The Irish standard., 1919-01-18

Ireland, provided the Nationalist
would consent to the exclusion of
six Ulster counties for six years,
and the acceptance of that offer by
Mr.. Redmond and the Irish Party, the
offer was withdrawn, the compromise
repudiated and the British Govern.
ment was shown to be in. control of
the forces of reaction, controlled by
the very party that had been defeated
in the preceding General Election, it
was evident that the Irish Nationalist
Party was without power and that the
British Government could do as 1t
pleased with the Irish situation-bar.
ring the last bulwark, the people them
selves.
Then It was that Redmond and the
entire Party should have abandoned
the Parliament and announced that
they would never return until the Brit
ish Government would keep treaties
with Ireland. But the Party, commit
ted to the support of the war, unable
to withdraw from that unquestioned
attitude Of Justice toward the question
Of right, was in a position of impo-
tence. Quickly Sim Fem grew in
power, as it deserved to do.
BY the suggestion Of an Irish Con-
vention, Lloyd George caused more
delay and gained time, hoping to de-
lay the settlement until a time favor
able to his own ends. When the Con-
vention ended its labors, he promptly
rejected its suggestions and recon-
mendations. Sim Fem had not par
ticipated in the Convention.
The change in Irish sentiment was
plainly foreshadowed by the change
the attitude of the clergy. Whereas,
the prelates had opposed Sim. Fein
for years and Father O'Flanagan was
forbidden to speak at certain gather
ings (Which command he disobeyed,
apparently, without punishment), little
by little, the clergy swung over to the
prevailing sentiment of the people, and
when it was proposed to enforce con-
scription in Ireland, priest after priest
pledged his people in public assembly
after Mass, to resist CONSUMPTION to
the end.
Sim Fein was winning and the Ma
tionalists themselves left Parliament
for a time,- practically taking the Sim
Fem position in that respect, only to
go back, without sufficient cause for
their return. Sim Fein was again
scoring.
Now there are 70 elected members
of the British Parliament from Irish
constituencies who will not take their
seats, because they will not acknowl-
edge British rule. These are the Sim
Fein members. They intend to assem-
BILE and sit as an Irish body, repre-
senting the people, and to take such
peaceful steps as will technically and
legally establish their case; first, as
the majority body of the Irish people;
second, as the elective body of an in.
dependent Ireland, made so by procla-
nation and an assent of three-fourth
of the people of Ireland, and thus ap.
pear, If possible, before the Peace
Conference to demand that the prin-
ciple of government only by consent
of the governed, be applied to Ireland.
Three-fourths of the people is a ma
jority as great or greater than that
which existed in the American colon
les against British oppression when
the American revolution began. 1t is
a greater majority than is required to
amend the Constitution of the United
States. It is an evidence, uncontra-
dictable, to the world that the Irish
people now desire the right to govern
themselves and that they have the
right to ask it at the hands of those
ENJOYS who are to settle questions of
"self-determinatiOn" for many PEG.
pies.
If the Sim Elm leaders can but pre-
vent the agents of the British Govern
ment from provoking riots, disorder
and violence; If they can adhere to
their present enlightened policy of
peaceful adherence to the necessary
forms to justify their case before the
world, they are now certain to com.
mand very respectful hearing. The
war is over. Our doctrine of hate to.
wards our recent foes in Europe is
dying. Judgment is replacing pas
sion. American sentiment, always be
fore the war was favorable to Ireland
is being won to the consideration OF
Ireland's case again. Public meetings
are enlightening the American public
up to the truth and the justice of the
Irish claims. The native American
sense of justice, of love of fair play
and of majority rule is certain to be
evoked again and again. 1t will mate