The Washington times., 1922-09-25
AUTONOMYF0R
IRELAND SURE,
WIDOW FEELS
Mrs. MacSwinsy Says America
Can Give Moral Support to
Republican Cause.

AEHOStlC, iOo VI SdlHOuCISHl' pdIi-
fist, though she mentions the deaths
Of Arthur Griffith and Michael Col
Inns in the calm way one would
speak of two pawns OF an opposing
chess. player swept from the boards.
and withal a devout believer In Irish
autonomy at whatever cost-suCh is
the Muriel MacSwiney of 1922.
On her last visit to the United
States, this fresh faced young
woman, who at present is a main
spring in the eccentric machine Of
which Eamonn De Valera is gov
ernor. appeared as testament to
the self-martyrdom of her husband,
Terence MacSwiney, Lord Mayor Of
Cork. Now she comes as a repre-
sentative of the Irish intransigeant
but. according TO her, not in his
war.like humor which counsels am
bush and fermentation again the
Free State government. She wants
funds for the relief of the dependents
of irregulars and for the hospital.
zation of wounded Nationalist fight.
ers.
Mrs. MacSwlney has left her
brooding grief behind her, though
she still wears black. She has
bobbed her hair and refreshed her
views on things Irish. In 1921 she
was In America to seek public
support OF the separation OF her
country and England. Nows she
wants American backing Of the pro.
ject to bring about the absolute
divorce. Without the moral sane
tion of the white world. she thinks,
Ireland cannot hope to become a
sovereign state.
Leaves Here Tomorrow.
Mrs. MacSwiney is making her
first Washington stop on her ma
tional tour at the home OF Mr.. and
Mrs. Frank r. Walsh, 23l0 Tracy
place. She leaves here tomorrow,
but will return before sailing.
Here are a few OF her views as eX.
pressed In a conversation today:
II was brought up a Catholic, but
now am nothing. don't care
what Archbishop Curley or any
other prelate says about acceptance
Of the free state treaty. The clergy
has stood consistently against the
movement for freedom. The younger
generation in Ireland IL. believe.
being weaned away from the
Catholic church. IT is thinking for
itself.
Two OF the men who signed the
treaty OF 1921 under threats Of
Lloyd George are dead. Only one,
Bob Barton. had the courage to
admit he was wrong in putting pen
to IL. That treaty would be an ad
mission 0 English sovereignty,
something Ireland has denied for
$50 years.
THE treaty would be rejected on
plebiscite, that Is, II we could
have an honest plebiscite. I doubt
that such a thing Is possible. Ire.
lands main hope OF freedom is in
the moral support OF America and
Europe. II can be won. just as II
was won for the first movement OF
separation.
Irish Industries have been for
the most part prescribed by the
English. There is no reason with
the raw materials available why the
country should not be industrially
independent.
Treaty Checks Trade.
The treaty would have a paralyz.
ing effect upon the development Of
trade and shipping. for it would
hand over four OF our main harbors
to the English-Queenstown. Behr.
havn. Loughswilly and Galway.
THE republic has been thrice az.
firmed by the people-in 1914. 1918
and 1921. The idea the ma aiority
don't want II. when their thought is
not led astray. is entirely wrong.
"Michacl Collins was the head OF
an association OF coerCcrs. threat
cners and character assassins
known as the Irish Republican
brotherhood. They 80 intimidate cd
the Dali Eireann- that the treaty
was put over. He's dead now and
the organization will fall to pieces
and give the people a chance.
"CosRrove is straw man. an
insignificant little fellow with dyed
hair who has not initiative or self
assertion. He means nothing TO us
"I am pacifist. In the -Four
Courts battle was for time
thoroughly frightened. However,
had the idea ] might die for the
Irish cause. We want no more
fighting II It can he avoided. I
am not soliciting funds here for
the prosecution OF hostilities, hut
for the relief OF wounded men and
their dependants"
All OF Mrs. MacSwiney's talk ID
couched In a modulated, conversa
tional key. Her words are more
forceful by far than her way OF
uttering them. She smiles constant
ly. and interlards her political stric
lures with comments upon litera
ture and art With Nurse Linda
May Kearns she appeared lest
night at a mass meeting in the
Coliseum, which was well attended
She claims that the Friends OF
Irish Freedom. the more conserva
tive organization in America, is
vastly outnumbered by the Ameri
can Association for the Recognition
OF the Irish Republic. and that the
majority Of sympathies can he
swung actively to the side OF abso
lutte divorce from England. She
leaves tomorrow for a tour OF the
country.