The New York herald., 1922-06-21
Ireland Votes Herself Sane.

Stripped of all the side issues, the
Irish elections of last Friday were
to determine whether Ireland was as
sane as the outer world believed her
to be or as demented as the irrecon-
cilables hoped she was. From such
returns as have come in the old
island seems to be in sound mental
condition.
The republicans, instead of gaining
seats, have lost their grip in some
of the cities where their strength
was counted greatest Even the can
didates whose appeal was most SYM
pathetic-such as Mrs. CLARK, the
widow of the leader Of the 1916
rising-have gone down before the
general sentiment in favor of peace.
The vote for the treatyites was
really bigger than the complexion of
the next Parliament would indicate.
In Cavan, for instance, two rro-
treaty members and one opponent Of
the treaty were elected, but the total
vote cast for the pro-treaty candi-
dates was 25,146, while the anti
treaty candidate polled only 6.496.
In Dublin the republican candidates
polled less than one-sixth of the total
vote. The new Parliament would be
much more strongly pro-treaty il it
had not been for the entrance Of the
independents and the labor candi-
dates. These, by diverting votes
from the straight Collins-Grihith
candidates, helped the republicans to
more seats than their real strength
deserved.
1t was the first opportunity the
Irish had to express themselves at
the polls on the treaty which GRIF.
FIFTH and COLLINS concluded with
England last December. The circum-
stances of the election were not
perfectly favorable to the treaty. The
war in Ulster was fierce. The new
constitution was put before the cleo
tors on the eve of election and few
had time to digest it. There was n
great variety of candidates.. Pro-
treaty Griffith men, pro-treaty inde.
pendents, pro-treaty coalitionists and
pro-treaty laborites took the field
against republicans. The line up was
confusing.
Some of the friends Of the treaty
complained that the election was
one without distinct issue. In that
they were mistaken. Since last win
ter any election in Ireland must have
had one and only one issue-the ac-
ceptance or rejection Of the treaty
with England. Now the election is
over and has confirmed the belief
that the great majority Of the
southern Irish are in favor OF the
Free State and it's promise Of peace,
dignity and prosperity. The voters
have indorsed the action of COLLINS
and GRIFFITH and of the majority Of
the Dali Eireann.
What the Free State needs now is
action. The day of pandering to the
irreconcilables ought to be over.
The men at the head Of the Free
State will be expected to break up
the irregular army and to treat the
guerrillas as gunmen. The majority
which spoke at the elections must
rule. 1t looks to the Collins Govern
ment to put Ireland on it's feet.
COLLINS and GRIFFITH and their old
comrades of the Sim Fein. now
deputies of the Irish Free State. must
start the machinery of the new do
minion and keep the wild men from
throwing wrenches into the gears.
The business men, the farmers. the
labor people, the clergy-all the ele-
ments that are really important to
the dominion-declared themselves
for the treaty and for the constitu-
tion which interprets that great
peace paper.