The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1920-04-08
What Would You Do With Ireland?

The Irish question: like the poor is always with
Lincoln said that question settled till it is
settled right They quote this principle and apply it to
Ireland but how would the Irish question be settled
if it were to be settled right? There's the rub.
Human beings made different and their views
to what is right will differ In this country we are
supposed to allow the majority to rule, but the major
y of senate against the peace treaty as made,
but President Wilson says they are wrong This shows
how good citizens will disagree on the same state of
things.
The Irish question is complicated by several diff
cult factors. In most countries there natural
tpathy between the North and the South, and we find
this the in Ireland. Most of the people in the
north of Ireland are of somewhat different race than
those of the SOUTH And then there is the difference
of religon-nost of those in the north tending be
Protestant while those in the south strongly Catho
lie. 1t would be strange indeed if should find per-
feet harmony and singlemindedness where such con-
dtons ruled
For many years different British statesmen have
tried dvise plan for solving the Irish problem
but something has always prevented success When
plan suited one section of Ireland it didn't suit
the other section, and when it suited Great
Britain it didn't suit Ireland at all. Shortly bea
fore the system of home-rule adopted for
Ireland but the war interrupted its application.
The new plan suggested by Premier Lloyd-George
proposes to divide Ireland into two states cover
ing the north what was the old province of Ulster
and the other comprised of the other three provinces
Connaught, Munster and Leinster. Each state would
have its legislature and would make its laws.
Then there would be of federal council
elected for the whole of Ireland
Ireland would not be independent but it would
enjoy sort of dominion" government. The British
parliament would still have charge of the imperial
taxes military matters, tariff matters diplomatic repre-
sentation etc. The postal and police systems would
also be retained in control of the British government
until the Irish showed by harmonious action that they
were prepared take charge of such things For the
next three years Ireland would contribute 100000
pounds year the imperial treasury, and the rela
lions after that would be subject to agreement.
Neither faction of the Irish are pleased with the
Lloyd George plan The Sim Fein element which is
mainly Catholic, demands complete independence. The
Obstetrics or Orangemen declare that they afraid
of Catholic domination, they would be in the minor
ty. Various Irish leaders condemn the "dismember-
ment of Ireland which they say would result from the
two-parliament plan.
There were $4,000 votes cast for the Sim Fen
candidates last election of which 10 elected
100000 for the Unionist Orange candidates. of
whom 26 elected and 235 900 for the Nationalist
candidates. of whom six were elected.
Champions of the Irish republic" have just had
hearing before congress- They urged that the republic
be recognized by the United States and that send
diplomatic and consular representatives there Mass
meetings along this line have been held in Wash
ington and other cities, at which canon de Valera,
president of the Irish republic and other speakers
fervently pleaded for the Irish
Representative Sherwood of Ohio, Civil war
veteran in speech in the house said that he hadn't
drop of Irish blood in his veins but that he in favor
of giving the Irish what they wanted am for free
Ireland for the Irish Poland for the Poles Armenia
for the Armenians Syria for the Syrans etc. said he
This principle if carried to its logical conclusions
might cause much embarrassment, however. 1t would
call for giving Egypt back to the Egyptians Hawaii to
the Hawaiians, Alaska to the Eskimos, southwestern
United States to the Mexicans etc. And it might
even be precedent for the secession of any OF our own
states that wanted to enjoy "sef-determnation.
President Wilson, included "self-determnation"
among his IA points" which the peace treaty was to
enforce but when he came ireland he put his foot