Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-04-02
Rscopstruction-A Parallel.

Reconstruction-A Parallel.
Prior to our present struggle, in our general syuPa-
thy With the Irish in their rsDgs, repeal bills and tam
ines, We had about as much of the "lrish question
here As on the other side Of the Atlantic. We were
than in the position toward them simply OF amateurs
But she South nov regards toe condition Of Ireland
with deeper interest, aEordng most Instructive
lesson and warning of WhStshe might expect could either
subugaion or reconstruction be The result OF our con-
test We see Ireland, enjoying the 6aest advantages
o. geographical positon of fertility Of soil and sAlu-
bry Of climate and with population, in 1881, Of six
millions aud half hopelessly under the dsspOtc hee
of sister island, less fsvOrably endowed by nature,
and with population of twenty millions and half
The union OF Ireland and Great Britain, known as
the united Kingdom" is but shallow fiction. Such
would be reconstruction Of the Southern and North
srn States with u.s. as is being illustrated in Mary
land, Kentucky Missouri Tennessee, the western por.
sion of Virginia and the late re-sdmission by one
tsnh vote Of louisiana The essential elements Of union
are wanting. The Irish distinct people; snd so
are the people of the South. Though reduced to the
lowest extremity and utterly dependent under the
issng system yet the national feeling Of the Irish still
vehement and even increasing and their religious diff
every part Of our territory oyerpouered BY the enemy
and would pervads and be permanent in the whole, If
the fate of Ireland could bsfs a.. English statesmen
treat the condition Of Ireland simply practical sub
jsct involving the interests Of the Empire. So would
Northern la givers regard the South without allowing
the grievances that would result from despotism at all
to perplex them.
The Irish send one hundred In SI hundred represen-
tasives to the British House of Commons. We might
be allowed sProportionA;e number in the Yankee
House of Representatives. Such a number We might
suppose would have a weight In general legislation
that If Yensl men, they might be worth handsome
price in he political market and Shuing from side to
side, decide many political question that they might
sOrey veX the higher powers and even secure Of
the Offices aud spols But true Southern representa-
don would like that of Ireland be but representation
10 name 1t would be 61ed minority whose very unity
would bril- upon it, similar to what the Irsh have
experienced, union Of all that vas not Southern.
In the Yankee Senate the parallel has still more
force ireland has fixed representation in the House
of Lords Il can never be increased bus every Eng
shuAn who enjoys by DESCENT gains, or BY the good
will Of the sovereign certain title, Is admitted to
seat in that body In the S9ulh We have limited
number OF slave States, and that number, IS well
that Of Southern Senator'S could never DO increased
whether BY subdvi6ng States otherwise. But ( ee
States may be added and multiplied By dividing States
and Territories TO indefinite extent "a the Enshb
nobility may increase. Thus, would the Yankees
feel Of their dominance US, tie Eaglish regard
the Irish nov, that any political feIment South would
At oIce be considered evidence Of disaHscton, While
any concession toward would be regarded chart
IT, No opinion of ours would be allowed any claim Of
right in modifying the general legislation, aud, espec
ally, II concerning the duties Of the government TO-
wards ourselves it would not be admitted It would be
maintained that legislation is intended for the benefit
Of the many, not the few; or, a. BsnthAm states It,
"the greatest good of greatest number" which would
clearly mean for ths benefit Of the North and Of the
South, as England has interpreted in her dealings
with Ireland. There would be protective system at
the North, similar to that of England toward ireland
L. would be to protect the Nora only against the
petition Of the rest of the World but against compe
ton with the South. No product of the South would
be allowed to in rivalry With those of the North,
and heavy duties nigh: be imposed on ali gStng
North Irish products carried the chan
mel Every manufacture that would interfere with the
monopoly OF the North would be forbidden BY lava
sfmisr to the restrictive laws upon Ireland.
England convinced that her church is the true eu-
bodlment Of Chstany seeks to confer its benefits by
the strong arm of Law upon Ireland. The church en-
Joys the tenth of all the produce OF the land for It's
support this allowance being extended to Ireland But
the Irish are catholics and that the ViDgs may be
joyed and the people converted English eler y e1elu
sively al them. Yet, after supporting this foreign
establishment for over two hundred years, the IIsh
are stin uneOnverted, and at the beginning, are
Catholics We that Lincoln IL already turning over
the churches the South Northern preachers How
far the differences in religion may go, is difficult to
innate TIE associations of the several nominations
have already severed and some Of the fanatics North
nave gone so far to propose to establish as i'm
uroyement in morality, a new Bible and new God.
England regards Ireland as subjected BY conquest
and has ever treated the Irish with severity and cruelty
Ths Irish have frequently been moved BY this treat
ment to vain attempts recover their independence
No occasion Of this sort has passed without the enforce
msat Of cOnnscaOn Of property which has been prac-
tsed 10 snch extent thai nearly the whole soil OF
Ireland belongs to English prOpretOrs who drain the
rent Of the land . England leaving the superinten-
dance Of their estates e1lOFtOnats "mddle men"
Are not the same eaactments already denounced against
the South and in OVerpOwered sections, already being
saforcsdS
Thus, Il either recoastruotlOn or suRjugAtiOn could
be the termination Of our struggle, We would be gov
srnsd like Ireland by foreign lgslatu e, our indus
ny loaded with the heaviest burdens, and forbidden
ss competition, not only with the rest Of the world