21 SEPTEMBER 1918, Page 3

Nothing since we wrote last week has shed any new

light on the conflict of opinion between Lord French and Mr. Shortt. As we pointed out, according to their public statements, Lord Frenoh wants to enforce Conscription in Ireland and Mr. Shortt wants to resist it. Diarohy is being tried experimentally in Ireland before being applied, to India. If Lord French will take his courage, of which he hae• plenty, in both hands, he can undoubtedly get his way. The Government always give way in face of an opinion firmly and persistently stated. We notice in Nationality, the Sinn Fein organ, a delightful piece of self-observation and political philosophy which is worth quoting. "It must be continually borne In mind," says Nationality," that all movement; in Ireland originate in a welling up of popular feeling ; they are kept in vigour for a time by the automatic generation of enthusiasm, but after a while the ebb begins. A movement generally grows and dies with a generation," Although the word " generation " is used in two diAerent senses, the sense is plain enough, and the diagnosis is

probably quite true. We commend it to the earnest consideration of Lord French, who may derive much encouragement from it.