the procession to
show that there in Fermanagh. at all
events. and in the surrounding dis
tracts, that even the young people
were by no means solid for Sim Fem
"Sea Of Blood"
1t was futile task to discuss the
relative merits Of an Independent Re.
public in Ireland and self-government
or Home Rule, because everybody
who was in contact with the realities
of the situation knew that they could
not get Republic without wading
through sea of blood; and if Sc
rious attempt were made to win a
Republic for Ireland it would mean
the loss Of tens of thousands of lives,
and that they would not win in the
end.
They were told by some of the lead
ers of Sim Fein that their demand
this is what they will say to privately
-for Republic is all nonsense. No
body wanted Republic. They would
tell you privately that they only put
it forward as piece of bluff. He
knew most of the clergymen who were
Sim Feiners would tell you privately
that nobody wanted a Republic, that
1t was only meant for the platform,
and that in reality they wanted Home
Rule.
With great knowledge won by long
experience of his countrymen he re.
fused to accept that statement. He
believed the real leaders of Sim Fein
meant what they said, and this kind
! OF bluff was very dangerous after
what happened in Easter week. These
men We're going around the country
now taking the pledges of young men
to obey whenever orders were given.
They might be ordered to the front at
any moment
The November Threat.
| 10 his own knowledge last Novem-
Der they were within an ace of being
| thrown against troops armed with
trench bombs, and the word had been
given to take no prisoners eve will
have no more of this d NONSENSE -
were the words used, "and John Dill
Ion and Company will not get the
prisoners released. We will not take
any prisoners. We will let them
have bombs" He understood Mr.. De
Valera, who was honest and straight
forward, was coming to speak at Be-
leek. Was it that Sim Fein wanted 4?
He had there an extract from an
interview given, strangely enough
and mark this-to an English news
paper the "Daily News" by DR.. Fog
arty, Bishop of Killaloe, who was the
great spiritual head Of the Sim Fein
iAONSAACuL ulS Was WudL Cu0 COT
respondent said:
II had most interesting conversa-
ton with DR.. Fogarty, who thinks that
! even now, If the British Government
grants a generous measure of Domin-
ion self-government to an undivided
Ireland their policy will capture the
country, and all trouble will immedi-
ately cease"
An Answer Demanded.
''Is that the Sim Fein doctrine ?"
asked Mr.. Dillon. "I am entitled to
an answer and if it be by what right
is this country divided into two fac
tions? Why are we not all united
upon that platform?
"If that be the doctrine of Sim
Fein, no. man has any excuse for keep
ing this country divided one hour
longer"
M. De Valera said in Waterford
that if the electorate of that city
only got the opportunity of under.