The Brunswick news., 1922-12-20
AFTER LONG FIGHT

been withdrawn from Ireland and the
barracks they occupied are now helc
hy the soldiers of the Irish Free State
The truggle for Irish self rule has
dragged through the centuries anC
self rule IS now an accomplished fact
This is q monument to David Lloyc
George that his bitterest enemies
cannot take away from him and it is
the creates monument in British
achievement.
Other monuments proclaim bril-
liant victories on the field of battle
and commemorate the work of mill.
tary or naval heroes. They also rep.
resent the bravery and devotion OF
men under them whose name will not
be remembered and yet who did in
their spl%Nes as essential work az
was done by their commanders. n y
is also II e of this monument. WI
we credit Lloyd George with it n
was assisted by others who brought
their minds and, more important still
their consciences to the solution Of a
vexed question which men had triaA
many times before to settle with tht
minds but without calling inA the as.
sistance Of conscience. When con
science was called in the work was
done quickly-so quickly that it now
seems strange that settlement was
not reaehd years ago. Precious years
have been wasted--years in which the
Irish should have been free but were
oppresssd-ye&rS in which ireland
should have been an element of
strength to the British Empire in
stead Of source Of weakness. Ire
land has Furnished many leaders who
have added to the renown of British
arms and of British statesmanship
and hundreds of soldiers and sailors
who carried forward the British flag
on land and on sea. But while ire
land has contributed to many Brit
ish temporary victory feeling Of dis
content was a Permanent weakness-.
a disease spot in the British system.
Let US hope that this disease spot
has been removed. 1t seems to have
been removed for the account of the
transfer Of the flag tells Of a remark
able display of enthusiasm and good
~iii on the part of both sides and of
desire to forget bygones.
The Willingness to forget is the
best sign of all. Nothing can be found
that is more Improbable than
brooding over past wrongs. It may
hurt the one who inflicted the wrongs
but it certainly hurts the one who
broods over them. When they are
once rectified as completely as posi-
BILE they should be banished from
memory and new start made with
q clean slate.
We who live in the United States
can afford to rejoice in whatever good
comes to the lot of any nation. Our
Isolated Position and our great
strength leave little for jealousy to
iced on. We are not endangered by
'he best that can happen to any men,
Der of the family of nations. We can
therefore rejoice with all in every
gain that is made.
OF course if we are Americans in
leart as well as by birth or adoption
we rejoice in any gain that liberty
makes anywhere in the world. But il
We are not Don Quixotes we are not
forcing or trying to force our system
1n others. Besides the fact that we
are not consAIssioned to make the
world over again We realize if we
,hink at all, that those who are In no.
'ition to do anything with liberty will
'how enough appreciation for it to
truggle to attain it without any in
'itement by US. The. world is not all
prepared for self government but it
S gaining every day. The progress
$ all in one direction and some day
he fact will be realized in all parts
If the world that sovernments depend
or their just powers on the consent
If the governed.