New-York tribune., 1918-05-20

ciple of conscription. though that is a
matter of federal policy as unquestion-
ably within the sole competence Of the
imperial Parliament on this side Of the
Atlantic as in that of Congress on the
other side. Can the President and the
people of the United States imagine
any situation in which any body of
Americans in a crisis like this would
refuse equal service and defy Con-
gress?
"On these matters of fact, which are
absolutely within our knowledge, we
have here madr three assertions. We
beg all America to note it. We urge
them to discourage sophisticated parti-
san rhetoric contrary to fact and deep
constructive good viii on which Ire
lard's happier future depends. And we
say that the true danger is that the
Nationalists of Ireland are proving Ire
lands worst enemies, partly through
obsolete passions lingering from a by
gone age and partly through tactical
politics, ambiguity and weakness.
"When Mr.. Wilson receives the Ma
tionalsrs' representatives. will he ask
them what they are doing to help?
Will he ask them why if they repu-
diete the Sim Fein and disclaim the
devil, they hold so many candles to
the devil? Will he ask them what they
are doing to concliate Professionalism
in the North of Ireland, whence Presi-
dent Wilson derives his origin, and to
draw breeds and creeds together to
make a nation, which, without that,
must be forever unmade?
Dillon Adds to Difficulties
John Dillon and his friends are only
adding SO far to every single difficulty
of the situation.
"While the Lloyd George govern
mcnt, on the one hand, has to face
Union;sts to any form Of Home Rule,
because they believe it would be bad
for their country, and are strength
ened in that belief by all the recent
lawlessness and disloyalty, on the
other hand the Cabinet gets no con-
structivc assistance whatever from the
Nationalist advocates of self-govern-
ment. Not in the impracticable temper
which the Nationalsts are now show
ing temper equally impracticable
both on conscription and Home Rule -
could the American constitution have
ever been framed or settlement
reached in South Africa.
"The preparation of the Home Rule
bill is in active progress. Time is re-
quired that it may be framed with wise
ard liberal craftsmanship. That is the
SOiO ICdoOu iOI viz NCldy WIiNn cOihb
Dillon seeks to misrepresent. The for
mer bill, by admission now universal,
was not merely bad, but it was un
workable. It's provisions must be en-
tirely recast in the new measure.
Again, it is certain that a federal
system of Home Rule will have to be
applied to the whole United Kingdom.
chine will break down utterly and the
enormous tasks Of reconstruction after
the war can never be efficiently car
ried on.
"That reconstruction must involve
every single interest of social, eco
nomic and political concern. The I'm.
perial Parliament cannot do it all, if
it. is to attend well after the war to
wider affairs Of the British Common
wealth and to its proper part in ahe
immense, interknitted transactions that
must invole the whole world after the
war.
American Interests Involved
"The British Ministry must have a
certain time in which to restore politi-
cal security in Ireland, to frame its
Home Rule bill, to create cooler at
mosphere and to advance steadily
toward equal service.
"The Natonaists will be confronted
with the responsibility of modifying
their attitude or proving that they are
incredible wreckers of the whole com
prehensivc policy which alone can make
Ireland one. Fair play for Great Brit
ain and her government is necessary.
"This matter is az much to Americas
own interests as ours. The pro-Ger-
man conspiracy in Ireland endangers in
obvious ways the safety of American
transports. We are confident the gov
ernmcnt will have the support of the
American people in putting an end, so
far as Sim Fcin plotting is concerned,
to state of things which President
Wilson would not tolerate for day.
"We are equally confident that the
millions of American sympathizers
with Ireland will credit the English pol
icy toward that country with those
qualities which (even by admission by
the Radical press) Austen Chamber
lains speech showed the other day
the large e-minded outlook, the spirit of
high-minded justice and the unswerv-
ing good faith on Home Rule. 1t is
lamentablc that John Dillon's mani
festo contains not one hint of con-
str11ctivo temnar and SapAcitVo