THE MENACE OF SINN FEIN.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIX, Issue 13906, 6 November 1919, Page 2

THE MENACE OF SINN FEIN.

IRELAND IN REVOLT AND WHAT IT WOULD MEAN.

(By an Irishman.)

De Valera the voice, and Arthur Griffith the brain, of 'Sinn Fein, feeling that the hour is Ireland s, the -world watching, are determined to put her fate UISOH one throw of the dies by declaring open rebellion, inviting with clear eyes the holocaust fJiat must ensue, so' hoping to compel outside intervention by arousing the feeling of the world, and especially of America. That is the only conclusion possible to any Irishman.-who knows how to read the recent happenings in Ireland and Mr tie Valera's progress in America. That it will mature before many mouths 1 have no doubt. That we may see a. tragedy which will startle the world I have also no doubt. I. am here setting down certain facts as dispassionately as Ia in able. In face of the terrible fact- upon which this article is based. I dare not- do otherwise. I am an Irishman, I love my country. But lam not a. Sinn Feilier. because 1 believe Ireland's force is spiritual, not- physical. I believe the view-point here expressed to ibe that of many Irishmen throughout the world who wish to prevent the tiling that is coming. Do you who read this knew the meaning of recent happenings in Ireland ? The shooting and riots at Ferluoy? Tho suppression of Sinn Fein? You probably think of it all as only "another Irish incident." It is not. If it leads, resistless, to the climax I have foreshadowed, it may possess greater ultimated significance for the British Empire than even August 4. 1914. ■ '

PLAIN SPEAKING. This is a time'- for plain speaking without- bias or passion. If this rebellion comes, it will be because of two things: First, because the Home Rule Act of 1914 was not put into operation; and. secondly, because of the Government's lack of policy whieli it has marked by silence. Upon its shoulders to-day lies unimaginable responsibility. Both Ireland and the Empire have to fear this rebellion. Each for a different reason. Ireland, because armed revolt means the deeimatiqn of her youth; the Empire, because of some-thing-else which will be made plain.

If the rebellion comes, it. will not be the 1.798 rebellion over again. The Irish question can no longer be localised or treated as domestic politics. The whole world to-day is interested in Ireland. and it is the war that has made it so. This may lie unpleasant —but. it is a. fact.

If the rebellion comes, England will lie forced to take off the gloves. She will be met by some most- desperate fighters., whose guerilla tactics will go far to nullify the machine gun. lii<_" gims are out of the picture. There will be no trench warfare. Sinn Fein will, of course, be smashed, but it will be able to bold the attention of the world while it lasts, and—the thing that matters —perhaps utter. It will be a. battle with shadows —and every Irishman killed will be crowned with a halo by his countrymen throughout the world. The twenty millions of Irish-America, with tile vast political power behind them; the. millions of Irishmen in Canada. South Africa. Australia —all will look on. and so new hates will be added to a hateful past, which all good Irishmen want to forget. American active intervention, lor which Sinn Fein is hoping, is unthinkable; but there may conic a passive intervention, more deadly. And then -there is British labor. it is on all this Sinn Fein, is counting. 1

Ireland has never had any quarrel with the Englishman, only sometimes with the English official-. And the official alone can prevent the. approaching tragedy. How? Only strong measures can meet strong needs. Only strong men dare use them. Has England the men? Here are tho measures:— "THE ON.LY CHANCE."

First, to withdraw the troops from Jreland, as proof of what- to-day is a "dangerous irritant. Second, to invite, in that broad spirit- which gave the Boers participation in South African Government, de Valera. Griffith, and other Sinn Fein leaders, together with the leading Nationalists and Ulsteriuen, to meet in Dublin—not London—British statesmen who have the confidence of the British - people. for the' definite, purpose of putting 1914 'Home Rule Act into operation. hut excluding the Unionist half of Ulster for a term of years, their vote on Home Rule to be taken at the expiration of that term. To many such a proposal will seem impossible. But it offers the only chance.

By doing this, if Ulster -refused to attend she would stand condemned as unappeasable. It would put the responsibility for armed revolt and what follows upon Sinn Fein. And if would put England right with America and with the world.

Perhaps it is too late. But it is the only chance to prevent a tragedy that will focus tho attention of mankind.