The New York herald., 1922-03-06
.CONCILIATE ULSTER,
DEMAND OF COLLINS
He Warns That Treaty Can
Bankrupt North if She
Stays Out.
OPPOSES ANY COERCION
Dublin Crowds Cheer Free
State Leaders at Opening
of Campaign.
OPPOSES ANY COERCION

Special Gable 10 TIE New York HERALD.
Copyright, 1929, by THE New YORK HrRaLD
New York Herald Bureau.
Dublin. March 8.
Before crowd manifestly favorable
spontaneous and apparently unanimous
in its feeling, Michael Collins. man OF
the people and head Of hte provisional
Government. scored repeatedly to-da.
in the most brilliant speech of his career
delivered in opening the campaign ii
favor of the Anglo-Irish treaty in .he
coming elections. The enormous ano
enthusiastic crowd, one OF the most rep
resentative Dublin has seen, stood by
the old House of Parliament, despite
gusts of rain, and heard this vigorous
young leader turn his opponents own
words against them and express good
sense in pithy phrases to catch the inn
agination of the common people
On another platform at the other side
OF the building a huge crowd heard
Arthur Griffith in clear pointed
speech. which was short because ne Is
slightly Ill from overwork The crowd
had heard several good preliminary
speeches by Joseph McGrath, Minister
of Labor and William Cosgrove Minister
for Home Affairs.
Collins told the great assembly It was
only because the treaty had been signed
that De Valera could shout so loudly for
the republic. Griffith told the crowd
that the treaty gave full independence
and that they (the leaders) were de-
termined the people should have a free
decision as to its merits The position
in the northeast, he said, was not ideal.
but there We're only two alternative Is
sues-coercion or conciliation. Which,
ever alternative was adopted must lie
adopted wholeheartedly. All were agreed
against coercion. but the treaty con-
| tanned forces for persuasion which
would bring the northeast into bank
ruDtcy If $. stayed out of the Free
State.
VIII Retain Volunteers.
Collins opened his speech by recalling
the history the old Parliament House
brought to mind and declared great
mistake was made in 1852 when separa-
ton was secured and the volunteers
were disbanded. But we have no in
tention of disbanding our volunteers
now" he declared amidst cheers. He
reached the heart of every irishman
who las become disgusted with the re
cent increasing lawlessness by declaring
crime and disorder. We want your sup
port for the police force we are forming.
We will have peoples guard for the
protection OF all parties and classes.
VIII your opponents hinder and obstruct
that course? Will they go on making
difficulties? We have right to hear the
answers to these questions. Let the
people hear the answers"
In connection with this point he re-
called the tragedy of Friday, when the
son-in-law of John Redmond was shot
dead in the center of the city while try
ing to catch a thief. He also recalled
DE Valeras warning at the closing ses-
sion OF the Dali Eireann against the
creating Of police force and using any
means of policing except the Irish Re-
publican army. Here an extraordinary
thing occurred. Probably for the first
time De Valera's name was slightly but
noticeably booed
Free state nm Oasis.
The main points in Coilins's speech
were that the treaty made it possible TO
resume the campaign for a republic,
which was abandoned last July: that
the free state was merely an oasis IN
the desert Of Ireland's struggle where
instead OF ignoring it as De Valera in
drawing his smile advised, they would
rest and refresh themselves and then
20 on; that the treaty gave the best
guarantees of freedom that could be got
on paper that De Valera's tactics in
splitting the country would not abolish
but perpetuate the partition Of ireland.
and finally that he meant to abolish a
police force for which he needed the
support of the people. The speech closed
with an appeal for the abandonment OF
1ghting, which he declared when for
vital and patriotic ends was necessary
and noble. but when it became an end
in itself. was depravity.
Griffiths speech covered familiar
ground. He pointed out that the treaty
recognized the nationhood OF Ireland
and that the opponents offered no al
Tentative, their only prescription for i'm
proving Ireland's soul being TO keep the
body lacerated Griffith charged that
the opponents OF the treaty were gamb-
ling with the lives and fortunes of the
nation and urged acceptance of the
treaty with which the present genera
ton Of Irishmen could live and see Ire
land established for the Irish.
DUBLIN, March (Associated Pross)
Crowds which gathered to-day for the
opening of the campaign in favor of ac-
ceptancc Of the Ango-Irish (Irish Free
State) treaty were notable. not only be-
cause of their vast proportions but the
high degree of enthusiasm evinced. Not
withstanding the rain. which turned Col
lege Green into a veritable forest of um-
brellas. the people stayed to hear all the
speakers.
With tho exception OF minor flag
incident. when girls and women tore
down a Free state tricolor, perfect order
was maintained by the Republican police.
The resentful crowd jeered and booed
uie women for the flag affair. and at
tempts at interruption by a handful OF
the same women who remained near tho
platform were drowned out by popular
protest.
The flag incident occurred at the plat
forri from which Mr.. Collins was speak
ing. a large tricolor was just about To
be hoisted when a band OF girls and
women. members Of the Republican or
ranization, rushed TO the platform.
seized the flagstaff and pulled down and
tore up the flag. There was n struggle
FOR possession OF tho remnants Of It,
When majority of tho women had
been escorted TO the outskirts OF tho
crowd by the Provisional Governments
police another flag was hoisted
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