Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1919-08-20
IRELAND AFLAME
AT REPRESSION
Situation Is Similar to That on
Easter Day Back in
1916.
DEFERRED ONLY BY FORCE
T. p. O'connor Declares the British
Governments Policy, or Lack OF
Policy Is Reducing the Nation
to an Inferno.

London, Aug. 1S.-Force of arms
seems to be the chief deterrent to an
other Irish rebellion, comparable to the
great Eastern uprising of 1916. Adj
vices from Ireland indicate no lack OF
rebelious sentiment, highly famed by
the repressive- measures which the
government has undertaken to enforce
with considerable bodies of troops. !,
The proclamation declaring illegal
the Sim Fein organization of County
Clare caused ominous rumblings of the
storm which once broke over Sackville
street. The policy of the British gov
eminent remains as obscure as ever,
but it is regarded as likely that the
County Clare proclamation is merely a
sample of similar edicts which will I'M
dertake to exterminate the republican
movement throughout the land.
Expect Dublin Castle to Act.
The ban on Sim Fein has already
been enunciated in Tipperary. but
Kerry, Cork and Limerick are yeritable
hotbeds of rebellion and 1t is expected
that Dublin castle will attempt to en-
fore a similar proclamation in those
counties
In North Kerry and Tyrone there
are prosecutions against Sim Feiners
for unlawful drilling and assembling
the specific charges being that Sim
Fein Republicans" are engaged in mil
itary training with view to fitting
themselves to beat the British"
Until Lloyd George makes his speech
there will be no clue to the real mean
ing concealed behind this sudden &C
cent of 'firmness" in Ireland. Even
then he may parry the point, but 1t is
regarded as certain that he will dis
cuss the situation In some terms, how
ever Indefinite.
In parliamentary circles II was re-
ported that since Dublin caetle EN-
barked on the repression" campaign
the Sim Fein element was doing its
utmost to effect an organized resist
ance to British administration.
Lay Agitation to Government.
As usual, however, there were
charges by Sim Feiners in London
that the alarm is an official creation
perpetrated in the hope that the people
will rebel, thus giving an excuse fol-
ruthless military measures" These
Irishmen claim that the latest British
move Is a calculated, "atrocity" where
by the government hopes to provoke
Ireland into fight and then scatter
the Sim Fein organization. The ire
preston it was pointed out, deprives
a peaceful people of all rights of free
citizens. wiping out the civil courts and
substituting no better tribunals than
courts-martial wherein the alleged de-
tenders are tried Before their enemies
"This is only another stage of the
Irish policy-I should say lack of pol
| icy-of the British government" said
| T. p. OConnor in. London. 1T is re-
| ducing ireland to an inferno and the
| story is so old that ] cannot under
stand how anybody can fail to realize
| that Ireland is now placed In the cen
! ter of vicious circle in which repres
| sion cre,ites violence and violence ere
\
| ates repression AMI so on ad infinitum.
"The same policy has many times
produced disastrous results and it vii
| continue to do so until some British
government finds the courage to strike
at the roots of the trouble and satisf,
the national aspiration of the Irjsl
people for voice in their own affairs
Conditions Similar to 1915.
"The present intimidation is exactly
similar to that of 1916. Dublin castle
made It's decision under the influence
of reports from disaffected areas ex
actly the same as those which once be
fore reached Chief Secretary Blrrel
Just prior to the Easter rebellion. wher
Sim Feiners, openly defying the gov
eminent, carried on campaign of out
rage and intimidation against the pc
lice and all others who tried to support
the authorities.
"Only the presence of large forces OF
troops and the Sim Feiners' lack OF
arms are nov keeping down the dan
ger of ain uprising"