The Washington times., 1922-02-19

births and marriages OF the upper
class English nonentities.
But by the completeness with
which England converted us into
hewers OF wood and drawers Of
water, she in the end defeated her
own purpose. Feebly resisting at
moments when we were less COM
pletely crushed. when a brief in.
terval came between long periods
Of starvation, when we had d mo-
ment In which we could reflect
upon our condition, we gradually
awoke to the cause Of our miseries,
and we grew to learn that If we
would be economically free we
must be nationally free, and II we
would be spiritually free we must
be nationally free.
The coming and the presence Of
the English had deprived us Of
life and liberty. Their ways were
not our ways. Their interests and
their purposes meant our destruc.
ton. We must turn back again
the wheels of that Infamous ma
chine which was destroying us.
We must get the English out Of
Ireland.
Our efforts at first were natural.
ly tim.d and they were often futile
because we were too much con.
cerned with the political side
confused in this by the example
Of England land il was by the
physical presence Of the English
agents that we got this example)
where nationality was always ex-
pressed that way and in fact was
principally a matter OF political
organization.
The repeal Of the union was little
more than a cry. gaining what
real strength II had from the more
vigorous hostility of the Young
ireland movement which revived
our old literature. which red s.
covered Irish history and spread
a new spirit.
That spirit was wholly martial,
but what Irishman will say today
that II was not beneficial, even so?
The Fenians came and once and
for all raised the banner Of Ire
lands freedom with a definite mill
tary policy, which, though unsuc-
cessful at the time, had its full
effect IN bringing before our minds
the real road to Irish salvation.
The Fenian idea left a torch be-
hind it with which Tom Clark and
Sean McDermott kindled the fire Of
Easter week. And though SEEM
ingly quenched these flames were
soon blazing brightly again at Solo
head, at Clonfin. at MaCroom, at
Dublin, at many a place in Clare.
Mayo. Monaghan and Donegal dur.
ing the recent struggle.
After the Fenians there were
years Of death again, while famine
ragged over the land, till Parnell
emerged to struggle for indepan.
dence under the name Of home rule,
which though accompanied by
soc al and economic revolt against
Davitt's national land policy was
bringing us back again to the
dangerous idea Of seeking our free.
dom by means of some form Of
political weapon.
PARNELL'S POLICY.
The weakness Inherent in Par
nell's policy was obviated by his
intense personal hostility to the
English. He never forgot the end
In the beans. But 1t lost that
saving protection when II fell into
him and who in the lotus-liRe at
mosphere Of the Westminster
parliament forgot the national
spirit and lost touch with the minds
and feelings Of their countrymen.
The collapse came when In the
hands of weaker men the national
effort became concentrated at a
foreign parliament on English po-
litical lines. The method adopted
by the parliamentarians and the
forum they had chosen made their
crumbling an easy matter, and
from the English point Of view 1t
greatly helped the division Of en-
ergy.
We would have the identical stu.
alton today had we chosen the same
methods and fought on the same