The New York herald., 1879-11-16
THE AIMS o'coNNELL HAD IN VIEW AND TIL

WORK HE ACCOMPLISHED
The Irish Parliament which expired with the
eighteenth century not in fact Irish Parlia-
ment. 1t Parliament Of the Protestant section Of
tho countrys inhabitants. The penal laws then
in force. and only those who prepared to take
oaths abjurng the "errors of Popery," and in par
ticular renouncng the miracle OF
were permitted to sit in either House, or even to
enjoy the electoral franchise. The body which thus
held the entire Legislative power. was according
the best estimates. only about one-fourth of the
population of the island. The condition Of affairs
remained substantially the for many years after
the "Act Of Union" was passed Then O'Con-
nell. and following his entrance into public life.
N long interval OF intense excitement and bitter
struggle. came Catholic emancipation. bringing
political freedom to vast mass OF persons who
were previously supposed by the law to
have no existence" This was in 1929
and in the succeeding years the agitation
for the redressal of Ireland's grievances was
continued with increasing boldness and vehemencc.
until at last the great project OF ''Repea of the
Union" was broached and taken up by the people
with feverish cagcrness. "Rcpeal the Union. re.
store the Irish Parliament. bring back Graf
tsn's constitution of 17s2." exclaimed tho
advocates of English Alliance. "Do you
forget that in the old Parliament mono but Protes-
tants could Sit and none but Protestants could vote
for thcmY Do you forget that the qualification for
voters aristocraric, that the franchise was un-
even. exclusive and unjust. anu that the coun-
try was dotted with rotten boroughsv
Do not these Catholic peasants know that a
Repeal Of the Union would fling in the dust
all those newly gotten political rights that they are
now eagerly usingf- O'Connell knew all that
but he wanted repeal in addition to all that had been
gained since the Union. Hc had scheme
for the reconstruction OF the Parliament,
with its houses thrown open to all
creeds and the electoral franchise extended
not only TO all crceds. but almost all male sub
jscts Of the crown. He wished to emphasize agri-
cultural holders Of the poorest class and corre-
sponding grades in tho towns abolish all 'rotten
and presentation" boroughs and to build House
OF Commons ON the most liberal principles. Tho
Protestant and anti national party replied that re-
peal of the union on these terms would necessarily
involve complete separation of tho two countries
Tho interests and natures of their govern.
ina bodies would DO too diverse tor the
two to follow the Same lines OF policy
aud avoid conflict This o'connoli denied.
lilo thought the link formed by the Crown and the
commc allegiance OF the two peoples thereto would
prove an adamantino link. His projects, however.
to the test either cf practice or detailed
parli ,ncntary debate. After 1894 tho repeal move
ment declined and buried In his grave In 1877.
LATTER PROJECTS
While tho largest section Of the home rule party
does not advocate q separation complete as that
desired by OConnell. his plan for the remodellnu of
the Irish Parliament must in some degree tho
basis Of all schemes for separate Irish Legislature
4 small body. called the "'s2 Club" have refused
TO abatc their demands . jot. They are mainly old
repcalcrs. who will not rccedc from the position of
old days. Another section the "federalists." who