Evening star., 1922-08-18
Future of ireland Hangs in Bal
ance

The sudden death of Arthur Griffith
has aroused grave fears in many
quarters whether it will not prove
an irreparabie blow to the Irish Free
State. Because he, more than any
other of the leaders of the Irish re-
publi0.ns, possessed the mental pal
ance % reconcile the differences be-
tween the Irish people and the Brit
ish cabinet. many editors are inclined
to believe that his death may
strengthen the hand of De Valera
and his irreconcilables and that clVll
war will continue indefinitely. The
majority, however, hope that the
Gritfith influence will continue most
helpful and that, with the Free state
already approved by the majority OF
the Irish electors. it will be possloie
for the men who were associated win
Griffith to carry the organization
plans through to successful con-
clusion.
There was much in common pc
tween the lives of Parnell and Crit
fifth, in the opinion of the Broohl!n
Eagle, which characterzes ms uea,n
"a great loss" to Ireland, and points
out that while ''he hated force IN It's
brutal forms. he tolerated it as
necessity. When the chance came 10
get the substance OF lndepenoehce
without the name he broke with De
Valera and embraced that oppor-
tunity. In taking this course he
showed true patriotism
The Newark News likewise beileFeS
that he was "the greatest lrlshmah
since Parnell' and rates him as one
"of Ireland's greatest sons and one
Stricken down in midlife. he saw MS
work done, the Irish Free state
fact, with the Irish irregulars driven
from their last stronghold ana tne
tide of sympathy set strongly against
them. In his death Ireland suners
great loss but it will not be irrep-
arabic if his country continues to be
led by his spirit"
In the view of the Birmingham
News, Griffith's death is more than
ever a calamity to Ireland, because
.the vulgar roughnecks around Cork
and Dublin still are making a nasty
fight for God knows what The So
called intellectuals and parlor boil
sheviki of Ireland still are preach
ing revolution against the clear man.
date of the electorate. 1t is sao
thing in this crisis when such a
strong conservative as Arthur Crit
fith. who was a terrific radical in his
time. should be eliminated from the
political scheme.
He also will be sorely missed in
active in establishing permanent
government" the Dayton News sug-
gests. although ''in the course of hu-
man events. while men strive for
that priceless possession called lib
erty, many experiences have to be
undergone. Conspicuous leaders die
and the fortunes of the masses swing
nm and down. There should be in
spiration for the Irish Free State in
the memory Of a man like Arthur
Griffith" And because this is so, his
death must be considered. the st.
Louis Post-Dispatch says, 1.-The worst
blow to Irish recovery and peace.
ireland at this critical time griev-
ously needs the Griffith mind, the
Grifith balance and the Griffith con-
science. No fervor OF hope or PRAYER
will blink that fact. Fate times Its
blow at Ireland's zero hour. Yet the
steepest hill has been passed. The
forces of constitutional government
and of the legal majority have won.
In remained only for Griffith to or
way to peace. The SOLDERING effect
of the patriots death upon his coun-
trymen of both factions may, and we
believe will, be distinct aid to his
survivors"
Of the New Haven Journal, because
"the Free State is finding itself. 1t
Ia now an exclusively Irish struggle;
the misunderstanding and blind fac
tionalism soon must abate." The
New York Evening World argues
that "in his life-and even in his
Seath-Arthur Griffith may be fairly
said to epitomize the recent history
Of ireland. Who can say that grief
ana worry over the present situation
did not weaken his constitution until
disease found an easy victim? If SO,
was he not. even in death, represent
ing the Irish cause as always a shade
in advance? All Ireland today is
suffering from q heart attack that
NAV prove fatal unless peace brings
an end to the civil war that imposes
shock on the heart of the Irish pes-
pie"
Somewhat solacing the anxiety for
the future of Ireland, the Baltimore
sun thinks, is the realization that
"the Irish cause would be hopeless
indeed IL .the splendid Inspiration OF
Ihia life should be e1tinguished with