- The second point is that Mr. De Valera evidently
flatters him- self that as the British people shrink from another war, they will therefore be prepared to give the Southern Irish anything they want, even the head of North-East Ulster on a charger. We do not delude ourselves about the magnitude of an Irish war; it would be a guerrilla war which might last indefinitely, The nation which fought " a handful of farmers " in South Africa knows well enough how prolonged the operations of a guerrilla war may be. We also have to remember that an Irish war, while it might cost as much as the Boer War, would be in many ways a very much worse one. The Boers were a chivalrous enemy ; they did not commit murders ; they treated their prisoners well. In Ireland we should bo up against every kind of cruel and unscrupulous manoeuvre. But the Southern Irish ought not to be allowed to think that a war against them is cur only possible line of action. We do not want to fight them, wo should hate to fight them, and there is no reason why we should fight them. We earnestly hope that the Government will consider the other ways which aro open. In our first leading article we have described such a way.
