The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1919-01-04
SINN FEM THE POLITICAL SPEARHEAD
OF IRELAND,

Ireland and the world is to be congratulated upon
the results of the December election, which was a
sweeping victory for the Sim Fein party Out of
the total of los parliamentary seats % have been
won by the candidates of the party while the
old Nationalist have only total of seven to their
credit one OF whom comes from an English con-
stituency. SO evident it that the Sim Fem
movement had taken lasting hold upon the senti-
ment of the electors that entyfour of their
inees unopposed and were declared elected
without contest In the provinces of Munster, Lem
would call Sim Fein "landslide," and in Ulster,
too, they made strong demonstration of their
growing power.
The overthrow of the Nationalist party is partially
explained IN the statement made by Lord North
effe:
1T is my view personally that the old Nationalist
party was worn out. Many of its members had be-
come too Anglicized or Londonized; too comfort
able and we'll planted in London society"
While this indictment is quite true it does not, OF
course fully account for the changed status of Irish
affairs for as Lord Northcliffe himself says Irish
reconciliation is urgent necessity for the security
of the British Empire: "When," he asks will people
realize that Ireland is not question Of domestic
pass in our foreign and colonial policy, too?' When
the British politicians and statesmen can be made
to see the Irish problem in this light we may look
for a better and more intelligent handling of the
matter at their hands,
We have said that the world as we'll as Ireland is
to be congratulated upon the result of the December
elections. And why? Because the political atmos-
phere has been cleared by the voice of the electorate
1t is the day of democracy in government and the
people of Ireland have spoken in no uncertain tone.
They have definitely and positively repudiated the
pouticing policy of remedial legislation and have
taken their stand upon their rights nation to
complete independence right to determine for
themselves the sovereignty under which they are to
live They have shown to the world that they have
kept pace with the development of that universal
spirit of democracy which is enveloping the world
like vast tidal wave. We perceive in the victory of
of the American principle that righteous govern
ment must derive its authority only from the con-
sent of the governed; and by no rule of logic or
justice this principle be denied application in
their case.
They have thus clearly indicated the platform and
policy on which their shall be presented to the
tribunal of the nations at the Peace Conference and
it now becomes the duty and obligation of friends
of ireland in all lands to lend them helping hand
in the battle which remains to be fought in further
ance OF their expressed purposes. Their demand is
no larger or more comprehensive than those of the
other small subjugated natonalities which have
obtained recognition by the statesmen of Great
Britain herself. Equality of consideration with the
Poles, the Czecho-Slovaks, the Jugo-Slavs the
content with nothing less. In the light of their
history! geography and ethnography they fall
squarely within the principles enuncated by Presi-
dent Wilson and accepted as the basis of the adjust
ment of national rights the Peace Conference and
to be guaranteed of enforcement by the concerted
power of the civilized world
Thus the curtain is about to rise upon new act in
the Irish national drama, with an entire change in
the world environment as well as in the personnel
OF the actors who are to take part in it. The men
who are to essay the leading roles Ito the shame of