The Washington times., 1922-10-02
BY HAYDEN TALBOT,
(Copyright. 1929, New York American0


when a people have struggled for
750 years against subjeCtiOn, 1t is
perhaps not strange that the one
dominating characteristic of such a
people should finally come TO be
anita gonism. Antagonism has come
TO be an ingrained quality of many
1rishmen.
Among ourselves in the twenty
six counties there is hardly less OF
antagonism between the labor group,
and those not so labeled than there
is between the so-called Republicans
and those who support the treaty.
The agreement with the British gov
ernment has removed Ireland's one
great inspiration for unity, and has
made many Irishmen forget that
after all we are every one of us
republican extremist and moderate
Free Slater, radical laborlte and
idealistic eparatist-lRlSH!
Michael Collins thus introduced his
narrative of the two years reign
of violence in Belfast-one nlSht
while he lay i'll at the house of
friend in Dublin. He told me the
story only after he had become con
WINGED of the uselessness of fuEthe"
conferences with Sir James Craig.
Tells OF Blunders.
"Mistaking the means for the
end is perhaps the greatest
blunder a man can make" he con
tinued. "Cnhappily it is a blundef
of which many Irishmen are guilty.
In some instances fighting Tor
freedom has come to mean rghtlns
for fighting's sake. Bringing the
victims of this delusion to realize
their folly constitutes the graVest
problem confronting the Free State
governments For it is this spirit
of suspicion and hostility animaUnE
opposing groups of lrishmen thaI
is largely responsible for the situ'
alton in Ulster. II unity Is I'M
possible among us of the South
how can we expect understanding
and reconciliation with Ulster!
Artificial Unity.
The semblanCe of unity which
we managed to manufacture at the
recent session of the Sim Fein Ard
Fheis was artificial in the sense
that it was but temporary ana
for expedienCy, but it would he a
mistake to imagine for moment
that that unity would not become
very real and absolutely effective
IL either Britain or Ulster attempted
TO take advantage of many appar-
ent splits between the four opposing
groups. 1t has always been SO
in Ireland. Enemies OF today are
brothers in arms tomorrow-ln'
stantly an outsider seeks TO eX'
plot either to his own end;
II have every reason to belleVe,
however, that neither Britain nor
Ulster has any thought Of trading
on our disuniOn. Those Of us who
negotiated the treaty are convinced
Of the good faith Of the English
signatOries. This in itself precludes
the possibility of any aggressive
action on the part Of lister. White
Hall invariably shows Belfast the
way. The bittPrer our quarrel he
comes the more virtuOus WIN be
the attitude Of both Britain and
lister"
(In the Hgh Of subsequent crentS
This prOphecU is Of W"S"di mte'e1
IA so far as il prOrcS the great IN
Si1ht Of the IyiSh Ieddcr. At the time
nc 0GrC nc this HtCrriCW mdSSGcre'
Of Roman CdthOHCS tCere OF ddil
OCCurreHCc IN BCIt0St. The po1r0n
had been WHintCrrUptCd for tro gears
with me outbreaks Of the CiUn Ud,
m sOuthCru IrCldnd the atrocities IN
UISter ceased as j by md1icJ.
Ulster Situation.
Before take up the situation
in Ulster, therefore I want t
emphasize the one factor that is