AN AMERICAN VIEW OF THE IRISH PROBLEM.
[To 'FRE EDITO1 Or THE " SPICCTATOH."] SIE,—The average American is puzzled to know why so much attention is now being paid to Ireland. Is it because she has done so much, or so little, during the war, or is it due to that relentless and unceasing hell-broth of agitation conducted by leaders of Irish public opinion P We fear that the explanation is to be found in the last query.
Many Americans are rather lazy-minded about this question, and, without much study, assume that what Ireland wants is a form of self-government similar to that prevailing in most States of the Union. With their easy good-nature, it is very natural for them to sympathize with Ireland, or in fact with any small country which says it is deprived Of its freedom. For more than a generation the American public has been so camouflaged by Irish orators, writers, and agitators that the cases of Ireland, or Armenia, or Poland, on first glance, look much alike to them.
In American papers very little is said about Ulster or her achievements, and few articles are written to explain that every shred of political or economic freedom possessed by Englishmen or Scotsmen has been fully granted to Irishmen long ago. Most Americans do not realize that there are two Irelands, separated from each other by fundamentally different ideas and purposes. They do not understand that the kind of freedom wanted by Nationalists and Sinn Feiners is the. power to wrench Belfast and Ulster away from the system of government to which they are loyally attached. The freedom which Sinn Feiners wish for them- selves they would deny to Ulster, and it is needless to say that such is not the kind of Home Rule we have in America.
But the present attitude of Irish leaders on Conscription is changing public opinion here. The awful menace of the Prussian hordes makes the problem of man-power vital to Britain. So also it is for America. Americans are asking themselves how, if Con- scription is good for England, Scotland, the United States, and Canada, it can be unjust to Ireland. No State Legislature in this country has control over the Draft, and why should an Irish Legislature have- anything to do with it ? But our State Legisla- tures, if they were disloyal and traitorous, could do much to nullify Conscription. It is a natural query, What would an Irish Legislature do to defeat it ?
Again, most Americans are growing a trifle impatient over Ireland's so-called grievances. Has the Catholic Church in Ireland ever spoken a strong word of sympathy for poor Armenia or Poland ? What humane contribution has Catholic Ireland ever made to these suffering countries—almost wiped off the face of the earth ? Americans may well ask, what kind of sympathy is that
which Ireland has reserved specially for herself Is there any real comparison between her condition and that of the small States an the Continent of Europe which have been crushed and crucified ? Is this the proper time to hold up England and her Alliea by greedy and unreasonable demands ? If Irish-Americans can submit to a Draft here, why cannot their countrymen submit to one at nome ? At this distance, the policy of the Irish leaders appears to be not only stupid but traitorous. Instead of taking a vigorous part in the war and proving themselves worthy of confidence, they have thrown away their only chance of Home Rule. Many Americans will regret to see the Roman Catholic Hierarchy adopting such a suicidal policy. The Middle Ages have long since departed, and one may venture to ask how any movement can endure which is founded upon racial and religions propaganda. No, Ireland can never win the confidence of England or of man- kind in this fashion. She must change her tactics and her leaders. Let her drop this wild-goose chase for independence, under the guise of Home Rule. The obnoxious methods of Sinn Feiners and Nationalists have completely killed their case, and many Americana now believe that the only safe and just government for Ireland is to be found in the protection of the United Kingdom. This war is too serious a matter to encourage longer the notion that Irishmen are to he treated differently from all other races of white men, who are sacrificing their manhood for a delivered Europe. Let the Draft be fairly applied to Ireland, and give to her warring factions a firm, just, and liberal government. To
many Americans this seems the only solution of her troubles.—I
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