The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1881-02-11

1t is very wide OF the mark to speak of the
Irish representatives who have been suspen-
dcd from the House OF Commons rs though
they were simply an unreasonable ami lia-
practicable minority who would not submit
TO parliamentary order and whom it was ne
ceSsaIv therefore TO suppress. Theoretically
that is what they are, and the House Di Com
mons could not escape whatever measures
were necessary TO assert its own dignity and
prevent the further obstruction of its busi-
ncSs. But this obvious view 0f the matter,
while correct enough as far as it goes, Is al
I. together inadequate. The irish members
are something very different from an ordl-
nary minority OF an ordinary third party in
parliamentary body. They are the repre-
sent9tiveS of their nation in a foreign and
hostile Parliament where obstruction IS the
only weapon within their reach with which
To oppose new measures Tor the oppression
of their countryUeu. Obstruction may not
be the most digni6ed mode OF warfare. but u
. was the only one open To them.
This is not parallel case with anything
{ that could occur i'm our own Congress or "a
the French Assembly, or whatever nation
/ is making its own laws through its own re-
pTeScutatvgS, and where the minority must
. of necessity submit Here tine English are
/ making laws for the Irish, and the admission
q few Irish representatives into their coun,
scls is the wcrest mOckeTy of constitutional
/ methods. y on cannot govern SUbJocJ peo-
. pie by constitutional methods. because con-
/ StitutiuUGl government presUpp0~es the con-
have given their consent to BRUSH uouii-
( nation. They have submitted 5u.elly auu
have been compelled 50accert rs faVors sucH
slight concessions 70 their rights rs they nave
been able to gain. but there has been nc
true national union ut any time, and even SO
liberal q statesman as Gladstone IS aolI-ed J'
acknowledge to-day that the royal authority
I'm Ireland can be maintained only by military
force. II there never had been q pTetence ol
any other mode of government the ATTITUDE
OF England would be more consistent Ano
miEht have been more honorable. An aFrW
ed rule Of force. q despnti-m OF blood ana
iron, might 1T least have given security e
life and property i'm ireland and thus would
I have commanded some kind OF respect bu
an occasional resort to such methods even d
successful. cannot Justify the centuries OF
. meddIesuHe nisrUie that have made thC
. Irish the most miserable people IN the ToT.d
nor can any grUdG5nglv-TEauIe tinscling al
. the land laws at this late date 90 more To eS
. tabiish the English right to govern lTelanl
I than did the reforms promised at tonStaG, I.
uoplC justify the rule ot the Turks IN but
raria.
The English have the power they have
F the numbers, The arms and the means, ans
they will do no more for the Irish than The,
are compelled to 60. But the time has cJnl'
. when they must meet their Responsibilities
with larger mind than they have ever saeTi
before. for not the Imprisonment or half .
dozen or q thousand IrishWc1, nor the revi
val of the irumhead cOUUt-m3rtial, VIII cur
4 state of things shat makes the English -uIt
, in ireland an Ot|ense to modern civilization
p -IFjtCdeIpFia Times.