The Washington herald., 1921-12-20
Battle of Personalities Is
Evident in De b tie
On Ratification.
DE VALERA LEADS
PACT OPPONENTS
Request for Secrecy on
His Alternative Is
Refused.


was waged today in the public ses-
sion Of Dali Eireann for the soul
and body Of Ireland. 1t was a bat
tie Of personalities, and never were
more apparent the differences IN
1rishmen and Irish temperaments
than today.
The men who spoke for ratifica-
ton of the treaty were plain, cold
businesslike men who marshaled
their facts with no betrayal of pas
sion, though the fire of patriotism
burned as freely. if not as brightly
as in the souls OF the antiratifca-
tiOnists. who displayed passion. fire,
anger and hatred. and in one case
at least the speaker rose to heights
of real eloquence.
Proceedings Are Orderly.
This Legislature of farmers and
men from small country towns ha,
whipped itself into shape in a won-
derful manner in its week of secret
sessions. The first open session OF
Dali was a trial to both the speak
ers and spectators Today it was
as orderly an assembly as the
mother Parliament herself. and the
speaker had an easy task. The
only interruption came from Ea'
NOM de Valera, who insisted once
or twice in interposing when Ar
thur Griffith was speaking, and who
seems unable to forget that he Is
a political leader and no longer q
school teacher.
The session opened a half hour
later than the appointed time. The
leaders lined up as before, Eamonn
de Valera. Austin Stack and CathAl
Rrugha on the front bench to the
left of the speaker On the other
side was Arthur Griffith. Michac'
Collins and Robert Barton. while in
the body of the hall was Dick Null
cahy, the redoubtable head of the
Irish Republican army who is sup
porting Griffith.
Fighting Hero Backs Grimth.
In this connection a dramatic
surprise was sprung this morning
when Sean McKeown, the famou'
blacksmith of Ballinalee. VINO is the
hero Of the Irish army, took the
floor as the seconder of Griffith:
motion for the ratification of the
treaty and. speaking for the fighting
men, declared that they were
satisfied.
The first sensation was sprung
when Speaker MacNeill announced
that De Valera had requested that
the alternative treaty which he had
presented in the secret session
should be treated as a confidential
document and not be referred to in
public debate. Griffith immediately
protested, declaring that he would
not agree 20 concealing from tn.
people the alternative to ratify and
he fatty refused to be bound by De
Valera's request 1t was eviden,
from the tone of this interchang,
that the bitterness between tnc
leaders had increased rather thar
diminished by the secret debates
Collins also natfy refused to d.
bound. declaring that even IL he wa.
a minority Of one he would exercise
his right to let the Irish peopi,
know the whole truth.
Grinith shows sincerity,
The motion for ratification b,
Grifith was made in a plain bust.
ness-like speech. in level tones and
with little fire. Mr.. Griffith is M
trick orator but he convinced By
the plainness Of his statements ant
his evident sincerity of purpose
In this he is in contrast to De Va.
Iera who is at all times a passionat,
orator but who often fails to con.
vince by over-emphasis. Grifith
with his fighting chin firmly set
struck out with an absence of res.
ture that impressed one that he I.
a man who had made a busines.
bargain and who was determined Il
see his bond honored. He empha.
sized the fact that he had taken the
responsibility. which De Valera had
refused. not only for the negotiation
Of the treaty but for the war wher
De Valera was in America.
Backs Up Signature.
when We went to London W,
undertook the hardest task ever lai6
on the shoulders of men" he said
"Other men were asked to go. bu-
other men refused: we went. we
took the responsibility at London
and We took. it here in Dublin.
signed the treaty. 1 fully believe
that 10 is honorable for ireland, and
by it am going to stand, and ev4ry
man with a scrap of honor wnc
signed it will also stand by II. II
am to stand in the dock. IL is by
the Irish people that 1 will be
judged We are their servants and
not their masters as some seem to
think. and / am confident that O.
per cent will hold that this treaty
Is good enough.
TT has been said that We COM
promised our republicanlsm. and
also that the man who won the war
- Michael Collins compromised
Ireland. We will LET the people
Judge"
This was the occasion of De Va
lera's first Interruption. from
which II seemed that his objection
to the treaty was that Ii had been
signed voluntarily and not as an
admission OF defeat.
Resuming. Griffith said:
what We bought back was the
evacuation of Ireland by British
troops; we brought back an Irish
army; we brought back full fiscal
control. equality with all the ma
tions in the British commonwealth.
an equal voice in foreign affairs,
and-peace. not war"
(Copyrieht 1oz1.)