South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-01-17
DECLARES PEACE
ACCEPTANCE BARS
FREEDOM HOPES
De Valera Explains Reasons
for Opposing Ratification
of Irish Settlement.

OF ITlsn Oetllcmcnl.
continued from page one)
plead IA n basis Ireland's right %
free national self-detcrmiuation
and that the people Of Ireland con-
stituted a distinct and separate ma
ton. ethnicalIy and historically. and
as attesfed by every other standard
cf political science.
Noted For Freedom
"I was able 20 contend that IN"
Irish never voluntarily accepted
british rule or authority. but cousis-
tently challenged &c through centur-
ics. and that they mad i'm fact. .n
recent national plebiscites. clearly
indicated thetr VIII % live their ma
t.oneI life as an independent. sover-
e.gn state
These statements. could not. 1T
mat time. be challenged C.rcum-
stances surrounding tho so called
act RI union Of 1900 were SO motor
.Jus that 10 informed person would
seriously hold that that act consti-
tgted valid contract.
I'm Irish history there is not
single instance Of the irish people
Voluntarily bending the knee "a
British authority. Ireland's moral
ease is perfect There never was "a
spiritual surrender
Now this treaty. IL ratified by
the people. viii determine our whole
ratioua, position Our people dc
policy OF dominant political leaders
= 'he last century and the present
century up 20 the time Of Redmond's
death has sc affected the mental
background OF ali who arc above
I1iddle-age that they slip back quite
easily over the last decade as DC IL
lad not existed regarding this
treaty from the standpoint merely
90 a home rule act that caurot set
bounds 70 the onward march Of the
nation.
\ ParOled Prisoner.
whether expedieut or not. Par
Iclls attitude towards home rule
acts was Fundamentally and logical
IS sound The attitude of these
who approach the present treaty
from the same standpoint IS UNI
sound.
II can accept and enjoy such
freedom as my iailcr gives me- ans
without dIshCuor. use it 20 escape
completely from his hands provided
have 20 give TO undertaking 90 re-
main a. his prisoner. But IL ] give
parole Il Is different. I then bind
myself not 10 escape. ] make my
self his prisoner by my own act. II
ireland wants 70 be free. she should
not give her parole TO rems. n a pris-
oncr
The nationalists who support the
present treaty. are of two classes:
First. those Of whom Pres't Griffith
may be regarded as typical. who are
prepared to accept the freedom
promised by the treaty as fun salts
faction for cur national claim; sec
end. those like Mike Collins. who
would have us accept the treaty
simply as further installment from
Britain
Accepting Kings Authority.
But both are wrong. for on the
ton on the other. in the Euise of
treaty or contract. it cannot De ac-
cepted in the light OF an installment.
To the world 10 will be made 20
appear that tho Irish people VINO
three years ago declared i'm the most
solemn manner their independence
and who now voluntarily abandon
their independence and republican
form OF government. accept instead,
inclusion i'm the British empire with
all its implications with the people of
Britain. to accept the British mon
arch and imperial parliament as the
fount OF all authority.
The summing up OF the plain
people Is that the treaty will leave
them free from English interference
IS are the peoples of Canada, Aus
tralia and Africa. hut ireland is not
s.. 900. or 5000 or 5000 miles away
from England
ireland is not huge continent
ike Canada Africa and Australia
that could support and develop a
reputation larger than the United
states and which England Conse-
Queutly is unlikely to challenge. Nor
are the historical returns between
Britain and these countries the same
as the historical relations of ireland
with Britain.
Not Like DOminiOns.
Tic is an incredulous person. in
decdl who believes that authority
which is but a symbolic shadow OF
that of Canada, Australia or Africa
is intended 10 remain "a similar
shadow for ireland. But even il ID
were a reality IL would be a shadow
and no more dangerous Therefore
holding the views that I do as 20
lrelsrd's rights Z would be opposed
TO such ar acceptance"
TO recognize the British King as
q sort Of president OF an association
or league OF nations is one thins. 20
accept him IS king OF ireland and
the sovereign source OF all authority
IN Ireland. and &C. swear allegiance %
him and 20 promise fidelity 90 him.
is another
The question was asked But how
s,bout your alternative oath embod-
led in your proposal known as docU-
"a