The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-07-14
THE IRISH REPUBLIC

The president of the Irish republic IS in New York, and he
seems to have a business head on him He is modern and up-to-
date. He does not believe in Saving Ireland" by collecting
money from dock laborers and servant girls. That Anticipated
process was abandoned many years ago. 1t was too slow. 1t
expenses of the "hberators" The so-called Irish republic,
through its president, has issued bonds, five hundred millions
Of them, one-haf the amount to be offered for sale in this coun-
try, and one-haf in Ireland. Money is necessary in these days
to do anything big, and especially ANYTHING as big as establishing
a republic in one Of the British isles, and New York is the
place to find it. There are any number of ~Irish-American multi
milionaires in New York-men who as boys came over in sail.
ing ships without a dollar, and who have amassed fortunes in
the New World, These men are passionately loyal to the land
OF their birth, and as they, in the course Of nature, have not very
long to remain with us, theyew will cheerfuny give out Of their
abundance to help the land Of their birth. Many others among
the more hopeful and enthusiastic have such faith in the ultimate
glory and prosperity OF the "od sod" that they do not feel that
their money is a gift, but an investment that will pay hand
somely when Ireland is once free" The bonds can be floated
in New York without difficulty. Others in Australia and New
South Wales, and wherever the Irish race has been scattered
they can be sold. AS a people the exiled Irish have not all
prospered everywhere, but everywhere some have grown enor-
mously wealthy, and to the fourth generation they love Ireland
with the affection OF the native born, Men whose grandfathers
or grandmothers were transported to penal colonies for snatch
ing an apple from a fruit stand or a mouthful of gingerbread
from a bakers tray-such was the tenderness of English laws
are multimilionaires, and are ready with their money and means
to help the land Of their faith and of their fathers at all times.
There will be no trouble about floating the bonds, and the Eng
hh government will raise no objection. Money sent to the
British isles for any purpose is welcomed, because it finds its
way into the channels of trade, and swens the fluid assets of the
empire.
The Irish republic" may be a Joke to many. So was the
American republic when first founded. One impressive thing is
mat the present leaders are conservative men of ability and
earnestness, and the rule Of the rabble-rousing save Ireland"
propagandists seems to be at an end. They were impractical
and visionary, and, like the daughters Of the horse leech, they
spent their time in crying, Give GiveP untathe Irish people
everywhere grew tired of them.
Just what is to come of this Irish republic is problematical
Even ITS most ardent ~wel-wishers doubt il the little island could
stand alone If given autonomy, Some big country must exercise
a protecting care over it to keep. it from falling into the hands
OF the enemies of Great Britain. The peace conference will not
reacn II for a long time, as there are SO many other things
already begun and partly finished that must first be disposed Of
Strange to relate, while Irish women are renowned for their
chastity the world over, it was the infdelitv of a woman that
brought ireland into subsection. According to Lelands History
oil ireland, DerVorghal, the wife of Herman. king of Leitrim
eloped with Dermod McMurchad, king of Leinster. 1iernan in
duced OConnor, king Of %Connaught, to avenge the wrong which
ne did and drove Dermod from his throne. Dermod. who be
longed to the Begae, who had come from England and colonizeC
the south of Ireland, appealed to Henry II. of England, and tm
incident brought the conquest OF Ireland in ll72. AS usual
"there was a woman at the bottom OF it." Helen was wife o
Menelaos, king Of Sparta, and eloped with Paris of Troy and thi
caused the launching Of 1000 ships and a ten-year war; the burn
ing OF the topess towers OF Troy and endless misery to one gen
Grafton after another OF college boys for centuries, besides othe
evils too numerous to catalogue. Now that woman is bein,
emancipated and given the ballot everywhere. she may repai
these and other wrongs for which she is responsible, but she ca
never cause the school boy to cease hating, while loving, the play
of Aristophanes and the goose gable which Virgil puts into tn
mouth OF the garrulous old Father Anchises.
Accredited representatives OF Ireland can always obtain fnar
cal aid from men of Irish blood or birth, and especially fror
those of Irish birth who. no matter how long or how far sea-
tered, are feal to the little green isle. If Ireland is made a dc
minion, as some think it may be, it will not satisfy the nation;
aspirations OF the Irish people who are yearnng to see their M;
vourneen
Long,
In peace the queen OF song,
In battles proud and strong
AS the eea