Welsh Journals

them innocent as all people lacking knowledge are innocent of wrong, but here the threat has been the dominant note throughout. Of the 64 T.D.'s who voted for the treaty, 61 said they did so because of the threat. The entire press-with the exception of one tiny paper, with only some 20 odd thousand cir- culation, in Dublin chiefly proclaim the threatened war of extermination as the only alternative to the treaty. All pro-treaty speeches throughout the country were the same. Arthur Griffith told the people they had only two issues before them at the election, the treaty or war. My husband tried to show that the English people would not uphold such a war, and that the British Government were too heavily committed to undertake it, and, alas, this was one of the causes of bitterness against him. To show the mentality of those who accept under duress, one paragraph from Arthur Griffith's paper "Young Ireland" will serve. In the issue of May 6th, 1922, a leading article says "Mr. de Valera says that under the Treaty 'we shall have no true and lasting peace with England.' Who in God's name wants it any more than he wants true and lasting peace with the devil?" If an alchemist puts chemicals after a well known explosive formula into a crucible certain reactions will follow. So here. Ireland is the crucible and the British Government is still the alchemist. Did you know that the pact was broken by order of the British Government and that war was declared by the same orders? Think of it. We may not make peace among ourselves, lest by so doing some lessen- ing of the prerogatives of the Crown take place. If the threat were withdrawn, this people would come together, strife would immediately cease. All elements acting in harmony could co-operate inr building up a noble national life. I believe the one and only basis for national unily resides in freedom and that is the bond which knits all elements into one. Freedom is spiritual. I can conceive of slaves as free, as I think of myself as free, though my body is tied by circumstances over which I have no control. But when human beings are not only oppressed but are obliged to render a bond to what they know is wrong, a bond of violence, when they are asked to surrender to violence their ark of the covenant, and to follow and pretend an allegiance which is imposed and therefore untrue, such a people will re-act as this people has re-acted. I love and pity them all. In all I do I hold and cherish the doctrine you uphold. Yet, there is something in me which makes it impossible for me to withdraw from my comrades because they are in conflict. I test myself and find that I have no hate or bitterness for anyone, and say and will prove with God's help that even if one who is most dear to me were murdered as has been threatened, I will feel nothing but pity for the murderer. I cannot think of this from one side. I have to include all, love all, because I see so clearly that all are victims of the threat of British violence. There is only one cure that I can find-freedom. If freedom were granted, I see what wonderful forces would be set free, not only between those who contend in the 26 counties, but between them and Ulster and between Ireland and England. Ulster, really a victim of the system, symbolises that system The drowsy air is sweet with spring, And all in gold the hill-side glows; The stream, o'er which laburnums fling, Their golden showers, unrippling flows. Beneath a cloudless heaven outspread To the far sky-line, miles on miles, With green and yellow, white and red The earth adorns herself and smiles. GOLDEN SPRING. for the rest of Ireland. If the threat were with- drawn and freedom granted, I hold that Ulster must be free. Our whole principle must be carried out and established in love-must be founded in the very hearts of the people and not be imposed on an unwilling section. I am so certain that the insti- tutions we would in freedom set up would be noble, that this people would leave it to the test of that nobility to win Ulster. This I have always upheld, and I believe it would prove the way adopted, for once England withdrew her claim to hold by force, Ulster would cease to represent what she now re- presents and symbolises in our eyes. I do not know how I find strength to endure this sorrow. Perhaps it is because I have faith that the day must come when these Irish struggles, waged about three times in every hundred years for seven and a half centuries must by their recurring tragedy, knock at the door of the English heart and cause it to open wide to justice and mercy. I know the English people, know that when the time comes and the word is spoken loud and clear, they will follow eagerly and joyously. The word has been withheld even by the churches. Yours sincerely, (Signed) M. A. CHILDERS. WALES AND CRITICISM. (To the Editor of "The Welsh Outlook.) Sir, — In venturing to write you I am not conscious of being "moved to fury." And I should like to be as sure of eternal bliss as I am of not being an "acolyte of the new literary temple." This letter is by way of an eirenicom. May we not say with Dog- berry that 'comparisons are odorous'? What need to garland the tombs of the Fathers in order to prove the limitations of the new school-any new school? If challenged and asked — "Stands literature where it was"? May the reply not be "No, and never did." I can understand how some of the saner elements in the new temple should feel somewhat discouraged by your editorial strictures and say- "Nae staunchlin testimony here We are a' damned and that is clear." Is it irreverent to speak of a Lewis Edwards vogue and to doubt whether there be many true votaries today? The good men do-and our sense of indebted- ness to the "judgment, dignity, and penetration" of this great spirit suffers no abatement-is oft interred with their bones. And one may be excused not possessing a consuming desire to disinter even the "Iraethodau Llenyddol.' On the other hand the new school has doubtless much to learn. Possibly-yea probably-many of the 'acolytes' have been busy simply writing prose without knowing it. Indeed one is tempted to ask with another after perusal of certain effusions-- "Vous appelez ca un piece, vous? All that the man in the street would ask is that judg- ment of the new temple votaries should be reserved for the next generation. We shall not have to wait long. Yours, MYFYRFAB. Chwilog, Dec. 8th, 1922. O happy, golden time! I feel Old raptures, half-forgotten, wake, And round my heart the bands of steel That long have bound it crack and break. O love, be glad! We yet may find They were not false, our childish dreams, That 'twas despair, not hope, was blind, And life is not the cheat it seems. -H. Idms Bell.