The Irish standard., 1919-11-15
The Suppression of
Dali Eireann
sy Arthur Griffith.

BY Arthur Griffith.
The action of the British Govern
ment in suppressing Dali Eireann is
no mere accidental in the present pol.
icy of repression. 1t is the logical
outcome of the traditional policy of
the British Government in Ireland.
That policy in word is to keep the
Irish nation in subsection and to use
any and every means to that end. In
order to understand the present situa-
tion it is necessary to bear in mind
the events of the past nine months in
Ireland.
At the General Election in Decem.
Der last year clear and well-defined
issue was put before the people OF
Ireland. Ireland was asked to exer.
else the right Of self-determination,
accepted by the Allied Governments,
and declare whether she would con-
tinue TO be represented in the British
Parliament or deny the right Of the
English or any other alien govern
ment to rule In Ireland, form of her
elected members constituent assem-
bly, "as the supreme national author
ity to speak and act in the name of
the Irish people, and to develop Ire
lands social, political and industrial
life for the welfare of the whole peo-
pie of Ireland"
The result of this appeal to the
Irish electorate was the return of 73
members pledged to independence out
of total representation of 105 men,
bers. twenty-five counties of the 81
returned an entirely Republican rep
resentation pledged to the Sim Fein
program; only one county returned. an
entirely Unionist representation. And
this result was achieved despite the
organized and sustained effort of Dub.
lin Castle to destroy the election ma
chinery of Sim Fein.
In accordance with the mandate
thus received the Sim Fein members
established the constituent assembly
(Dail Eireann)- as the supreme ma
tional authority and proceeded to
formulate policy to develop Ire.
lands social, political and Industrial
life for the welfare of the whole peo'
pie of Ireland" A Ministry was
formed and the British Government
which had until March kept in Jail
without trial the majority of the Sim
Fein members in the hope of paralyz
ing the Nations efforts proceeded to
strike at the Ministry. Warrants
were issued for the arrest of the Min
lister for Labour, the Minister for Ag
riculture, the Minister for Finance
the Minister for Propaganda and the
Minister for Trade. Despite these &C
tivtities of the Army of Occupation
the Ministry formulated program and
Dali Eireann issued certain decrees
In order to carry out these DEGREES
and others on similar lines afterwards
decided on, the Dali launched pei
cent Loan, a quarter Of million
pounds to be subscribed in Ireland
and million pounds afterwards in
creased at the request of President dc
Valera) in America.
1t was only when the Dali had given
proof that it was capable of carrying
out the mandate given by the Irish
people that the English Government
fully showed it's hand. A nation which
is to kept in subsection cannot be al
lowed to develop trade and industry OF
it's own lines. So the British Govern
ment decreed Dali Eireann a danger
Que body, as it assuredly is for those
whose interest it is to deny the appli
cation of the principles of self-deter
mination in 1reland-and the meetingl
of the Irish National Parliament ar
proclaimed "in every county ant
1 UO1VuAA Ill 4A04RAUs NNOAOvOAS 0As
Irish paper printing the advertisement
of the National Loan is suppressed
and it's machinery confiscated.
Those who believe that the polio!
of trade repression-the traditiona
policy of England in 1reland-is ,
thing of the past will find it hard Il
explain why it is that Dali Eireann Il
proclaimed an illegal body only whel
it directed the activities Of the Natiol
to developing q sound trade and in
dustrial policy. This action is in &C
cordance with the plans of England
Minister in ireland, Mr.. MACPHERSON
when he said: "The whole troubl,
in Ireland is that there are $4,000
young men there who would hav'
emigrated but for the war, they mus
be got out of it somehow"
Dali Eireann would save these younl
men for Ireland, therefore Dali Fire
g..