National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-02-10

the mtruths contained in the Duke OF
Westminster's speech. They are self-eyi-
dent. glaring, oItrusive. Such an address
viii do more to help the cause Of the ma
tionalists In this country than volumes oi
speeches by home rule leaders.
NJ. y. Ravanagh, Ii. d., in q recent
letter to the London Times, states we'll
known facts of history when he says that
"whilc ireland enjoyed her own parlia-
mcnt peace rcigned throughout the ooun-
try. Prosperity was apparent in every de-
portmcnt and in every branch-commercc
was fostered and increased agriculture was
encouraged and enriched, manufactures
were promoted and extended, the labering
man became farmer, the farmer rose to
the position Of gentleman, towns grew
into cities, the population accumulated,
and peace, happiness, and prosperity glad
dened the land at every side. During the
fourteen years which succeeded Ireland's
legislative independence no country on the
face of the earth made such rapid progress
in improvement Of every kind as Ireland
did. Then there came the union-that
enactment which stands out In Its native
deformity, the mere creature of fraud,
bribery, terror and corruption, and to
which attribute all the evils Of Ireland
The annhilation Of trade and commerce,
the destitution, the misery, the starvation,
the scafTold, all were oecasioned by the
union.n
DIR. Kavanagh cites evidence, familiar
long ago but half forgotten in later years,
to show the bribery and corruption by
which the union was carried. Lord Castle
reagh declared in the house Of commons
that he would carry the union though 1t
might cost more than half million In mere
bribes. The parliamentary papers published
since the union show no less than Gl ,2I5,-
600 was paid in the actual purchase money
for close and rotten boroughs. And 1t Is
calculated that over and above the borough
purchase money no less than El,500,0O0
was paid in bribes. The solemn words of
Lord Plunket, In the house Of commons
against the union, are;
Yourselves you may extinguish, but the par
| lament you cannot cXtinguish. 1t Is en-
throned in the hearts Of the people, II is estab-
lished in the sanctuary ofthc constitution, II Is
immortal as the island It protects As we'll
might the frantic maniac hope that the act
which destroys his miserable body may eXtln.
| guish his immortal soul. DO not dare to lay
! your hands upon the constitution-it is above
your power.
William saurin, attorney general for Ire.
land, said:
You may make tho union binding in law
! but you cannot make 1t obligatory in con
science--it will be obeyed as long as England
is strong, but resistance to 1t will be in the ab
stract duty, and the exhibition Of that resist
ance will be a mere question Of prudence.
Lord Chief Justice Burke said:
That the basest corruption and artihce wore
exertcd to promote it; that all the worst pas
sions of tho human heart were entered into tht
service, and oil the most depraved ingenult!
of the human intellect was tortured to devils,
new contrlyances Of fraud.
Abhorring crime as sincerely as tht
noblest lord in England, opposing violence
counseling peace and tranquility, Mr.. Par
nell is working by lawful methods alone t
restore to Ireland her own constitution
that of which she was despoiled by th,
"basest corruption.n