Connecticut western news., 1920-07-29
AMERICA AND THE
 IRISH PROBLEM
Norfolk Resident Writes Timely Suggestions on
 Live Topic

uoIeS- DUH nau SuHered many things because of doctors, nurses. medicines, and the various ills thxt flesh is heir to. Said Jones to Smith- "The conclusion of the whole mat ter is; eat an apple every day, ana you'll keep the doctor away" Smith replied: "I go you one better; "eat an onion every day and you'll keep everybody away" What is the connection? Let us keep on givinx advice to other nations as to how they should manage their own affairs; let us indicate to England, fer instance, the proper solution of the Irish problem. The fact thxt we don't know much about m should not make us hesitate. Let us try and demonstrate that, aI- though we are not party to the League of Nations, still it remains for us to suggest the best methods of throwing light on. its difficuh problems; let us pursue this policy far enough and we shall have provem that the onion of our conceit hss become a stench in the nostrils of our friends across the water,
 If England asks our advice as es the Irish muddle; 1t will be tims then to advise. Let us put the shoe on the other foot. How would we like to have England outline tho proper policy to straighten out our Mexican tangle; and not only that but suppose England should begin an active propaganda for carrying her theories into effect? We would be- justly indignant at such oficiou#- ness. But England has much more reason for insisting that we pre- serve peace in Mexico than we have for a like insistance regardinx Ireland. For years Englishmen have held valuable interests in Mexico These interests have suffered severe ly during the last ten years Of Mexican trouble. It would be req sonable for England to demand that we either protect the interests of her people or that we let her do SO The latter policy we could not tolerl ,atcJ because of our just adherence to the Monroe doctrine.
 But we refuse to meet the neces- sites of the case; we refuse to insisx on hvable conditions in Mexica- Notwithstanding all this our English cousins exhibit degree of patience which is admirable. A reasonable conclusion would be for us to be guided by the same wisdom and courtesy.
 The reason for the Irish -propag- or nd sr .n to understand. There are many Irish malcontents here and in Ire land whose hatred of England is bitter, narrow-minded and unreason- able. It is certainly true that in tho past England has pursued a policy toward Ireland which at times has | seemed to us unwise. But are we to judge? Do we understand the full values of the pros and cons as .coaa- pletely as do the statesmen of Eng land? Do the common people of England understand the difficulties of our Mexican situation as we'll as our statesmen?
 | We. all know somewhat of Eng lands and Irelands' quarrel. We know that Ireland is divided by North and South; that the people of one section have different policies. aims and ambitions than the people of the other section; that the relig- ious differences between the two ara keen, bitter and apparently impo@- sible of reconciliation that there are many other causes of discord is probably true. Now if the Irish malcontents can only cause friction between America and England; if they can only change the pleasant cordial understanding and feeling of mutual regard existing between the two great branches of the Anglo Saxon race; if they can only use America to force the hand of Eng land; if they can only play upon our sympathies for Ireland strugg- ling for freedom even as we struggled for our independence; then they will have attained their purpose and we will have prova1 ourselves easy dupes of their MachI iavellian policies.
 Suppose full freedom were grant ed to Ireland today. What would result? A bloody civil war between the North and the South. Kilkenny cats chewing each other into mice meat. Furthermore with Ireland right at Englands' side is it difficult to realize the turmoil which would inevitably result in England herself, a turmoil possibly leading to strifeS,
 Nature placed our land three thousand miles from England. Our forefathers came here expressly to obtain liberty of conscience as well as liberty of action. And yet it ig doubtful if we would ever have sought political freedom had it net been for the laundering narrow minded king who then occupied the throne of England. Can anyoir pretend that today the foreign polf-