The Washington times., 1922-08-30

militant movement existed within II
and by its side.
''Those who have merely a smat-
tering knowledge Of Irish events OF
the past few years must realize this
is so when they learn that two of
Sim Fein's most ardent advocates
were Tom Clark and Sean McDer-
mott. No one will call these two
mighty figures OF Easter week
pacifists.
Moreover, within the organization
two movements worked in perfect
harmony.
"A, second overstressed feature of
Sim Fein has been that 1t was a
purely political machine-with the
accompanying suggestion that b.
littlement on this charge for some
inexplicable reason seems to carry.
An admittedly large majority in
Ardfheis against the treaty was m
stanced as proof of this-the fact
being used to show that Sim Fcin
! was as narrowly partisan as an ordi-
nary party machine and as little
concerned with the actual welfare
Of the nation. This is gross libel.
Rooney's Great Role.
ut is a. fact that Rooney had little
use for formulae. He preached the
language of liberty. But he also in
spired all he met with national bride
and courage. Tell the world bravcly
what Se seek he said. We must be
men II we mean to win
He believed that liberty could
not be won unless we were fit and
willing to win it-ready to suffer and
die for 1t. He interpreted the ma
tional ideal as an Irish state gov.
erned by Irishmen for the benefit Of
he Irish people. He sought to i'm.
'rognate the whole people with Gael
speaking nationality. Only then
he pleaded, can we win freedom of
the fullest and broadest character
freedom to think and act as II best
beseems-national freedom to stand
equally with the rest of the world
He aimed at weaving Gaelicism
into the whole fabric of our national
life. He wished to have Gaelic songs
sung by the children in the schools.
He advocated boycotting English
goods, always with an eve toward
the spiritual effect. We shall need,
he said, to turn our towns into
something more than mere huck-
'ters' shops and, as a natural conse-
quence, wells of Anglicization poison
ng every section Of our people,
Pro-Irish Policy.
Such was our policy. Just as
during the world war the Hearst
newspapers In America urged that
Americans should be neither pro.
British nor anti.British, but, on the
| contrary, should concentarate on be-
ing pro-American, so Sim Fcin
aimed at making Irishmen pro- Irish.
only by developing our own re.
sources, linking our life with the
past, adopting the civilization which
was stopped by disunion, could we
become Gaels again and help win our
| nation back. So long as we were
Gaels we knew the influence of the
foreigner was negligible. Unless we
were Gaels we had no claim to &C.
cupy a definite, distinct place in the
| worlds life.
Quotes Rooney.
1--WE most decidedly do believe >
said Rooney, that this nation has a
right to dir ect its own destinies. We
do most heartily concede that men
bred as natives of the soil are the
best judges Of what is good for this
land. We are believers in the Irish
nation using its own tongue, flying
its own flag, defending it's own
coasts, using its own discretion whec
dealing with the outside world. Brit
| this we most certainly believe can
never come as the gift Of any Par.
lament, British or otherwise.
"'It can only be done by the
| strong arms and grim resolve of
men. Neglect no weapon which the
necessities and difficulties of the
enemy force him to abandon to IT'S,
and make each concession a step.
ping-stone to further things
perhaps that is sufficient
answer to the charge that Sim Fein
was a pacifist organization"
Another installment Of Michael
Collins own book win appear In