National Republican., 1883-04-28
The irish Constitutional Movement

zens OF the former. Nothing equals the
Irish hatred of England except the ferocity
of England's hatred of the Irish. The con-
sent of Ireland to English rule has never
been given. Ireland is British only by
tho right of conquest, and her subjuga-
tion under Cromwell was not much
harsher than tho rule under which she now
chafes. She will be British when Alsace is
German, and her people will be docile sub
iocts when Poles become good Russians. The
erty Of a comparatively few men, many Of
whom arc nonresident. The land laws ap-
pear to have grown into system haying for
its policy the ultimate extinction of the Irish
population Paupcrism that would not seek
relief in workhouse hells has been left TO
starve or been driven to prison or the galows for
crimes caused by desperation. For these the
alternative was exile, and toward America
this unhappy people have always turned their
faces. They have been taught that hero
- there's bread enough for all.
N'N ~ 'io N1uhAl9 Nlllth iohbub iuA hONth
years to unloose the British yoke, they hoped
for more sympathy than would bo found
among n people who had never felt its CALLING
power. They abluro an allegiance which they
abhor when they become equal American
citizens under our naturalization laws. They
cannot be less fond of their native land be-
cause Of its distress, nor are they any the less
American because they hate the tyranny from
which we give them an asylum. They are
not all learned in international law, and in
the passion of their sorrow for the land of
their fathers some of them vainly cry out for
the most inadmissble measures. The heart
that is not moved with compassion for this
race, which, like its own shamrock flourishes
"though under foot It's trod," must bo hard
indeed
The aspiration of the Irish, like that Of
every other civilized race, is nationality.
They want 10 live under laws Of their own,
instead of those of their enemies and opprcs-
sors. This is their real hearts desire. To ac-
complish it they must either secure England's
assent or overcome her power If they in
habited continent across the ocean, as did
the American coonists, they might like them
appeal to arms, and hope for aid from Eng
lands foes. They could, out of Il decent
respect for the opinions of mankind, put forth
declaration of independence, in which could
be recited wrongs as great as ever drove n
people to this last extremity. But such
is not their situation. The lrishmcn
who remain at home are in the cage with the
British lion, and he has more power to re-
talate than they have to annoy him. This
fact must never be forgotten by the Irish in
[ America. They must not pinch the lions tail
| from without the cage, unless they are able to
protect from his fury their brothers inside
selves of some future war in which English
/ power would be overmatched by some alliance
II not now probable, they must confne their
H action to what their great and noble leader,
UCHARLEs STEWART PARNELL calls the con-
stitutional movement" We reproduce his
words from our tclographic columns of yester-
day:
LONDON, April 26-To JAMES MOONEY, ESQ.,
PRESIDENT OF THE IRISH. AMERICAN CONVENTION,
lPmLADELPHIA My presence at the opening OF
tho most representative convention of Irish
Il American opinion ever assembled being impos-
lsibe, owing to the necessity Of my remaining
| there to oppose the criminal code bill which re-
Ienacts permanently the worst provisions of CO.
Iercion and II passed. will leave The constitutional
Increment ut the mercy of the government, 1
lwould ask you to lay my views before the con-
vention. would respectfully advise that your
platform should be so framed as to enable us to
continue to accept help from America and Mt the
sanle time avoid ailOrding prcteXt to the British
! government for entirely suppressng he national
lnlovenlcntn In Ireland. In this way only can unity
| Iof movement be preserved. both in Ireland aud
! lAmerCa. have perfect confidence that by pru.
ldence, moderation, aud frmnCss the cause of
! Ireland will continue to advance; and, though
persecution rests heavily upon us at present, be.
! fore many years have passed we shall have
achieved those great objects for which through
| Imany centuries our race has struggled.
II CHARLES STEWART PARSELL
| These are words of wisdom, and the advice
lthey contain should be studied an ID carefully
| adhered to. Irish-Americaus here should re-
frain from utterances and acts which Parnell
caunot lawfully and openl y approve in
! England. eand his followers at home must
leithcr be law-abiding citizens or rebels. 1t
lis childish to talk of rebellion without arms.
| lphe lion cannot be successfully fought by
Those alone who are Gagged up with him. II
follows that what Mr.. Parnoll dignifes by the
term of "tho national movement" must con
ltnue to be what he also terms "the consti,
lutional movement"
To finally obtain that homo rulo can
hlono pcacoably solve the Irish question
that appears to bo the core Of tho Parnel
policy. Whether by passive resistance or by
tho force of public opinion at homo and
abroad, created by the constant repetition
lof tho grievances for which redress is sought
lor by whatever other means may be wisely
Iused, now or hereafter that is for tho Irish
lin Ireland to say. They must de
eide how long to endure present
wrongs, and experiment with lawful reme-
lies, rather than grapple with the whole mill
tary power of England How puerile all clamol
for armed resistance from people with an
ocean between them and harm appears when
lcompared with the calm and resolute words
Iof Ireland's champion, sent to Irish -Ameri-