IRELAND TO-DAY.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 November 1922, Page 2

IRELAND TO-DAY.

A VISITOR’S IMPRESSIONS. LIVELY NIGHTS IN DUBLIN. London, Nov. 19. Professor Osborne, of Melbourne, relating his impressions of a visit to Ireland, said Ulster was still showing traces of the old evil days, but, excepting sporadic activities by southern gunjnen, she maintains law and order. The traditional wish of Ulstermen to be left alone was never stronger than to-day. The appearance of Belfast is almost normal, only the armed guards on public, buildings show fear of the old enemy. Unemployment is rife, but has been relieved somewhat by the formation of huge police establishments. The future of the shipbuilding yards is doubtful, they exist in defiance of ordinary economic laws. Every ton of iron and coal is imported. Wages are high, and only the well-designed plant and the workmen’s extraordinary ability sustain the

industry. There is no general desire for the permanence of the separate government for Ulster. The hope is constantly expressed that the British connection will be re-established. Parliament sits in the Presbyterian College, and no Ulsterman wants a penny expended on new Parliament buildings.

Harrowing poverty was less apparent in Dublin than on former visits. The slum children seemed better ,clothed, better nourished and cleaner. A visit ; to Dail Eireann left a pleasant impresI pion. The debates were conducted witli j dignity and with an attention to syntactical precision of speech which other I legislatures might well imitate. ! Messrs. Cosgrove and O’Higgins struck. |me as earnest men endeavoring to do their best. Mr. Mulcahy’s utterance and demeanour were restrained, but his acts do not proclaim him a. strong man. In Dublin the nights were lively with firing and 'bombins. It is said that the country Republicans reproach their city friends with slackness. The latter thereupon make as much noise as possible. There is a nightly battle with paint, chalk and tar. They disfigure public buildings. The rebel enthusiast paint's up the word “Republic” about | the city in great letters. Next day it j is covered over by the Free Staters, and the next night the same word is pain tea ! over the tar in red, and so on. Even (■ the gravestones are not spared in this i wordy warfare. ' A remarkable feature of Dublin life ;is the number of educated women I among the extreme Republicans. Thev 1 give the impression that they would cheerfully die for the Dail. Even religion comes second to their misguided patriotism. In the north-west and the extreme south of Ireland there is a state of wild lawlessness. Free staters and Republicans alike harry the possessions of Donegal Protestants. They consider firing on Ulstermen rather a good joke. Paintings punctured by bullets, and upholstery wantonly slashed with knives are connnori sights in the Londonderry I sale -rooms. The impression is general I that the Free Staters are not gaining the upper hand over the Republicans.