The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1916. THE SITUATION IN IRELAND.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 6 November 1916, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1916. THE SITUATION IN IRELAND.

'(With which is incorporated The Taihape Post and Waimarino News).

IT seems impossible at this distance to acquire a satisfactory understanding of the trouble in Ireland; the more one endeavours to get a true estimate of the position, by what, allegedly truthful chroniclers state, the more chaotic our minds become. Just as the whole Empire was hopeful of a settlement satisfactory to both north and south Ireland, one of the most distressing rebellions yet experienced is sprung upon us It is distressing because while many thousands of Irishmen were fighting the arch enemy of freedom and liberty in France some at Home were, there seems no shadow of doubt, risking and sacrificing their lives as the tools of Germany. It is remarkable that Ireland should be divided against itself on the all-vital question of selfgovernment, and it is still more remarkable that the lines of demarcation phould be so widely apart as to prevent concessions on both sides that would conduce to an amicable agreement. We i cannot believe that Sinn Fcincrs oven were favourable to any collection with Germany. They were thoroughly organised and had considerable equipment to which Germany may willingly and readily have contributed. In fact, it is stated by reliable writers that the position was precipitated by the leaders, and the rank and file of Sinn Fein joined because they felt they could not back out at the last minute; they had 'no idea of what the terrible results; ■were to bo. Catholic Irishmen cannot have any desire for a German hegemony of the world; they would be distinctly opposed to throwing in their lot with a people whose whole history is stained with sacriligcous interference and vilest insults to the Church. We

venture to say that, judging by the Kaiser’s silly talk about God, it was his firm and settled intention to rule the whole world, politically and religiously. He would have done, were it. rendered possible, what a previous German Emperor did; he would have deposed the Head of the Church, and no other divine could have filled the apostolic chair who did not bear the Kaispr’s hall mark. We shrink from offending any man’s religious susceptibilities, but, we believe thus far we state what must be Catholic and Protestant Ireland’s attitude to Germany at the present time. There is a wrong with respect to Ireland, which must be righted; fop many years England has tried to bring about the modus operandi and failed. Then we arc forced to the admission that Ireland should be given the opportunity to effect something to her satisfaction and the Empire ’s advantage. In a lengthy article in the September issue of the “'Pound Table it is stated that the whole trouble arises from the fact that owing to the past the Irish majority have never come to regard themselves as part and parcel of one commonwealth with their neighbours from whom they ard only separated by a few miles of ocean. The journal continues: “It we may ask Irishmen to look forward and not backward, to think rather of how to build a better future than of how to expiate ancient wrongs, we would also ask Englishmen, in judging {heir Irish fellow-citizens for lawlessness and defect of citizenship, to. remember how long both the law and the commonwealth stood in Irish eyes, not for liberty and protection, but for oppression and wrong. “If it is to expiate wrongs of the past that 300 Irish people have been killed and 2000 wounded, it is time a more reasonable and civilised attitude was encouraged f«nd taken by both English and Irish. The first effect on Irish opinion was one, of horror and disgust; this was given full expression by Mr Redmond. The British troops were welcomed by the Dublin people, who fed and assisted them in every way; but the execution of men without public trial turned Irish opinion to sympathy With the rebels. In discussing the present position the “Round Table” says: “The world has been horrified by stories of ruthlessness and brutality/practised under martial law. These stories are pure moonshine There have been certain lamentable occurrences due.to the mistakes of w r ant of balance on the part of indi-, viduals—almost inevitable under the circumstances. Fifteen rebel leaders; have been executed, many others were sentenced to. terms of imprisonment, and a large number, of the Irish volunteers were deported, many ,pf whom were probably innocent; but since May a.ldfge number has been released, and qp’ly those have been retained against whom there is reasonable evidence of complicity in treasonable practices. For the rest, Ireland, both before ,gnd after the rebellion, has;' never been so prosperous. There is less privation and want than usual, and martial law is chiefly remarkable for the absence of any evidence of its existence. Save for.prohibition of public meetings and volunteer parades, Ireland bears its normal aspect. In view of the gravity of the rebellion, and of the fact that it took place at the very crisis of the war, these proceedings can neither be described as unjust nor as unduly harsh. It was an imperative necessity to prevent all chance of a renewal of bloodshed, or the development of the rebellion into civil war.’ With respect to the circumstance of the Irish people, that they are free from real want, and that their country was never more prosperous, everyone will devoutly hope the “Round Table” correctly reflects the true position. England has failed to satisfactorily and amicably determine the relationships with Ireland, therefore there seems but one other avenue available, and that is to let the Irish people evolve methods themselves that will for ever render 'Unnecessary from every point of view such outbreaks as recently cpcrienced. It is only reasonable that from the situation that obtained between Ulster and the rest of Ireland just prior to the war, there should be some hesitation about Ulster co-operation, but this is merely a shyness that would probably wear oft’ as the new conditions developed to a stage acceptable to all parties, and likely to remove the only real sore in the Empire’s constitution. An united Irlaud is as urgent in the interests of Empire as it is in the interests of Ireland itself.