The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1879-10-26
SUNDAY. OCTOBER 20, 1874
IRELAND AND THE IRISH.


Tho spirit Of discomfort in Ireland
assumes daily more formidable proper
lions. Should the result free the island
from British rule, the present agitation
would form one of the grandest move
ments of modern times. Wemake this
assertion without intending to mani
fest any hostility toward England or
her institutions. In our opinion no
nation on earth can show a nobler his
tory. No other contains the recital of
SO many grand actions or can boast of
so many illustrous anne
She gave to the world the earliest
example of a constitutional government
In Jurisprudence, in political wisdom,
In military renown, In the walks of
science and literature England leads
the modern world. Our own country
is particularly its debtor, its govern
ment and laws being derived almost
entirely from those of the mother coun-
try. But Notwithstanding her great
name in arts and science, her material
wealth and her military power, Eng
land at different times and under GER
tain circumstances has been guilty OF
political crimes that have furnished her
reputation and marked with eternal
disgrace her history One Of the worst
and perhaps the most odious feature of
the English government has been ex-
hibited Ia the management of affairs In
Ireland. The English rule has always
been oppressive In her colonies with
the exception of Australia and the
Canadas. Her despotic sway on this
side of the Atlantic cost her the thir-
teen colonies now constituting the
United States. That same intolerable
despotism manifested more harshly in
Ireland, has occasioned innumerable
revolts which have been extinguished
IN blood. Bot no sooner was one dis
tui bance quelled than another was ex-
cited, induced in a great measure by
the barbarity and bloodthirsty DISPOSE
ton displayed by the government in
quelling the previous disorders. The
effects of British rule in Ireland are IL
Illustrated by the condition of that coun-
try, not only at the present time, but
during the past century. 1t is one of
the most impoverished countries on the
globe. From no other land are the In
hibitants so eager to emigrate. A large
proportion of the population Of the
United States are Irish or of Irish de-
scent. Indeed, 1t is said, that more
Irishmen live In this country than in
Ireland itself. They are found every
where, in Australia, Canada-wher-
ever emigration from Europe has fonnd
q resting place, there Irishmen are
found. All this vast stream pours
from one little island not larger than a
single state of the union. There must
be some cause for this voluntary ban
ishment of 50 many thousands Of the
natives of Ireland from their country.
The cannot be ascribed to indif-
ference. The love of country, of hearth
and home CLOVIS with peculiar fervor in
the Irish breast. No man loves his
country more, no matter what his ma
~tionality, his dialect or his origin may
be. Erin is dear to the heart of her
children, though many years have
elapsed since their last view OF her re-
ceding shores. Though a thousand
leagues of water spreads between the
Ian Of their adoption and the land of
their birth, the latter is ever dear. The
sentiment "Erin M~avourneen, Erin 90
bragh,' finds al echo in every civilized.
state, In every country, in every isle of
the sea, in every land spread out be-
meath the sun. This affection for sold
Ireland" does not exist without good
reason. Itis truly called the "Emer-
AID Isle, and Gem Of the Sea,n but
her natural beauty is only one Of many
advantages possessed by Ireland. She
has great natural resources. Amonp
which may be included fertility of soil.
magnificent harbors, fine rivers flowing
in a wide stream from the interior to
the coast, q salulbious and mild climate
and a most hardy population, all the
requisites necessary to a prosperous and
powerful state. Ireland has been by
nature most literally endowed. Very
few countries of the same area equal
and perhaps none excel her In natural
wealth, but despite the bounty so liter
ally layished upon her, states, sterile,
rocky and barren as Switzerland and
Scotland far excel her in consequence.
The population Of Ireland has dimin-
ished during the past century from
seven'to five millions, although tie
country is capable Of supporting fifteen
millions.
The native Irish are the poorest and
most vretched Of its population. The
most wealthy class being confined to
those Of foreign descent. The great
mass Of the people prefer the Catholic
religion, to which they are devotediy
attached. Until a recent date the
Episcopal was the church of Ireland as
. Na