The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1919-01-04
SINN FEM THE POLITICAL SPEARHEAD
OF IRELAND

Ireland and the world is to be congratulated upon
the results of the December election, which was
sweeping victory for the Sim Fein party Out of
the total of los parliamentary seats % have been
won by the candidates of the party, while the
old Nationalist have only total of seven to their
credit, of whom comes from an English con-
stituency So evident was it that the Sim Fein
movement had taken lasting hold upon the senti-
ment of the electors that twenty -four of their NOM
lnees were unopposed and were declared elected
without contest. In the provinces of Munster Lem
ster and Connaught there what Americans
would call Sim Fem Landslide" and in Ulster,
too, they made strong demonstration of their
growing power.
The overthrow of the Nationalist party is partially
eiiffe ~ ''N S'''''e'' '''AD' " Lulu A'0' Ill
ct is my view personally that the old Nationalist
party was worn out Many of its members had be-
come too Anglicized or Londonized; too comfort
able and we'll planted in London society"
While this indictment is quite true it does not OF
course fully account for the changed Status of Irish
affairs for as Lord Northcliffe himself says, Irish
reconciliation is urgent necessity for the security
of the British Empire. "When,' he asks, will people
realize that ireland is not question of domestic
politics only but permanent dsturber of the COM
pass in our foreign and colonial policy, too? When
the British politicians and statesmen can be made
to see the Irish problem in this light we may look
for better and more intelligent handling of the
matter at their hands
We have said that the world as we'll as Ireland is
elections. And why? Because the political at1nos-
phere has been cleared by the voice of the electorate
1t is the day of democracy in government and the
people of Ireland have spoken in uncertain tone.
They have definitely and positively repudated the
poulticing policy of remedial legislation and have
taken their stand upon their rights as a nation to
complete independence-their right to determine for
themselves the sovereignty under which they are to
live. They have shown to the world that they have
kept pace with the development of that universal
spirit of democracy which is enveloping the world
like vast tidal wave. We perceive in the victory Of
the Allied Powers the triumph and establishment
of the American principle that righteous govern
ment must derive its authority only from the con-
sent Of the governed; and by no rule of logic or
justice this principle be denied application in
their case.
They have thus clearly indicated the platform and
policy OH which their case shall be presented to the
tribunal of the nations at the Peace Conference and
it now becomes the duty and obligation OF friends
OF Ireland in all lands to lend them helping hand
IN the battle which remains to be fought in further
ance OF their expressed purposes. Their demand is
no larger comprehensive than those of the
other small or subjugated nationalties which have
obtained recognition by the statesmen of Great
Britain herself Equality of consideration with the
Poles, the Czecho- Sovaks, the Jugo-Slavs, the
,Ukrainians is all that they ASK and they will be
content with nothing less In the light of their
history, geography and ethnography they fall
squarely within the principles enunciated by Pres
dent Wilson and accepted the basis of the adjust
ment of national rights at the Peace Conference and
to be guaranteed of enforcement by the concerted
power of the civilized world.
Thus the curtain is about to rise upon new act in
the Irish national drama, with an entire change in
the world environment as well as in the personnel
OF the actors who are to take part in it. The men
Tor