New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-08-13
THE IRISH QUESTION.

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Since the very commencement of thi
century Ireland has been 'the Niobe @
nations" The eloquence of her plain
has touched all hearts and filled all ears
Previously Englandl was the master o
Ireland in military sense, but there hat
been Parliament in the green island il
which her people had confidence, and no
till that was overturned by an act of SELF
destruction and covenant of parlia
mentary union with the Sassenach die
the sons of old Erin feel that thei
national individuality had been sacrificed
for miserable mess of pottage. An an
cient kingdom, with far-reaching record
and traditions, the patriotic heart of tn
land revolsed at the idea of subordinatiol
to an authority it had ever regarded a.
oppressive, and partnership in govern
ment, based neither on popular consen
nor the.principles Of federative equality
Hence, for tLree-quarters Of century
while feeding her wrath with ancient in
stances drawn from the historic past, Ire
land has been demanding, sometimes
peacefully and sometimes turbulently, q
repeal of the hated Union. O'Connell
the renowned Irish agitator, was of the
class OF statesmen who looked to the &C.
complishment of political reforms through
peaceful agencies, and though the repeal
of the Union was the darling object of his
ambition, he would not purchase it by
shedding drop of either English or Irish
blood. He spoke daggers, but used none
that were forged by the artisans of revo-
luton. Indeed, one of his troubles arose
from the necessity of exercising the mer-
curial spirits which his own eloquence
conjured up. he could not always begst
in his hearers the temperance he could
summon to himself in ''the very torrent
and whirlwind of his passion" and was
thus at times seemingly at war with his
own agitative strategy.
A recent debate in the British House of
Commons hassbroughtIup the subject Of
home rule for Ireland in more moderate
and modest shape than it has usually as
sumed. Mr.. Butt, in moving for the ap-
pointment of select committee to in
quire into the nature and extent of the
demand made by large portion of the
Irish people for the restoration to Ireland
of an Irish Parliament, with power to con-
troll the internal affairs of that country,
expressly repudiated the traditional de-
mand for the complete repeal Of the
Union. All that he insisted on was the
right of domestic legislation, such as that
enjoyed in Canada and Australia, leaving
the Imperial Parliament to deal with ques.
tons affecting the defense of the empire,
intercourse with foreign nations, and the
prerogatives Of the crown. This arrange
ment, Mr.. Butt thought, would prove
more advantageous to Ireland than that
which existed before the Union, and he,
for one, was unwilling to give up his share
in the power and government Of the con-
solidated empire. He thought i. unwise
to give partnership, however irregular
in its origin, which had been cemented
with so much Of Irish blood. and attended
in its foreign intercourse, with such mag
niicent results.
A domestic legislature was demanded
for Ireland as q quiesing measure, and
one which would give general satisfaction
to the people of the ever verdant isle. In
this view We heartily coincide, If the
of their own local and
domestic affairs were left to the people of
Ireland it would remove from the British
Parliament large measure Of response
bility, and leave home rule to grapple
with home grievances. Self-government.
so far as her internal affairs are con-
cerned, would place Ireland in the posi-
ton which Canada now occupies, and if
peace and prosperity did not result there
from the Irish people would have to ex-
pend the venom of their wrath upon their
immediate.representatives.
But the moderate views of Mr.. Butt
were by no means acceptable to the pa
triotic Last Ditchers of Hibernia. Up
rose Mr.. P. ]. Smith and eloquently in
sisted that the full repeal of the Union
was thelonly measure which could give
content to Ireland. Absenteeism, he con-
tended, was one of the great grievances of
his country, and it never could be cor
rected while an imperial Parliament, sit
ting in London, held an authority in Irish
affairs which the Home Rule Parliament
Of Ireland would not dare to question.
To leave coercion within the category of
imperial control would be q perpetual
source of Irish discomfort. Instead of
it would be innovation-a fed
srative mockery of that self-government
which the people sought grievance for
he cure of grievances.
In thus putting matters, Mr.. Smith
brought down the house, and Mr.. Butts
modest motion was defeated by an over
vote.
Looking from this distance on the
and judging it by the rule Of
common sense which obtains in this
country, the general impression will be
hat the action of the Commons was un-
wise. If England would permit Ireland
o manage her own internal affairs she
Fould find it source of relief to herself,