AMERICA AND IRELAND.
AREMARKABLE proof of the good sense and essential friendliness of American opinion, and best of all of the American determination to resist attempts to embroil the two branches of the English-speaking race over the question of Ireland, is given in a very interesting cutting from a recent issue of the New Yorh Evening Globe sent us by a distinguished American correspondent. It is the habit of the newspaper in question to send out a reporter every day who asks five men at random a question connected with the topic of the hour. It is very seldom that the five answers all agree. When, however, the " Inquiring Reporter " asked the question, " What should we do about Ireland ? " the random answers were unani- mous. Here is the report :- " THE INQUIRING REPORTER.
EVERY DAY HE ASKS FIVE PERSONS PICKED AT RANDOM A QUESTION.
To-Day's Question.
What should we do about Ireland ?
Where Asked.
Church Street entrance west side subway.
The Answers.
1. T. Carman, insurance, 49 Wall Street : ' We have no more right to interfere in Ireland's cause than England has to interfere for the independence of the Philippine Islands.' 2. L. Gainsborg, travelling salesman, 834 East 161st Street : ' We have just finished a great war. We have after-war problems to settle and have no right to take up cudgels for any nation or people outside of our own juris- diction.'
3. S. Albert Earned, student, New York University, Rahway, N. J.: ' We should not allow any discontent to take root here. All who come here and become citizens are Americans, and no nationality should be shown any partiality.' 4. Harold Osterly, electrician, 145 Diamond Street, Brooklyn : As a Yankee bluejacket in Ireland during the war, I know our reception in that country was nothing to be desired. Let them settle their own difficulties over there.'
5. J. H. Halley, insurance, Hasbrouck Heights, N. J. : ' I think that Ireland and England should settle their difficulties over there, and not here, as there is a danger of embroiling us with a nation with whom we are at peace. "
The correspondent who sends us the cutting ends his letter to us with the following comment : " I do want to add. that you and all other Englishmen are putting too much attention on what America thinks with regard to the Irish question. The Irish question, of course, is discussed here, but so is every other big question of English politics. All the people of influence in this country like and admire and believe in Great Britain."
That is sound sense in itself and consonant with all we hear and know of the best and strongest side of American public opinion. The Americans are very busy, and they have through weariness acquired a sort of habit of paying little or no attention to Irish rows, in fact of turning a deaf ear to them. The British people may, however, feel absolutely sure that the men who count in America, whether in high office or merged in the mass of the population, will insist that the Irish question shall not become a real source of danger. America has never forgotten the stab in the back which the Irish tried to give her in the very crisis of the Civil War. They have to endure the Southern Irish just as we have to endure them, but they do not intend that Ireland shall lead to the ruin of the English- speaking race.
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