THE FERMENT IN IRELAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18542, 1 May 1922, Page 4

THE FERMENT IN IRELAND.

WitHin a few weeks the people of Southern Ireland will be called upon by their vote to pronounce for or against the treaty in which the Irish Free State finds its sanction. It is deplorable to think that the endeavour of the irreconcilablfes to envelop the issue in an atmosphere of passion, violence, and intimidation is, a& may be judged from the outward symptoms, to be remorselessly persisted in. The division that is bringing into Conflict- armed forces which either acknowledge the authority of the Free State Government or are hostile to it appears to be fairly clearcut. If majority in Dail Eireann is convinced of the urgency of an effort to bring about unity in the army, there is no evidence that it possesses any inspiration as to bow its purpose may be achieved. ,Mr Arthur Griffith, as president of the Daii, has laid great stress upon.ihe gravity of the situation. The passage-at-arms betwixt him and Mr de Valera a few days ago shows how wide is the breach between two of the men Who are attempting, each according to his lights, to guide the destinies of Ireland in the present hour. The impassioned worth in Which Mr Griffith concluded an effective indictment of the rebel leaders —“ You may assassinate us but you won’t intimidate us ” —reflect otaly tOo adequately the kind of hostility which the Free State Government is encountering. A aide issue c6mplicati4g the situation is the development of the political Struggle which is manifesting* itself id something akin to religious war in certain districts. In their repudiation of the allegation of the Roman Catholic bishpps, that Catholics are being subjected to a savage persecution, the .responsible heads of the Anglican, Presbyterian, add Wesleyan Churches in tTlstor refer to the trouble at Belfast as political and not religions. But evidently the line of demarcation is not easily to bo drawn. It is to be hoped that Some good may come out ot the disposition shown by the authorities of all the denominations to denounce resort to violence, but mere resolutions will not accomplish much. Nor will the position of the Provisional Government be rendered any the happier by a war of Words between Mr Michael Collins and Sir James Craig. Ulster is paying a heavy penalty fbr the disunion in Southern Ireland, and when all is said, the leaders of the Free State must depend upon their own efforts and resources. If they have the majority of the people behind them they must prevail in the long run.