The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-08-04


 today the world presents many prob lems that no world student would dare attempt to definitely solve, and concerning which he would venture an opinion only with extreme dif- fidence. The World war has left the world fightweary. financially bank rupt, cynically mistrustful, and be- reft of those ideals that people were wont to laud in the days before a mad students crime let loose the dogs of war, put heaven in mourning and gave holiday to hell
 Today:
 The jingling of the guinea
 Helps the hurt that honor feels. And the nations do but murmur,
 Snarling at each others heels
 "Is there any hope that justice will return to earth again, that wrongs will be righted, that evil will be crushed, that truth will prevail? Oh! yes, though the times be sadly out of joint, though tis a mad world, my masters, yet God 8 in His Heaven, and alls well with the world.
 Ideals
 True at first blush it would seem that the high ideals enunciated dur ing the days when the nations were grappling in terrific combat, and men were falling in the fields of Flanders have been thrown into the discard, yet not so. America has never re- pudiated the ideals expressed by the late President called by some the Logothete, though it has repudiated the man that, with power to effect same, let himself be cozened by the willy diplomats of European chan cellories.
 "To America we look for the resur- rection of those ideals, and for the salvation of all that may bt salvaged from the wreck of world disaster. True, England also during the days when she was fighting with her back to the wall uttered high sounding platitudes, the sincerity of which may be doubtA4 now. The other na- tions, frankly, ssafish, brutally candid In their declarations of aims and prin- ciples, at least escape the reproach of hypocrisy, but America, our own glorious republic, is the hope of the world today.
 What then do we see today? One nation, our own, nation that with high ideals, asserts that these high ideals mustlnot perish from the earth, else we break faith with those that lie in Flanders fields where peoples grow. y
 "Is this the sole nation on earth with high ideals to which 1t is pledged to give expressions. There is also an other nation, q small weak nation, materially, not spiritually considered, fv,t q. will be the acid test whereby men may judge whether the world is be- coming better, more idealistic, juster, saner, safer, or whether the primitive l savagery and greed of conquest or ages we were wont to call remote and long past, still survive in these our modern days That other nation of high ideals, to which she would fain give expression, to which, as far as she may, she does give expression, Is the republic of Ireland.
 Solution of Problem
 Let me elucidate this point little, and show how the solution or the Irish probelm, which today is an in- ternational problem, will effect the worlds future for veal or for woe. In l1172, to quote the poet, Norman foot did first poliute her consecrateo shore Since then. in every genera ton Irishmen have risen in armed revolt in vain effort to repel the ln- yader, to acquire the right of self gov ernment, in modern parlance, they have struggled for self determination. Today the war of seven centuries IS l all but won there is a truce on the battle front, the opposing leaders arc | in council, and the curious world | student is watching anxiously 'ne | outcome of negotiations between an undoubtedly clever, willy Weishman' and a mathematically minded, Ills pano Celtic American, that means so much to the present generation. not | of the contenaing countries alone, hut of all nations, and that means in- finitely more to world generations | yet to be.
 No peace, this of course is tru- ism. save a peace founded on justice will last or endure. It Is in America 3 mower to secure this as we will pres ently see. but first is England sincere Warned by long experience. the Irish leaders may well quote. as at least 20 correspondents Of mine nave quoted, 'Tlmeo Danaos ct dona re- lrentes.' Here, is where America can do much, can force England 10 pc sincere. can by seeing that Ireland f that will do more to bring about the millennium than nation ever did before will be hastenlng the day great laureate forsaw:
 "'When the war drums throbs nc
 longer, and the battle flags are furled.
 In the parliament of man, the fed
 eration of the world
 How so? Very simply, by recogni- tion of the Irish republic.
 Possible Disbelief
 Many, I know, will smile derisi?e- Nv when they read this, but yet what valid arguments can be brought ior- ward against such course of ac- lion? A month ago, Lloyd George who rules tthe King only reigns), in England, swore by the nine gods that he would never treat with the mur- der gang that stifled the true voice of Ireland; that law, English law would be relentlessly enforced in every corner of the Kings dominica Today he gladly welcomes De Va llera. whom he halls as the leader o1 the vast majority of the Irish race to his council room. Sfr Nevil Mo- | ICready. head of the army of occupa- tion in Ireland, draws up terms of truce with General Collins. commands CT in chief of the Irish republican army.
 Tt may be objected that the act of recognition of the Irish reoublie would be tantamount to declara- . ton of war with England. Not ir the least. We have already recog. nized 14 republics. Is there not ir American polity such thing as recognition without interrogation Does not every student of our Ais.or, know that when Spain pro-es.st against recognition of the Soutf American republics, MT Adams. Sec