The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-06-08
Mr.. Bryce on England and Ireland


In the June Century, Professor James
Bryce, NJ. p, discusses the Irish question in
a singGlarly fair spirit and with perfect mas
terry of the facts. What might be called the
sentimental obstacles to harmony between
the countries are explained in part as fol-
lows: 'The English government of Ireland
is still practically foreign government.
rhe Eaglish may say ihat. u ousht ,nasu Il. he
v 4S<sSFN''sAe - W. 4sSSStk'
as of the other, are governed by popular
assembly, in which representatives of Ire
misrepresentation more numerous than
her population and wealth entitle her to =
sit and vote and speak freely, aud more
than freely. Nevertheless, people in Ire
land still think of and talk of the Govern
ment, not as their Government, but as the
English Government 1t seems to them an
external power, set in motion by forces they
do not control, conducted on principles
which may or may not be good, but which
are not their principles. Unquestionably
there is much truth in such a view. One
need only listen to an Irish debate in the
House of Commons to recognize 1t. And
one must further admit that The English are
not merely foreigners, but by no means gra-
cious and agreeable foreigners to deal with.
In spite of their many virtues and especially
of their passion for improving people and
things, the English do not make themselves
liked by other nations, not even in India.
where they are honestly doing their best for
the natives. They are too stiff, too dry. TO
unsympathetic, too much disposed to make
their own notions and customs the uniyer-
sal standard of right Toward races which
they think their interiors they are less often
cruel and far less often unjust than most
European peoples. But they are contemptu-
Gus, or, at best, understanding. They do
not allow the subject to forget that he IS not
only subject, but an inferior. Their very
indifference to his opinion of them is the
most constant evidence of their pride Be-
tween them and the Irish there IS sort of
incompatibllity like that which exists be-
tween the German and the Slay. 1t is true
that they do not hate the Irish as the Ger
mans hate the Slavs, and as the Lowland
Scotch hated the Celtic Highlanders, even
SO recently as In the days of Thomas Car
lyie's youth. An Englishman is not sensi-
bic of any antipathy to an individual Irish
man; and 1t need not be said that an indi-
vidual Irishman has every chance, and uses
it, or success in England. In the profess
slons of arms and law and medicine. in the
Church, in literature and science. many OF
the leading men of modern Britain are Irish
by birth or education-real Irishmen, with
their Irish quality, perhaps even their Irish
speech, bewraying them. But for Ireland
as whole, or for any group of Irishmen
associating themselves as Irishmen, the
English have feeling which, if not dislike,
IS at least distrust, and which, though hard
~ to be called contemptuous, is certainly
not respectful. An Irishman who is con-
tent to be even as an Englishman is received
on the same footing. But Irishmen who
obtrude their Hibernian character and ma
tionality are i'll regarded Then local patri-
they to be proud OFF says the Englishman.
why cannot they leave that nonsense alone.
and be satisfied TO be citizens of this great
United Kingdom?''