Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-05-07
IRISH AFFAIRS.

Telegrams from London yesterday an
nounce that bill providing for local self
government in Ireland, will probably be
introduced in Parliament before the close
of the present session. If such a measure
is introduced it will probably pass both
houses, and will give to Ireland relief
for which she has long sought. The
chief feature of the bill is, that it provides
for a council in each county, to be elected
by the voters of the county, and for
central council to be elected by the
county councils, and to hold its sessions
in Dublin. This is one OF the things for
which Ireland has been calling for many
wears, and which if granted in the past
would have saved much blood and
treasure, and made Ireland to England
what Scotland is There is no more race
antipathy between Irish and English than
between Scotch and English, and had the
same policy been pursued in regard to
Ireland as to Scotland, those who to-day
are England's bitterest enemies would
have been her truest friends. Since the
days of Cromwell no faith has been put
in the Irish, and from every position they
have been barred, and those who have
ministered their affairs have been mis-
trustful of, and often hostile to, those
over whom they ruled. In place
of cultivating that cordial under
standing between the governed and the
governors which is indispensable
to good government and strong union
between the various parts of country,
the very reverse has been the rule with
England in regard to Ireland. A brave
and generous people, the Irish have been
treated as cowardly and base. Had any
effort been made to encourage that gen.
erous national feeling which is so prom
inent characteristic of the Irish, things
would have been greatly different in Ire
land from what they are to-day. During
the recent visit of the Prince and Princess
of Wales, so simple thing as the wear
ing of green dress by her Royal High
ness touched the hearts of the Irish and
called forth a feeling of loyalty to-
wards her. AS has been .sug-
gested by some one, why could not the
Irish regiments in the English service be
clad in green uniforms as the Scotch regi
ments are clad in the Highland costumes?
1t would be a gracious concession to
their insular pride, and it would give to
them that esprit de corps which is so de-
sirable to have among soldiers. 1t was
this feeling which prompted Cambronne
TO say, when the Guard at Waterloo was
ordered to surrender, '"The Guard dies;
it never surrenders."
The thing now to be feared is that the |
cannot carry the measure which
will give to Ireland partial local self
government on account of the great dis
which Gladstone's course in
5he Russo-Afghan controversy has caused
o all classes of Englishmen, save the
The permanent pacifcation
md union of Ireland with England, are
# more Importance to the British EN-
'ire than the keeping of the Russians out
If Afghanistan; but the prestige which
dr. Gladstone has lost in his negotia-
ions with Russia may defeat this home
Sure is it that the Tories will
10 all they can to defeat the measure, as
is success would be liable to restore the
'remier to his former place with the en-
ire nation. Nor is it always safe to take
Dory criticism and denunciation of Lib
raj government as giving a Just account
# an actual state of affairs, and the
Ihuaderer is no longer the safe guide
o public opinion which it was ten or
fifteen years ago, as was clearly shown in
he memorable struggle of 1879, when it
declared that the nation was with
and the nation was with
iladstone. In former times, the voice of
4ondon was the voice of the nation, but
is different now, and to-day the nation
peaks for itself, and Birmingham, Leeds,
heffield and other of the large towns
now full well what they want, and that
heir wants are not those of London and
S fashionable world. :
For Mr.. Gladstone to give to Ireland
Dcal Self-gOVernmpnt yyOnld lna for hin,
crown his life's labors far more glori
usly than to have made the Russians
urranda nm pon;doL