The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-08-27
REIGN OF PEACE
IS SEENFOR
IRELAND
- - - y -
Archbishop curIey Says Free
State Is Developing Stable !
Form of Government.

~ ~
Archbishop Michael J. Cstrley,
who is visiting has birthplace IN
ireland at present, aUGs asked on
the Baltimore NewS to Write has
impressions of his nGtiVe land to-
day. In a letter to the Baltimore
Neqcs. Archbishop Curtey says
that he is delighted to be Gbtc to
say that an end has come to the
1OGnto1e destruction drought by the
Irregulnrs under De Valera dur
ing the last twelvc months.
BY THE RIGHT REV. MICHAEL
j. CURLEY,
Archbishop of Baltimore.
written or and copyrighted, 1923, by
the Baltimore News and distributed by
Cosmopolitan News Service.)
GOLDEN ISLAND, Athlone. Ire
land, Aug. 27.-Ireland today is en-
Toying a long desired peace and Is
facing period Of reconstruction
which must necessarily extend over
a number of years. The young gov
eminent of the Free State was con-
fronted by a situation without par
allel in the story of small nations.
There was no army no police, no
judges and no courts functioning
in the twenty-six counties.
1t was a case of building up
from the very foundation, or rather
of laying the foundation of civil
government. England's paid killers
had made a shambles of the coun-
try, and today gaunt ruins stand
as reminders of benign British
rule. Mothers are still weeping over
their boys brutality murdered iIr
their beds or on the. kitchen floor
to the tune of black and tan sneers
and curses at parents plaintive
wailings.
Then came the destructive boil.
shevism of the past year. This
was not the work of the black and
tans. 1t was all done by Ireland's
misguided own. Bridges were blown
up, trains were wrecked, banks were
robbed, public and private property
was given to the flames, telephone
and telegraph communications were
put out of commission and human
life was taken. No reasonable man
in Ireland can tell the why of 1t all.
1t was rank senseless sabotage.
savage blackguardism without a
purpose.
Things Normal Now.
In spite of it all, with marvellous
courage, the young Government
went forward with the construc-
tive trowel in one hand and the
SWORD in the other" determined
to do their best for Ireland. Boil
shevism has seemingly worn itself
out. Things are normal now, but
any one can see Cha. Ireland is
yet suffering from the murderous
attack made upon her during last
year and part of this.
There is, as there ought to be.
q republican sentiment in the coun.
try, but no longer, 1t seems to me.
allied with a desire to ruin Ireland.
am convinced that with the free
states self.strengthening, there viii
come an au-Ireland union and the
fullest freedom, which could never
be drought about by the mad raw
ages of the heartless followers of
the teacher of mathematics who has
proved himself an expert in simple
division.
Ireland today is full of hope.
Her resources are waiting develop
ment. Her fields are fertile. Her
banks have large deposits and, in
q word, there can be no question
OF her coming into her own. Tour.
LIST resorts are all open Just now.
In that particular field she lost
enormously during the past years.
Killarney, however, is as attractive
as ever. and angels lowering over
Il still compare with Eden in the
days of primal bliss.
We Have Good Army.
The men at the head Of govern.
ment departments under the wise
Of President Cosgrave are
carrying out constructive programs
for the building up of the new
Ireland. We have now an army
that can give a good account of
itself on any field of battle, a DO
lice force composed of as fine a
body of men as any country could
boast, judges and courts in oper-
alton and the reign Of law brought
back to safeguard liberty. The re-
ligious faith of Ireland is as firm
rs ever and just as devout, despite
the mouthings of American radi-
Gals and the vaporings of some
"a I'LL SACL A(dl SCT1DOS.
still mourns Michael Collins and
will never take to her heart the
man whose hands are red with the
blood of her bravest and noblest
son and statesman.
AS L am penning these lines 1
can see, the flag Of a new Ireland
floating over the castle and bar
racks OF this my native town. It
Is a symbol of a new and larger
freedom unthought of in the days
OF Dan OConnell or Charles Stuart
rarnen. The Irish people want the
free state. I do not say that they
are going to make an everlasting
halt at this point on the road to
absolute independence. The men of
this generation have carried the
Tag far forward. They are will.
ing to rest and gather strength,
reinforce the new position gained
and then let others in days to
come go farther and fare better"