The Portland daily press., 1872-10-19
England and Ireland

The great English historian Mr. Froude
gave his first lecture in New York, Wednesday,
evening. He apparently represents the cause
OF the British government ON the Irish ones.
ton He said, relative to the independence of
Ireland:
philosophers have not yet discovered how
to uproot the soil of Ireland, and SO LONG as
England remains great power, with fleets and
navies, and commercial interests in every cor
her OF the world, England cannot, England will
not let go her hold upon an island living close
under her side. She cannot risk the possibility
Of a hostile State establishing itself between
her and the Atlantic. She will not consent
either to a separation or to measures designed
to bring it about. Every concession which will
promote the happiness of the Irish people we
are willing to make, we are willing to yolun-
teer; but we cannot commit political suicide.
Until England is beaten upon her knees Tra
land must share the fortunes of the STRONGER
country. If the Irish race refuses to be recon-
ciled to us, then we must continue as we ara
each a thorn in the others side-or thew mnst
themselves seek another home, or else thew
must fight for their independence. and win f.
like men. Should they achieve such an enter
prise, though my duty would then be to INV
country, and though would struggle to hold
Ireland to its obedience, yet, as a member of
the great human brotherhood, when it was
done, l should willingly welcome them as
another among the nations of the earth"
With regard to the prospects of Irish indie
pendence, he spoke thus:
''To win Independence the Irish must first
learn to obey They must learn subordinat;on
and self-sacrifce They must forget their quar-
rels and feuds, uniting themselves into one Lar-
monious whole with common purpose To
bestow independence upon people who have
never earned it, is to give wings to those who
have never learned to fly. Those who desire TO
be free must first show that they can control
themselves.
If were to sum up in one sentence the secret
of Irelands misfortunes, should say it Law in
this: That while from the first she has resisted
England, complained of England. apnealed to
Heaven and earth against the wrongs England
has inflicted on her, she has ever invited Others
to help her, and never herself made an effective
fight with her own ranks. Compare the histo-
nv of Scotland with that of Ireland England
first invaded Scotland, and endeavored to incor-
porate it into England by force.
The whole Scottish people told Edward it
should not be. England could overrun the
country, build castles and garrison them-she
could intrigue, bride and threaten. The Eng
fish failed. They conld not kill the whole
people, and while the people lived the people
were determined to be free. England found it
had wolf by the throat. She could not
strangle it, the effort to hold it down was two
exhaustive to be maintained, and the contest
was abandoned. To-day union exists be-
tween the two, and it was effected on equal
terms. To-day Scotland retains her religion
and all her Laws; the Scottish mobiles remain
on the soil they so nobly defended Out of the
union of England and Scotland arose the
country which the world knows as Great Brit
ain. applause
Ireland, too, was invaded. Ireland, instead
of narrow river and dry marsh for 'front.'
Ter, had trench of sea before her seventy
miles across. She had larger population than
Scotland, and a country no less difficult to
overrun, yet the invaders fastened themselves
upon her soil, and to-day they remain under
the yoke of the stranger. She has had no Ban
nockburn, she has had no Bruce or Wallace.
she persists that she is in chains and she can
not break them. She has all the liberty that |
England and Scotland have There is no coun- |
Try IN the world where a government can be
dehed with so much immunity, and where mn |
tiny Is allowed SO much freedom of speecb as |
in Ireland at the present time Yet She makes
nothing of it. ''' ''i'hes
What is the explanation of the d;ffero,ooo
Are the Irish less brave than the Scots2 IT,:
have proved their courage on n hundred hatny
fields. Was ireland occupied in such o~ar
ybelmning force that resistance was imnoss;-
Dle9 Forty thousand British were defeated at
For five centuries the English
AVAILABLE force in Ireland rarely exceeded 1000
men. The Irish were forever quarreling among [