National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-02-11
The Irish ImbrOgiiO.

Even England, with all her pretensiye
zeal for the constitutional rights of her
subjects, has shown herself capable of
perpetrating great wrongs upon the mi
norities in her realm. Her general policy
toward ireland clearly exemplifies this
fact. The Irish people seem to be pos
sessed of no rights that the British gov
ernment is bound to respect. 1t has
power that it does not hesitate to WELD
oppressively as often as opportunity pre-
sents. When the House of Commons
was engaged in considering the Irish
question, the rulings of the Speaker
were so unjust and unwarranta-
bic against the minority as to
excite severe criticism from the most ex-
perienced and skillful parliamentarians
of the world at this era. 1t is not noble,
or even decent, for a party in power,
whether in a monarchy or republic, to
trample upon the rights of minority, for
every subject and every citizen has guaran-
teed rights under the written constitution
that it is neither wise, just, nor safe to
trifie with under an arbitrary exercise OF
power. Temporary advantages may be
derived from such a policy, but the
whirligig of time, which makes all things
even, brings its revenges and compensa-
tions as inevitably as that day succeeds
night.
England has the power to oppress Ire
land by unjust laws and policies, but she
can lily afford to give full rein and play
to it. Ireland may submit for the present,
but she will not always do SO. Each op-
pressive wrong inflicted only fertilizes
and strengthens the innate sense of right
of a civilized people, and tends to treasure
up wrath against the day of wrath which
will assuredly come. The Crown Of Eng
land and its constitutional advisers may
trample upon the rights of the peo
pie Of Ireland with impunity for a
season; but the end of such rule
in the nineteenth century must have an
end. If the government of Great Britain
fancies that it has the power to maintain
unjust policies through the prowess of
its army and navy, we commend to its
careful contemplation the admonition,
Let him who thinketh he standeth take
heed lest he fall" The American colo
nies were comparatively weak when they
declared their independence of the British
Crown, but their cause was just, and it
prevailed. So in Ireland in the in
ception of the pending struggle, but
she will not always submit to
oppressive laws and policies, and it
will be far better for British peace and
welfare for that government to modify
its rule rather than provoke resistance to
its authority. The former it can afford
to do. The latter it cannot, though it
may think it can. 1t is wiser for it to
study history and draw lessons of wis
dom therefrom, rather than plunge head
long into an abyss of disaster, simply for
the reason that it has the power and the
opportunity to do SO. The oppression of
Ireland, if continued, will inevita-
bly, lead to its freedom, though
that goal may not be reached
except through revolution and bloodshed.
England should understand that the bat
tlo is NOT always with tho numerically
strong. The god of battles and justice
decides struggles by the gauge of right
oftener than by the power of might.
History teaches this plain lesson, and in
dealing with the Irish people Great
Britain should study it calmly and
wisely.