Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-12-21

though unwilling to expose the coun-
try to the consequences of rejection,
wish to maintain their personal posi-
ton as true republicans.
The main force of the attack on
them was based on the argument
that even De Valera has abandoned
the idea of a republic and framed
an oath recognizing the King as head
of the community of nations with
which Ireland is to be associated.
The most exciting speech at to-
days melting was that of DIR. Pat
rick McCartan, known as the first
ambassador of the Irish republic" to
the United States. who condemned
everybody impartially and declared
emphatically that the republic had
been abandoned in Dublin before the
delegates crossed to London. He
evoked great applause by expressing
preference for Griffith and Collins,
who he said, did their best, over the
"quibble result" among whom he in
cluded De Valera, who criticized the
delegates in the Dali Eireann, while
fighting them on no difference of
serious principles.
DIR. Mccartan denounced the whole
Dali cabinet, saying they all went
into the boat OF British Imperialism.
He was an uncompromising republi-
can, recognizing kings as out of date,
and he objected to any association
with the British empire. There was
no real difference between the oppos-
ing sections of the cabinet, he assert
ed; they were all wrong. The men
who died neither for this treaty nor
for the De Valera document. The re-
public of which cannon De Valera
was president was dead.
In conclusion, Dr. McCarten saw
no way out, for there was divided
cabinet, a divided Dali Eireann, a
divided army and a divided country.
He declined to vote for the treaty, or
stain from voting.
The narrowing of the issue be-
tween the opposing sections in the
Dali Eireann cabinet, was the main
feature of the. debate. Several men,
bers endeavored to elicite the terms
submitted at the private session last
week by Mr.. De Valera, with the OBJ
ject of proving that his disagreement
with Mr.. Griffith was not worth
fighting for.
John Mlroy, who has been an ac-
tive fighter in the Sim Fem and Tho
represented two constituencies, one
in Northern and the other in South
Grn Ireland insisted on reading what
he said was the text of the oath Mr..
De Valera had submitted in order to
show that there was not an essential
difference between it and the oath
contained in the treaty. Every time
this was referred to Mr.. DE Valera
strongly protested against reference
TO private document, and each time
Mr.. Griffith insisted on full publica-
ton, to which De Valera was not dis
posed to give his assent.
No speaker challenged the state
ment that the majority of the coun-
try is at present in favor of the
treaty, but De Valera said the coun-
try would change it's mind after the
campaign of explanation. One of the
speakers suggested as a way out of
the difficulty submission of the ques-
ton to two typical constituencies,
naming South Cork and East Clare,
the latter being De Valera's own con-
stituency. De Valera laughed loudly
at this suggestion.
War as an alternative to the treaty
was generally recognized by all the
members, and it is understood TINT
the retirement of the members into
private session for an hour in the af-
ternoon was for the purpose of exam
lining the position of the Irish repub
lican army in case the treaty were
rejected. Keenest speculation con-
Germs the personal position in which
such rejection would have recognized
mainstays Of the republican army,
such as Collins. Mulcahy Mckeown,
Finian, Lynch and other popular he
roes, who are committed to the
treaty.
Mr.. De Valera told the assembly