As the Easter rising spreads to the west of Ireland, Dublin Castle appears isolated and martial law is proclaimed
Such news as we are permitted to receive of the troubles in Ireland does not tend to reduce their gravity. In Mr Asquith's guarded words, "there are indications of the spread of the movement in some other parts of Ireland, especially in the west," while in Dublin, so far as appears, the work of suppression is alike difficult and slow. There is some doubt whether Dublin Castle itself is not isolated or even besieged, and the street fighting needed in order to regain full control of the city must be carried out under great disadvantages.
Take it how we will, it is a deplorable as well as a wicked and wanton business which will leave its mark on Irish life for many a long day, and may affect the whole development of her internal history. There is no reason to doubt that the necessary military measures are being taken with vigour and effect. The Chief Secretary for Ireland has winged his way to Dublin, where he will no doubt be an interested spectator of the stirring events which he or his advisers failed to anticipate or to forestall; but the executive power has now passed from his hands into those of the Commander-in-Chief in Ireland, and, martial law having now been proclaimed over the whole of Ireland, Sir John Maxwell will for the present be the sole effective ruler of that country. That this step should be thought necessary is in itself sufficient evidence of the gravity in the judgement of the government, of the whole situation, as also is the great military force which they are pouring into Ireland.
There is no reason to doubt that these measures will be effectual and that within no long time the last embers of the rebellion – if this reckless and futile outbreak is to be dignified by that name – will have been stamped out. The destruction of the cargo of arms providently supplied by the German government and the capture of the chief German agent and go-between, the unhappy Sir Roger Casement, were no doubt a heavy initial blow, and the present sputterings of rebellion in the west might, with the aid these subventions were intended to supply, have easily reached dimensions a good deal more formidable.
There are in Ireland – and must be so long as her national life is thwarted and suppressed – elements of discontent ready to break out in times of excitement, or at the instigation of those who know how to play on bitter memories and the sense of ancient wrong.