The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1922-01-09

NOUNCES HIS RESIGNATION
AS PREsIDENT-MUCH EN-
THUsIAsM SHOWN BY PEOPLE. Z
RESULT CAUSES NO sURPRIE.-
Dublin, Jan. THE treaty Great
ing the Irish Free State;Has ratified
tonight by the Dali Eifeann. By "a
majority Of seven votes, e4 to- 81,
the daHg gave its appfoaalt TO the doc
ument signed by its delegates - at
London. =.
Coincidentally, Eamon, de Valera
announced his resignation, from the
presidency Of the Irish republic.
The news was received with the
greatest enthusiasts, and Sttke patient
crowds, which HAD waited fore hours
loutside' the university building iirsn-
|ticipation Of advices, butst into cheer
ling; even before the offciaA figures
lwere announced. =, atts:.: i!s%*s
Ratification Of the treaty came at:
tier a day Of intense excitement and
heated controversy. Although tie re-
suit was as had been expeettaesd, tie
majority in favor Of the agreement
was greater than had been counted
on almost up to the last minute. q :
A tense, strained silence prevailed
while the vote was being, taken, and
a gasp of relief went up from the
supporters of the treaty when the re-
suit was announced. "A dramatic scene
ensued, when de Valera stood up and
in broken voice, which vibrated with
emotion, declared that Hthe republic"
must be carried on. Ts'','* "a. -;
l. Eventually he broke down so COM
pletely that he was unable to pro-
ceed. The Dali Eirean, with one7ac-
cord, applauded and eheered him.
The situation at the adjournment
of the dali appeared to remaih cha
otic. The dali will meet on Monday
and there is no disposition revealed
by de Valera and his followers TO
abandon the factional struggle.
The future control Of the Irish re-
publican army is tonight the subject
of anxious speculation, as. Charles
Burgess, who strongly opposed :. the
treaty, is the minister of defense. So
far as the public is concerned; Dub
| lin seems delighted over ratification.
Arthur Griffith and his colleagues, on
emerging from the parliament, were
wildly oheered and the city tonight
is in jubilant spirits. --yE:s.-
On the announcement Of the fig
ures, de Valera rose and declared that
the Irish people had established re-
Ipublic, and until the Irish people in
regular manner disestablished the
republic it constitutionally went on.
This would be sovereign body in
the nation, to which the nation look
ed for supreme government. It was
the executive until the people discs
tablished it.
The body was disposed to challenge
this proposition, for the general opin-
on all along had been that during the
Transition period Ireland must keep
her representative assembly untilthe
treaty was converted into an act of
parliament and the Irish would have
an opportunity to erect a legislature
of the Free State to replace the dali.
Michael Collins in quiet tones fol-
lowed de Valera. He said he did not
regard the result in any spirit of
triumph. He claimed that the men
representing the dali who would be
responsible for taking over from the
British government control Of the
Irish administration should get fair
chance. In every, country what mat
| .ered most was public order, and he
appealed to the other side to appoint
joint committee of both sides to
carry on the government. This was
greeted with cheers. Mr.: Collins de-
clared that de Valera held the same