Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-06-11
IRISH WRONGS AND ENGLISH sTO-
LIDIIY.

To one looking upon the Irish difficulties
from the outside, az spectator having no
especial sympathy with or prejudice against
either party, the inability of the English to
understand the problem of which their own
proceedings form part would be laughaole
ii the results of their impetency IN this re-
spect were not 30 calamitous. We see an
example of what is continually developing
itself in a recent issue of the London Spec
tutor, which says: ave confess that we, who
have fought steadily for Ireland and extreme
forms of Justice to her for twenty years, are
as bewildered as any Tory by her continued
hatred. We see no cure, no approach TO
cure for it. Nothing done in the twenty
years has mitigated it, nor is there evidence
that anything TO he done will assusge it.
Emancipation did not remove it; the
abolition of the Irish Church only altered
its expression; the adoption OF the
Irish instead OF the English theory
OF tenure seems only 10 have increased
it." Ii the English cease in some
instance to persist in inficting upon the Irish
a wrong that has been perpetrated daily Tor
generations, they evidently expect, as the
above words from the Spectator show, that
the Irish people shall become filled with
gratitude and look with affection on :he
hand that smote, because, in particular d.
rection, it smites no longer. Such an e1pecta'
ton is absurd. If neighber mas been In
the daily habit Of robbins my cash-box, and
my fathers and grsndfather's before me, and
L ;,,I,,aoH tn discontinue his
dishonest deeds, am L 10 feel grateful and to
love him because he has ceased to do what
he never ought TO have begun doing?
Especially can / do SO when he ceases, not
because Justice and my rights demand 1t, but
because have made things uncomfortable
for him, or danger TO him from some other
neighbor has made my opposition calamit-
GUS 10 him? Yet this is the case between
England and Ireland. England imposed the
Episcopal Church upon the country, and de-
prived persons belonging to the national
church. the Roman Catholic, of many OF
their civil rights, took their land from the
owners and gave them to people who OPP
pressed their tenants and extorted extrava-
giant rents from Them and turned them out
into the highway when they could not pay.
The Irish resisted, and are resisting by every
method they can use, and when their resist
ance proves successful in any particular
Instance, can the Irish besexpected to feel
gratitude for what was not surrendered
gracefully and spontaneously out OF regard
for justice, but which was given up because
it could not be refused? This way of look
ing at the subject never occurs to the English.
The decent part of them acknowledge that
Ireland has been deeply wronged, and has
still much injustice to complain OF, yet even
these are puzzled and bewildered because.
when Ireland, by agitation and united re-
sistance, has extorted something from Eng
land, the Irish people are not over
whelmed with gratitude toward the English,
and because one wrong is righted they do not
quietly, thankfully and uncomplainingly
endure other wrongs that remain. The
utter inability oil the English thus to under
stand the true position of things, and to
comprehend that the concessions made to
Ireland because they can no longer be
refused, are not fayors conferred, but merely
wrongs righted, is amazing. Until the
English view the Irish question in its true
light, and modify their conduct accordingly,
it will keep up turmoil and trouble. Eng
land must give up the idea that it is
graciously giving, and understand that 1T is
merely a wrong doer returning to the ways
of rectitude before the Irish question will
cease to trouble its peace, and to be danger
to it in some future crisis, when to have
an enemy at her own doors may be fatal.