New-York tribune., 1921-01-02

England than the MODS thet burn
British flags in New York streets are
of America. But the Black and Tans
wear English uniforms and they are
here by the authority Of the British
government. 1t is small wonder that
Che Irish take tho exception for the
iule.
One is told everywhere that settle
ment becomes more impossible with
each passing day. and that the chances
for it aren't what they used to be- To
this ono is tempted TO give the famous
reply Of Delane, editor OF The London
Times, who, when q dAiler sadly re-
marked that The Times wasn't what 1t
used to be, replied, But, my dear sir,
tainiy true that each new outbreak Of
violence only serves to embittex the
feeling on both sides.
Moderate opinion in Ireland almost
universally condemns in the strongest
terms the murders in Dublin two weeks
ago and the firing of the Liverpool
warehouses Saturday. The editor Of
one of the Duphn newspapers, q
stAnch Nationalist was in his ofticc
"Fools!" he calculated bitterly.
"Oh--damned fools!"
What Dfect do you think those
things will have on American opin-
ion ?" the American spondents
here are frequently asked.
They may have the wind up in Eng
land. but it's not worth the price," said
a most moderate lrishman to-day. And
not long afterward an official at Dublin
recently recruited police could only
be. held in hand great part Of official
lreland's burden would be lifted.
But what can YOU expect 20 he
asked. They're only hs,man-boys,
some Of them-fresh from the war
Their comrades are ambuahed. They
hit back. 1t is inevitable that some
innocent people must suffer-
But murders and outrAgcs and re-
prisals continue.
Food Scarcity Threatens
If the curtailment of the Irish rail
way service continues at the present
rate, and if the twenty-mile radius
limit for autmob les is kept in effect,
the people of the southern, cities will
soon be IN prec4rious position. Food
now, although plentiful and good, is not
cheap. Everybody knows what a scare
ity would bring about.
AS for Sim Fdin--one is lost in T.
maze of truth, half-truth, legend and
1ancy. Sim FAiners Of the direct ac-
tlon tyne are becOmng scarcer and
scarcer. II is decidedly to their advan-
tage to be inconspicuous. On the Other r
hand, a great many eminently respec-
table people proclaim themselves Sim
FeineIs, and the police know it, and do
not trouble about it. Perhaps the
nearest one can come to the truth is
that Sim Fein as q name for cause
is representative, while Sim Fein as a
secret organization is not.
"There ca0 he mn 1pstiYp0 aottla IN O n ?
imposed by force of arms" Present
official policy to the contrary or not,
believe this statement to be absolutely
true. The present situation is intol-
erabie. No matter how MANY murde rs
are committed. you cannot stop them
by terrifying the populace IN general,
Take typical Dublin Street scene
1t is much the same as any American
city of similar size and location would
afford. (The claiming popu lation Of
Dublin is 100000; the actuaa about
[ 2o0,uV0.) In Sackvllie Street, for in
i stance, which after the revolution OF
! 1916 was renamed O'Conneli Street
but which still is called by It's old
name, there is smaller and abridged
edition Of the Nelson Monument in
Trafalgar Square. London Here many
streetcar lines converge. The street
is wide, lined with FIVE and six story
old postoffice, another reminder of the
Easter week, conspicuous.
Incidents in Dublin Life
One walks down it's sidewalks, per.
haps even feeling a bit homesick be.
ing have so encumbered the sidewa e
that he is forced out into the muddy
street There are hundreds of people
about, mostly we'll dressed. Duplin
slums are not in evidence.
Suddenly one sees fellow pedestrian.
looking around. A few melt incon
spicuously down side streets. Other.
stand stock still. The majority wal
n with an air Of unconcern. An opel
truck swings into view II is fl e.
with Black and Tans-men of the Roya
hristle with rifles at the ready
IAe result? Dublin is terrified, i
ever a city was People lock
ciously at each other. do not thinI
anybody thoroughly trusts anyovd
else. There is a remark bic nervous
tension everywhere. The backhring 0
motorcycle exhaust, which sounds re
u1arkably like a machine gun, cause
instant apprehension. There are ~
nors and counter rumors The 8' ~"
who scrut:nizes one keenly in a hote
dining room may be i sly, ~ per
he Just wishes to remind one TIA
smoking is only allowed in the cofe
room, OF to one side. Men sudden,
stop private converse lions and fin,
open doors after having stolen TO then
on tiptoe.
Yet they do not seem more willin
to give in than before.
1t is hard to be neutral in Dubli
these days. There are SO many con
I ~ to ,tal woe = ko
side. But, beyond everything else, on
wonders "Why? And how long?"
And the 10 o'clock curfew gives tim
for q lot Of wondering.