The Washington times., 1922-08-23
Collins Called Genius
Of Free State Regime;
Death Blow to Nation
BY JOHN j. McGANN.

The tragic death of Michael Col
Inns will stagger Ireland for some
time to come. He was the genius
who saw in the Free State gov
ernment. at least a temporary re-
lief for his country. 1t was the
only solution 10 Nthe country's
troubles and It was with favor that
friends of the Emerald lsle the
world over looked upon his and
Arthur Griffith's decision TO sigp
the treaty with Lloyd George,
which gave to Ireland the Free
State form Of government. He
was cognizant Of the overwhelming
odds against his practically .un-
armed country and to hold out
for a full independence would have
meant a tragedy from which the
impoverished and depopulated is
land could hardly ever recover.
During the conferences at 10
Downing street he amazed the as
tute British politicians, particularly
the premier, with his knowledge of
economic affairs. not only of his
own country, but OF every civilized
country. 1t is probably due to
his forceful and logical arguments
that the Free State form Of gov.
ernment for Ireland was wrested
from unwilling hands.
In appearance Collins was boylsh,
but the Emerald Isle never pro-
duced a more forceful character or
a more ardent patriot. He was
versatile. Although modest to de-
gree, he rose to the rank OF COM
mander-in-chief of the Irish army
and held the organization together
despite the bitter opposition OF some
of the recalcitrants. In his early
days he had no military training,
but he acquitted himself as COM
mander-in-chief In a manner that
won for him the praises Of the vet
eran generals of the British army.
Even when he was mysteriously d.
recting the movements of the Sim
Fein army before the signing OF the
Free State treaty his enemy Off
GERS reluctantly praised him. Al
though a price OF $4,000 was on
his bead and although 100 secret
service agents Of the British gov
ernment were trying to track him
to his lair, he evaded them and
the reward was never collected.
Mickey" Collins, as he was af-
fectionately known among his ad-
mirers the world over, first came
into prominence when he joined the
Young Ireland movement In 1914.
He was arrested. but because he
had but a small part In the up
tising he was released when the
rebellion had subsided. He was op-
posed to any Irishman joining the
British army during the world war.
1t was explained by him recently
that neither he nor his followers
or chiefs were ever pro-German.
They were anti-British and stood
for all that the name Sim Fein
implied-for ourselves.
Collins was one Of the most pic
turesque characters that ever cham.
pioned Ireland's cause. He was
born in humble cottage in County
Kerry and received an elementary
education there. For a time he
was a mail sorter at the general
postoffice in London and was later
transferred to the postoffice depart
ment in Ireland. 1t was through
his knowledge OF the workings of
the department that he received
much OF the information he 80 bad.
ly needed in conducting his cam
paign against the British during the
Sim Fein fight.
Collins viii long be remembered
In Irish history, and his name
VIII rank high among the patriots
Of Ireland.