The Irish standard., 1918-10-19


In last weeks issue considerable space was devoted
discussion of the aire Beoc Indictment of the Irish
natonha it has the whole desired the victory of
Prussia and the defeat Of the Allies
Mr.. Beoc's recognized ability writer and his at
ainments in the field of the study of international politics
such to command hearing for him in the most
influential intellectual circles of the world. Furthermore
of the faith processes apparently genuine
sympathy with his Irish religious brethren, although de-
preciang their supposed attitude in the world
This he ascrbes the hereditary opposition to Eng
land, the religious sentiment and to the English
propaganda conducted in Ireland which he charactezes
grotesque" To these he adds what he evidently deems
major the alleged want of Irish sympathy with
the Allied cause
| He proceeds
the first place, it to the whole of this
attitude opposition the Allies the part of the Irish
shows lack of perspective. The war is war concerning
the whole world happens to England and Ger
many but does not only England and Germany
You might we'll that only concerned the Catholic
grouped under the House of Hapsburg or the French
in their twenty centuries struggle against barbarlsm
the Italians in their determination make their country
great and after centuries of Invasion and division
will perhaps be wholesome thing for some friends
of the Irish to themselves as others see hem
and especially Mr.. Beloc them, who cannot be
fairly of prejudice against them account of
religion His impeachment of their reaction to the
of the world be productive OF much good
will the effect of leading them to examination
analysis of the things responsible for these impress
sions
But with the the Beloc Indictment to wit,
charge that the Irish nation whole is in
sympathy with the Central Empires most emphaticay
dissent. In comment the Belloc article in last
weeks presented in detail reasons for
rejecting conclusions absolutely without foundation
in fact The stigma of which he attempts
to brand upon the Irish people whole must not be
allowed, be justified in the light Of truth and
justice.
\ We pleased also to note that of contem
poraries taken note of the gravity of Mr. Beoc's
mpeachments and have fastened to repudate them The
Northwest Review of Winnipeg, Canada, says:
in America will scarcely with this state
case would preferred to be rendered
Mr. Beocs for arriving at the above
For accept the official uterance of the late Mr. John
Redmond in the British Commons at the outbreak of the
war as the of ireland procaming her attitude to
wards the ISSUE she accepted the gauntlet thrown
down by Germany And refuse consider the stand
of the Irish leader and his party where to lool
for Interpretation of Ireands attitude? Again, If
only the to the recruiting appeal what
we find? In Mr.. Redmonds memorable address in the
British Commons he, quoting from official government fig
ures declared that $4,000 had forward up
that time recent of the London Star it was
edtoriay that this number had been increased
interval 100000 This is about five cent of Ire
lands population and although comparisons away
odous the equivalent Of Canadas effort For these men
we are told the firing line They we're. moreover