The Irish standard., 1919-02-01
Policy
Of Sim Fein
Count PIunket Explains the Movement
That Has Swept Over Ireland
Hope for Complete
independence.

Count Plunkett, the Sim Fein lead
er, who was released from prison last
week, and who is the first of the re-
publican leaders to gain liberty, has
already received a correspondent with
whom he went over the Sim Fein
policy. The interview, coming from
such a leader as Count Plunkett
makes interesting reading:
y The Irish representatives who were
recently elected in the Parliamentary
franchise" he began, ARE really rep
resentatives of the Irish people, for,
although they used the machinery of
the new government, they had the ap-
probation of much wider electorate,
for the Sim Fein movement stands
for manhood and womanhood suffrage
Every man and every woman has the
right to vote, and the organization is
managed on that basis.
"The work for the elections was
carried on under great difficulties, as
those who actually laid the foundation
of the Sim Fein movement are under
| arrest, 100 Of the party leaders and
| organizers have been deported, while
about another 100 of their sympathiz-
ers are in Irish or English prisons
"Since these arrests were made, the
English governments policy seems to
have changed, for no more arrests are
being made. strict watch is kept,
however, on those Sim Feiners still
at liberty, and the police are very ac-
tive in carrying out their instructions.
| These repressive measures are in
tended to irritate the people, but, in
stead of demoralizing, they tend to
stimulate activity. New methods of
repression are met by organized de.
vices. The perfect discipline Of the
Sim Fein organization is founded on
the watchword of Faith and Father
land Their church and their re-
ligion are dear to the Irish people, and
Sim Fein is to them as their religion.
THE first thing that is taught in the
organization is that if his leaders tell
a man not to hit back if he is struck,
he must obey. and he thus learns to
give up his own inclination for the
good of the cause. That is how men
who are really soldiers have marched
on without a word while they have
been abused and stoned
In Communication With America.
THE Executive Committee of the
Irish Republic" Count Plunkett con-
tinued has been in communication
with the United States and other gov
ernments, but what it specially aims
at is to get into communication with
the people of different countries by
representation at their labor con-
crosses and also by propaganda. The
censorship stops propaganda through
the press and directly interferes with
written communications.
1--WE have sympathy with all nation
alities which are struggling for free.
dom and have much fellow-feeling
with Russian aspirations.
"The Irish Republicans" he said,
have majority, even in Ulster,
which is divided into three parties;
first, the Unionists, who do not wish
to be separated from England; second,
those who want Irish independence,
but still want to keep some connec-
tion with England, chiefly for trade
purposes; and third, Irish Republic
ans, who want complete independence
for the nation.
1--WE regard the Irish Unionists of
the North as our fellow countrymen,"
continued the Count, "and they are
entitled to place in the government
and to the same freedom as we de-
mand for ourselves. Some people ask
for guarantees, but asking for guar
antees implies want of freedom.
"Unionism, we say, is not prin-
ciple, but a simulated party contriv-
ance, promoted by ministers to keep
Ireland divided, and it is also en-
ployed by wealthy manufacturers to ST.
lence an outcry which might inter,
fere with their trade interests. When
anything threatened their business in
terests through labor organizations,
they beat the party drum and led their
nothing might interfere with the
swelling of their dividends
The Coming Parliament.
THE declaration of an independent
Irish republic was made in 1916. To-