THE PLIGHT OF THE' IRISH - PEOPLE.
[To ms Enrroa or ram " Sezerizon."3
Sni,—On Friday evening last one of the most- striking demons strations ever held, in London took place- in_ the Caxton Hall. Never was the plight of the Loyalists hi Southern Ireland more vividly portrayed. The British Government which has aban- doned them was denounced with all the fire of the Hebrew prophets by Major Boyd Carpenter and General Prescott Decie, and rarely has an English audience been more stirred than by the tales of the refugees. Except in one paper the meeting was practically unreported in the Press. Now, in South Africa and Australia, irrespective of the politics of the newspaper, the fullest publicity is given to the arguments on each side of a controversy. Here in England, but for one daily paper, what for over thirty years was the cause of a great Party is now allowed to go by default. If our unfortunate fellow. subjects lived in Armenia there would be no difficulty in putting their case before the British public. But in the faces of these' terrible revelations, all that the British people learned on . Saturday was that Irish negotiations were proceeding very satisfactorily. Is it possible for Englishmen to sit still whilst loyal subjects of the King are being daily harried in Co. Donegal with British forces but a few miles away? Is it true that whatever happens our troops must not advance beyond the Border? If these unfortunate Loyalists were beyond the Indian Frontier, and subject to such treatment, the Indian Army would be mobilized. The reconquest of Ireland has been treated as an impious suggestion : but what will history say to the statesmanship which handed over loyal Catholics and Protestants to the tender mercies of the Irish Republican Army and declared itself impotent to give any protection? Even with. the best will in the world it would be difficult for the Provisional Government to put these levies down. , In present circumstances it is fantastical to imagine that they will ever attempt it. Agreements may be signed in London, but the Irish Republican levies remain, and even though they may consist mainly of young men who ought to be birched, as the Cardinal suggests, there is no hope of peace in tho South, or on the Border, or in Belfast, so long as they are uncontrolled.
We are constantly told that the real seat or the trouble lies In Belfast. If we studied the evidence we should find that in Republican policy lay the main cause of the disgraceinl incidents which so constantly occur. If law is overthrown, and powerful criminal organizations are left in real control, the rest seems to follow in the course of nature. The Northern Government is often most unjustly blamed for its failure to put down outbreaks in Belfast : but with foes without and within its borders its position is difficult in the extreme. Meanwhile, the British Government devises fresh formulae, and is amazed that words do not settle the difficulties. It is true that by swift action its forces have been able to restore to their homes those most unjustly driven from Belleek and Pettige. But now, having learned nothing, it is probable that as in 1916, after the disgraceful Dublin Rebellion, the British Govern- ment will don the white sheet of repentance and play into the hands of its foes.
Is it not clear to all who look facts in the face that there is no hope of securing justice for the law-abiding in the South, of avoiding Border troubles, and of protecting Catholics in Belfast, but by an impartial British authority? If we continue the pharisaic attitude that lawlessness in Ireland—largely the result of Government folly—is no concern of ours, and that if blood is spilt it will be Irish blood, there is little hope of a remedy. But once it is realized by all concerned that the sufferings of the King's subjects are matters to which the King's , Government dare not remain indifferent, much less divest itself of responsibility, there may be an awakening to reality. If the British Government is weak the anarchy will continue : if it is strong, just, and fearless, those forces which now threaten the security not merely of Ireland but of Western civilization will prove no match for the moral and material forces which we can bring against them. And the same public spirit which supported the cause of fair play for Belgium and the rights of the weak will be with it if it delivers Ireland from the anarchy which threatens to engulf it and from a fee worse than the German Army.—I am, Sir, &c., Z.
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