South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-05-25
MAY Is. 1920.
"RECONOUERING IRELAND. $

Despite that boneheaded resolution Of congress-
Informing Great Britain that the treatment Of Ire
and Is in contravention Of the constitution Of the
United states-as though England were somehow
governable oy thai constitution-we have it the
British have not changed their modus operandi AZ
all. or if at ALL then for the worse. II might almost
be taken as a whitening def, thrown into the face
OF the American congress- suggestive that while
pretending so much fear that we may become
sntangied in European affairs must keep out Of
the League of Nations it would be well for us to
consistently mind business.
According 70 British reports-there de-
pendabe Irish reports coming through-there is
virtual Of In Ireland. The British forces
there are being strengthened continually. The
Lorts tell OF block houses. barbed wire. airplanes
and machine guns in great Quantity--in short, all
panoply OF modern war. There trenches in
and around Irish towns that reminiscent Of the
German zone. and though there real
battles there skirmishes enough and assassina-
lions. assaults and arrests almost numbcrless.
London newspapers announce that the recon
quest Ireland is he undertaken in earnest
As the British governments policy unfolds. it be
gins look very much if ireland is TO he pacfcd
as Africa was with lines Of block houses and
concentration camps slowly spreading their network
over the country until it is all enmeshed and
quoted
That is probably as far as the comparison can he
carried. There is no hope in any reasonable mind
that the procedure will have such fortunate effects
in this The Beers despite the and bloody
measures taken 70 subdue them. after their subjec-
ton aequesced, loyal Fart OF the
British empire Violence and renewed subsection
will reconcile the Irish There is bitter truth in
the remark of the London papers. that when it is
necessary to 'reconqucr' ireland after 500
Of British rule it docs augur much for the
cess Of the new conquest
As a matter of fact. common sense seems to ask,
what's the use? Most Irishmen. told. never
wanted British rule, and that they want it now
less then ever. There seems no indication Of their
ever changing their minds about it hereafter. They
will be only the more rebellious then. the more they
are rcpresscd why not let them go? OF what pos
sbie use can such a rebeutous group subjects be
to an otherwise democratic empire that has de-
cisred itself a convert TO the doctrine sef-de-
termination?
It might better even for Britain than for Ire
land il Ireland were allowed to go her own way
would certainly proht Britain morally. and would
probably ne to her advantage economically. Ire
land now IS only liability. However, it Is Britan's
and Ireland's affair and not ours; that is. aside
from our humanitarian interest in everybody-just
now rather negligible quantity. If a nation
are 10 be judged by United States senate. for
instance with its conduct as criterion And the
senate is claimed by Irishnnen as Irelard's ally
rather significant may be OF her unhtness for self
government. England asserts it. the senstes in
terest very apparently being mere bid for the
Irish-Annerican vote. rather than purpose hell
There will be American interference in the
EnElish-Irish contest except by way of the mouth
mainly OF designing. unprncipled and double
crossing politicians Were the League of Nations
given a chance some interference might be posi-
bile but ireland it seems does not want the ais
Of a League like that In the United States it IS all
a matter Of politics What it is over there; well
the stories are very conflicting Very