The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1866-04-26
The Case Of ireland.

Although Fenianism may not be
a very imposing phenomenon, yeI
it is not to DO forgotten that tho
wrongs of Ireland are not fable,
but a very tragical truth. We dc
not need to explore history to know
so much. We have only to con.
slider the general condition of the
vast numbers of emigrants from
that country to this to be very sure
that there must be radical and
vital defect in the system to which
they ere subject, and which makes
them what they are. "Thc An.
glo.Saxon race" bitterly says the
French Opinion Rationale, allu.
ding to the national fast Tor the
cattle pest, " will pray for the sal
vatioh of bulls and scourge poor
Ireland" The accusation is tre-
mendous, but to ever, plea Of Eng.
land tho actual condition of Ire.
land must be sternly and constant,
y alleged.
A hundred and fly years ago
MoLyNEux published his Case of
Ireland Stated" and DRAM SwiFr
his I" Diapier's Letters" Mr.. JAS
GopKiN. a writer in the London
FortnigAtly RerieD, reminds us
that the House OF Commons could
not answer MoLYNEux's book, so
they had it burned by the common
h ngman, while SwIrr's publisher,
for refusing to give the author's
name, was thrown into prison. -
Thee events are typical Of the
En- glish systom in Ireland, and Mr.
Godl in submits the case Of Ireland
anew.
1t must be remembered that the
Irish population is not OF one race
or faith. The pure Colts are few
and feeble. The Roman Catholic
mobility and gentry, the Episcopa
lians and Presbyterians, the pro-
icssional and mercantile classes,
with most Of the land owners, be
long 60 the British connection.
The " dangerous class " is not the
original Celt, it ia the Catholic
peasantry in the better part Of the
country who are of mixed race.--
1t is in the most English counties
of "the pale that the chief dis.
content Is. found, and if the quar-
rel were 10 be settled among the
Irish themselves, the Irish OF Brit
ish race, according TO our anthor,
would remain masters. 1t was in
these English counties, where Irish
had not been spoken for ages, that
the rebellion OF '9s against the
British government ragged most
iercely. The population lie encr
getic, sclr-reliant, and asks only for
ust government and fair play for
ind ustry.
The Irish priests spring from the
people. Their interests are those
Of their focks. Educated upon
the Continent, which is covered
with the monuments OF their
Church, or at home pondering the
ancient power OF their faith, the
priests paint to the people the
wrongs of their church, which is
prescribed and prosecuted. Be
fore the eyes OF those people are
the painful contrast Of the ruins OF
the Old cathedrals with the modern
Episcopal chapel and its well-en.
lowed rector preaching to his con-
regation of twenty souls, while a
thousand of the faithful and tradi-
tional church kneel upon the earth.
IN floors in their rude house be-
yond. These contrasts are deepen.
ed in effect by the traditions OF al
ienated estates, OF martyred bish-
ops, and the black penal code.
The passionate power Of priestly
appeals upon such points to such
people can be imagined.
Most OF the land in Ireland has
been contiscated three times, and as
jointrights of ownership were dis,
regarded the land titles were hope.
lessly confused. AS the tenant
ia mer by his own outlay increases
the yield Of the ground the absen.
tee landlord increases bis rent and
refuses long leases. Small far
mers have abandoned the struggle.
Iaroa farnars thr row land out of