The Irish standard., 1918-05-25

Friday May 31-St Angela.
SOUND ADVICE OF SIR HORACE PLUNkETT ON THE
IRISH SITUATION.
Sir Horace Plunkett who presided the recent Irish
Convention thoroughly familiar with conditions
public opinion in all parts Of Ireland The Convention
though did not reach definite agreement plan of
sefgovernmen for Ireland, did lat least make thorough
of the conflicting views suggestions and aspira
tions of the several parties represented in it, with the
cepon Of the Sim Fen element which declined to take
in its deliberations the ground that such parcpa
ton might estop them in the future in their claim for
absolute independence But the Sim Feiners
have declared that their party would not along
fair measure of Home Rule, accepting the
"a payment account their leader, De Valera,
expressed it. The Convention, after its eight months Of
study of various involved embodied
in it's majority and minority reports much valuable data
and many thoroughly sifted judgments the problems
standing in the Of settlement of the Irish contro
which it is believed could be made the foundation
for decent and fair charter for autonomous
in Ireland if approached with the spirit of justice and
democracy by the British ministry.
But what has the ministry done in the premises? AS if
there enough questions already involved it has
stupidity and bunderingly added anotherthat of
tion Why in the name of common sense could not the
matter of CONSUMPTION be held allegiance
months until the question of Home Rule ultimately
decided. No immediate advantage could be gained by
compulsory enlisments in Ireland because requires six
to nine months of drill and discipline to put the recruits
in fighting trim for trench warfare and Ireland had already
contributed most quota of 100000 volunteers
to the British army out of her scant and decmated popu
laon Of little than four millions. If the offer of
selfgovernment made in good faith sincerity why
middle it misjonder with the unrelated issue of
CONSUMPTION? The result is bogging and confusion of
matters that BODIES ill., not only for England and Ireland
but for the of all the Allies the Of democracy
and civilization. We beginning to the preliminary
stages of this and unjustabe position of
Lloyd Georges ministry in the wholesale of Sim
Fen leaders on the and tenuous basis of charge
of German conspiracy and it quite safe say that these
charges but the further projections of the British blum
dering into the situation.
In this crisis in Irish affairs (Which intimately affects
America wel why should not the British Government
give heed to the wise counsel of Sir Horace Punket who
warns England that the remedy is the immediate
establishment of responsible Irish
He is said to be the most conservative in all Ireland
He knows the people of Ireland better than any now
living and while the people do agree with him polt
cay they all respect him. He has always had de-
tenders among what called extreme Natonalists
both in Ireland and America than among any other
r1shmen because although he Unionist they
nzed his Agricultural Cooperative Movement consruc
tive work that would prove to be Of enormous Importance
in the Ireland of the future. Sir Horace has exactly
been converted Nationality but has become advocate
of very moderate measure Of Home Rule that would
leave the predominant partner still predominant and the
Irish Legislature with very limited powers But his dec
1araon that the only solution of the present situation is
the Immediate establishment of responsible Irish Govern
ent is all the remarkable account of his ante
cedents He has not Joined De Valera Dillon, and the
Catholic Bishops opposition to CONSUMPTION, but he
warns the Government that attempt to enforce will
bring disaster That really amounts to the thing
what the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. are saying
In the opinion of Mr.. Punkett the attempt to enforce
consumption would FAIL and both Home Rule and conscrip
tion would be nndone and situation like that of the
Fenan days of fifty years ago would result But it Is pos
sibe even now to achieve both detectives intelligence
and fair play prevail And he thus to outline his
suggestions as to prophyacc treatment of the sua
ton:
81 believe the would not only satisfy the
reasonable aspirations the Irish at home but also