The Columbia evening Missourian., 1922-12-19
FATE OF IRISH
REPUBLIC IS IN
THE BALANCE
Sentiment Will Decide in Short
Time Between Responsible
Government and Form
of Bolshevism.
ARE TIRED OF VALERA
Sinn Fein Became Popular
When Oppressed" by the
British-People Are
Behind II.

Dtlllflu IL.
., Uaiied Pres.
IoypoN, Dec. l9.-Ireland will choose
during the next few months, perhaps
weeks. between responsible government
and its own peculiar form Of Bolshevism.
Launched in tempestuous seas, with
n,u Of its crew and half of its officers
mutipous, the new Irish ship of state has
survived nearly j year of its stormy yoy.
age.
X has started now upon the last, and
the decisive. part OF its trials.
The Irish people themselves, the or.
dinary people who stay at home and
keep the country going, will decide
whether the new ship is to win through
10 peaceful governmental waters or be
smashed against the rocks which form
the gravestones of the many Irish ships
Of state Of other years.
In beginning to execute rebel gunmen
10 take as do other governments, eye for
eve and tooth for tooth in dealing with
rebellous elements, the Free State has
started for the first time really to func-
tion II has started also TO undergo for
the first time the test of Irish public
opinion. perhaps the most changeable in
the world.
II the government can stand the test.
Il it can punish banditry and murder,
here calling itself patriotism, as do other
civilized governments, the success of
Free State government is assured.
FUTURE UNCERTAIN
Il il cannot, and it is by no means
certain that it can. Ireland is in for
years more Of the oppression and rebel
hon that have made if q dark distressful
country for centuries.
Irish public opinion is something
which no person, certainly no 1rishman,
can hope to fathom. In 1916, when the
Easter rebellion was started the Repub-
lcan movement was fought not only
by the British government but by the
Irish people. As late as 1913, when
Sim Fein succeeded in electing its men,
bers to the British Parliament-never to
take their seats, the ordinary Irishman
made no effort to conceal his hatred and
contempt for The organization. Martyred
Nick Collins engaged in at least one
freefor-all fight in aid of one of his
fellowcandidates against the candidates
prospective constituents.
Two years later the entire Irish ma
ton was behind Sim Fein and helped
il through the reign of terror which won
for Ireland the treaty with Britain.
Sim Fein did not begin to become
popular until it began being oppressed"
BY the British. That was the manner in
which it won its way into the hearts of
the people
Now an Irish government has taken it
over, and there is no question but that
the people are behind it. They are tired
p OF Valera, tired Of his pack, tired Of
ambushes and assassinations and rob-
berries. But they were just as tired in
The early days of Sim Fein until the
authorities began executing the partici-
pants.
The difference now is that there is an
lrlsh government in control. That is the
only ground for hope that the alienation
OF the Irish rebels from the sympathies |
OF the people is so complete that the |
execution Of those of them who may be |
caught will not change popular support
from the -oppressor" to the Oppressed
ARE NATURAL REBELS
lrlshmen, even members of the govern /
nent, are uncertain as to the result. The /
arsin Of sentiment in the Irish people |
makes them natural rebels. made it pos
slble Tor them during seven centuries Of /
british rule to keep always in mind the
'aea Of being free. II was necessary for
'ne Free State government TO tighten up,
70 deal firmly with the rebels and take
,ne chance Of breaking them or being |
broken by the people, or die slowly of
anemia. ~,
Inc government cannot turn back. |
Inc iirst announcement, that four OBJ
sure gunmen had been executed, meant.
: they knew, that they had cast the die.
ine men executed were Irishmen, sons
" irish mothers, boys known in some
A,sn village, not as gunmen, but as
",diers-snd as Paddy and Mick.
u should not be long before it is
AnoNn whether Irish sentiment will
wand hrm and what will be the fate
mol only Of the Free State government
oui Of the treaty with Great Britain. and