The Daily News. MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 1922. IRELAND’S SUPREME CRISIS.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 August 1922, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 1922. IRELAND’S SUPREME CRISIS.

To realise the full significance of the murder of Mr. Michael Collins it is necessary to call to mind the trend of events in Ireland for many years past, and then to envisage the picture of that unhappy country emerging from strife, turmoil and fierce passions into the calm and smooth waters of peace, contentment and good self-gov-ernment. It is possible now to understand the great difficulties with which England was faced in governing Ireland, and the almost insuperable task of opening up a new era for the Irish when a section of the community, blinded by passion and selfish aims, still bars the way to peace. There is something pathetic' in the words of a recent cabled message to the effect that “Irish peace is again in the balance.” It cannot so remain for'long, or there can be no hope for civilisation. It can readily be believed that the effect of the news in Ireland was accurately reflected in the feeling of the people in Dublin, who were stricken with grief, at first stunned and then infuriated. Yet this blow has acted like a clarion call to the Irish people, and those who will take up the threads of the work ; on which the leaders were coneen- i trating all their energy and talents. In no way more convincing has the spirit of the people been evidenced than by the statement issued by the Irish Government. It said: “The greatest and bravest of our countrymen has been snatched from us when victory smiled through the clouds upon the uprising of the nation to which he had dedicated all his powers. His magnificent manhood has been slain, to our unutterable grief, but he cannot die: he will live in the cause of the people which he did so ■ much to assist, and which his collea- ; gues undertake as a solemn charge to '■ maintain.”

It says much for the new spirit that has arisen in the Irish people that they regarded Mr. Collins as the symbol of Irish manhood. He was that and much more besides, as he gave his life for his country, and by his tragic- end may bring into being a new unity that should rally all elements to the Free State with a new devotion. There can be no compromise with the so-call-ed Republican Brotherhood of murderers, incendiaries and enemies of civilisation. “Mr. Collins’ blood will help to cement the foundation of the Free State,” firing and effectively. Though the gap created by the death of the twof leaders of the Irish people—Griffith and Collins—can never adequately be filled, men will be found to fill the gap, backed up by the confidence and enthusiasm of the people, and the goodwill of the whole of the Empire. For a time the Provisional Government must, inevitably be weakened by the removal of its two main supports. but the assassins have, it would seem, sealed their own doom, and it should not be long before the people, roused to a full sense of what Mr. Collins secured for them, and conscious, of the greatness of their loss, will stamp out the rebellion and pave the way to the new era which is awaiting the country when peace arrives. Ireland has produced many of the foremost statesmen, soldiers, and leaders in the past, and no doubt will do so in the future. It is the present that may cause some anxiety, but no alarm, merely because there appears no outstanding .personality to take the lead

for the moment. That is but a passing phase. It is the attitude of the people that is all important at this new crisis of Ireland’s history —a transition stage that will test the real strength of the people, as well as their temper. We can but hope for the best, a hope that embraces the sincere desire that the mantles of Griffith and Collins may fall upon worthy shoulders, and those who are chosen to carry on the work of the government of Ireland will be emulated by the examples of the two leaders who, “though dead, yet speak.”