Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-10-21
THE BRITISH LION vs.. THE IRISH
SHIILALAH.

D6tH6tu 1TCIdnu NV viz
ment is deeper than the land act.
To discuss the merits or dement's oil
the land act alone, does not 90 to the
bottom of the controversy between Eng
land and Ireland.
The Irish tenants have made the terms
of their land tenure the sole basis oil
their complaint against the English gov
eminent, it is true; and England in
order to satisfy her conscience and unite
public opinion in support OF the enforce
ment of order, has made concessions in
the land bill more radical and liberal
than even Ireland herself anticipated,
and far greater than the Irish tenant
ever before enjoyed.
Grant that the terms oil the bill con-
stitute as liberal a lease as was ever SET
tied between landlord and tenant; giving
the latter, as it does, a right to term oil
fifteen wears; property interest IN the
improvements he puts upon the land;
COMPENSATION in money for these I'M
provements before he should De requlr-
ed to quit the land; valuation ot DIS
lease upon the naked land, exclusive oil
improvements unless placed there oy
the landlord; a court TO determine
RshFssR Rpaieyd and sspsat q e sS t t5
tenant to sell his lease and improve
ments; and grant that with these and
other conditions OF the bill large por-
ton Of the Irish people are satisfied.
But there is yet one thing lacking in
the bill:-it does not make Ireland free.
The whole issue is put in nut shell
by Lord DERBY when he says: at ID
impossible to treat the land question as
i. affects Ireland without reference TO
the larger aims avowedly kept in view
by those who have been most active IN
stirring it. To get rid OF landlords IS not
an end, but means; landlords are de.
nounced as oppressors, but their real
ofHense is that they are supporters OF the
English connection; The leading idea
throughout is that of acknowledgement
for the Irish"
Tie issue then as it is viewed in
America and as it really exists, is
struggle for independence,-for distinct
nationality.
Nor Is it in fact sedition or rebellion
on the part OF the Irish for the subver.
sion OF the existing Constitution, but a
firm and persistent,ye ;Fegitimately plea,
for Home Rule, upon which all the
world will concede the Irishman the
right to speak and vote and even to
agitate within the limits Of decency and
order.
There is no proper parallel between
the issue made by the Irish with the
British Government, and that OF the
Confederate States with the United
States Government. The latter was not
rebellion against the form ofgoyernment.
nor a protest by one race OF people
against government by another race;
nor struggle for self government by one
province or section OF the country
against form OF government which the
revolving section desired to throw of.
The war OF the Confederate States was
ior the institution OF slavery, to which
the Northern States were opposed, and
was carried on by the former 10 perpet-
uate an institution very similar in its
character to that which the Irish are
now endeavoring to throw of. The
war by the Confederacy was for the per-
petuity of slavery; the struggle by the
Irishmen is for freedom. 1t is impos
sible that the people OF a Repub
lican Government like our own should
not sympathize with any people strug.
Cling for home rule upon territory they
have occupied for centuries, and to
whom il it were possible TO submit the
question to vote OF the whole popula.
ton, it would be carried, according to
Lor DERBY, by three or four 10 one. 1t
is impossible that when such senti
ment takes possession OF people tina!
it ne pnt down by any compromises
short OF the actual concession demanded;
aud that the demand should be needed
and the concession granted cannot be
held to be more impolitic or unwise on
the part of the British Government,
than were the recent concessions TO the
Transvaal under similar circumstances
To attempt to "stamp out" such SEN
timent has been admitted by Mr.. GLAD
STONE by his policy in the latter instance
to be far more impo!itic than to yield to
the demand.
But the depths Of the English d.
lemma are sounded by lord DERBY
when he SAYS: ave are then in this
dilemma, that We sincerely desire to
govern Ireland according to Irish ideas,
but that the one dominant idea which
has taken possession of the Irish mind
is that We should not govern Ireland at
all. Ii We resist We belle our professions;
il We give way we break up the Empire
Ii We try to compromise by granting
half Observation-Disclosures OF local,
bat not of imperial action-can We as
reasonable men doubt that the power
We have conceded will be used as
means of power? that the one hand
which We release will be employed to
iibera;e the others Which conun-
drums Lord Derby doubtless is glad that
he is able to leave for the pract cal con.
sideration OF Liberal Ministry.
The Republicans of the United States
Senate are in an unfortunate position
regarding the Secretaryhip OF that body.