The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1919-07-26
AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS ALIGNED ON
IRELAND'S SIDE.

Slowly but surely the cause of Ireland is gaining
ground in the editorial sanctums OF the great Amerl
can metropolitan daily newspapers From motives
which might be unpleasant to analyze or scrutinlze
too closely many of these publications have assumed
an attitude of SNUG indifference or peevish hos
tlity toward the Irish movement for freedom and
democracy during and after the close OF the world
war; In dealing with Irish matters they have taken
their cues largely from the customs of the British
journals which resort to the conspiracy of silence"
procedure or the stand-pat policy of blank and UNI
supported denial when charges of acts OF injustice
and savagery have been made against the British
administration in Ireland. But this policy has not
been found tenabe in America, the land of the tree
The American conscience is not so dull and sodden
that of Britain Its reaction to sense OF shame
and modification cannot be stifed by suppression
or concealment of the facts of the situation, the
SNUG and complacent Britishers have schooled
themselves to do so effectively.
1t is the conscience of the American people rather
than any impulse originating in the editorial sane
tums that forcing change in the attitude of many
of our big newspapers toward Ireland But what
ever may be the real cause it is palpably evident
that there has been noted a great change in this
respect during the past few weeks coincident with
the coming of President De Valera of the Irish
Republic to our shores. Quotation marks intended
to indicate sarcasm have been always appended to
the words president" and "Irish Republic" in
tain newspapers. But the newspapers of Boston,
always conspicuous for their fairness and for straight
Americanisnl, made no such use of quotation marks
on the occasion of the splendid reception to De
Valera in the Massachusetts, capital. The Herald, ;"
the GLOBE and the "Post" of that city gave their
dent, and spared space expense, to give an ade-
quate presentation of the meeting. Photographic
illustrations were lavishly displayed, and the
news features were supplemented by approving
editorial comment 1t is not exaggerating to say
that the several movements OF the Irish President
during his stay at the Hub" chronicled with
the same fidelity as were those of President Wilson
upon his arrival from Europe.
no nj rs1,o1 ~, Maui or1r hno
of the same treatment was accorded him by most
of the big newspapers of that city, though falling
short of the pace set by the Boston papers. New
York, of course, hates to go wild" over any per-
sonage, however distinguished or meritorious, but
its big journals did not fail to the De Valera
item popular news story, and generous columns
Of their best space were appropriated to it.
And now comes the Chicago Tribune, which pro.
with an almost Aat-footed demand for Irish freedom
Says the Tribune:
eff England wants to know how all this stir came
about it has only to refer to the theory OF the guar
they claim nobody has guaranteed them anything
except English rule They want their independence
warranted. They alege that warranty has been
promised. The longer it is denied the longer it will
comPlicate English and an American politics.
has been reiteration of the policy that Ulster must
not be coerced. Ulster is the minority, but it is
Irish. Whoever heard OF any people, any gathering,
any organization, being in sweet accord? Some
body always votes AS well order the moon not
to shine until all the stars turn pink
"The British resent our interest in the Irish ques
ton. Well, we'll agree it isn't the best American
policy. But England can arrange the whole bust
ness very neatly by making settlement with ire
land
The Tribune has steadfastly resisted the intrusion
Of the Irish question into American politics during
the past three years, but has come to the con-
cluson that ireland is entitled independence and
& fO nj