South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-09-05
O'CONNOR FLAYS
PREMIER'S TALK
ON COERCION ACT
Terms Lloyd Georges Speech
Outrageous-Upholds
Devlin's Acts.
BY 7. ?. O,Connor. ". p

(Note: Mr.. T. p. O'Conunor. the
veteran Nationalist ". r. and jour
nalist. has written exclusively for
the Cross-Atlantic Newspaper Serv-
ice the following account OF the re-
cent sensational incident in the
house Of commons. when Mr. Jo-
seph Devlin Nationalist member for
West Belfast, was suspended" after
a scene Of violent disorder during
the debate on the governments new
coercion bnL)
LONDON. Sept. A. The out
.lEeous speech OF Mr.. Lloyd George
practically refusing all concession
except his miserable and already
half dead bill, the imposure OF
closure rule unparalleled in IT'S Sc
verify 20 pass q coercion bill equal
Is unparalleled In its ferocity. were
more than flesh and blood could
bear. and 10 was not unnatural that
Mr.. Devlin's feelings should have
provoked him into an angry out
burst But as a matter OF fact. his
action was a supreme piece OF tao
tics To go on hour after hour de-
batting this outrageou bill under
this outrageous closure as II il were
some ordinary little bit OF domestic
"a lCAdAAOM WO44u nave btEA
ridiculous recognition OF tragic
farce. II was necessary both for
the vindication Of Ireland and as
an appeal 20 the opinion Of the civil
lied world and especially OF our own
race in America and elsewhere, that
the monstrous action OF the govern
ment should be notably marked.
and only such a protest as that Of
Mr. Devlin could have effected that
purpose He has received innum-
cradle congratula tons
Three notable facts are 70 be ad-
ded 70 the general accounts. First,
the look Of humiliation and anxiety
on the faces OF all the supporters Of
the government. due not merely TO
the great I ersonal popularity OF Mr.
Devlin, in spite OF his hercely
spoken unpopular opinions. but also
10 the sense of the hopeleesness Of
the situation which the government
had created and the dread Of the
disapproval Of all civilized opinion.
Secondly. the splendid enthusias SIN
and loyalty with which the British
Ia Dor members supported the Irish
protest Some of the labor mem
bers even offered 70 form a oarri-
cade at the door OF the house when
Mr. Devlin was ordered 10 leave,
and resist as long as possible his
expulsion: but the Irish members
thought this would be an unneces-
sarv measure And the third most
nota bic fact was the long pent-up
rage and hatred of both British Ia
Dor and British liberalism against
Sir Edward Carson which burst
when, slowly and grimly he walked
alone into the lobby 20 vote for the
expulsion Of Mr.. Devlin.
Mr. Devlin's comment on the
tranSa Ction was that II there were
- Irish members in the house of
commons instead Of the seven who
now attend, they could have beaten
this government long ago and pre-
vented the introduction Of such
measure as the present coercion bill.
Neither he nor any Of his colleagues
have the smallest idea OF giving up
the fight in the house OF commons.
The proceedings show how even one
Irish member can expose 70 the
light OF the whole world bill
whose ,niquity the government
would have otherwise struggled
through.
Mr.. Devlin cannot re-enter the
house unless by apology and reso-
luton The house is more anxious
To have him back than he is 10 go
there. and an apology they will
never extort from him. If he goes
back during the sittings Of this year
il will be because the house apollo
cizes 70 him. not he 70 the house.