The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-04-15
Ireland's Ca use.

The speech of Mr. Gladstone in Parlia-
ment last week Oh the question of Home
Rule for Ireland, will attract as much at
tention from the confession it makes OF
which have been inflicted upon
that unhappy country, as for the precise
order and ability with which his state
ments were made. Coming from the pre-
mier of the English government, and
speaking for the government. the speech
is remarkable in it's significance. 1t is an
admission that under the Union Ireland
has been wronged to such degree that to
persist in it would be to offend the moral
sense of the world: And this concession
once made, it will date the introduction of
reforms looking to just regard for the
rights and interests of Ireland, and the
restriction of the iniquities which have
been practiced upon that people for centu-
ries. A glance at the history of Ireland
under the Union reveals the most perni-
cious and offensive legislation that ever
emanated from civilized government,
and exposes brutal hostility to the people
of Ireland and their interests without
parallel in any country. To satisfy Brit
ish greed, laws were enacted to first de-
stroy the wooden industry, then the stock
industry. and then the linen industry. and
finally to obliterate all manufacturing en-
terprises from which the Island had grown
prosperous and happy, in order to build up
the manufactures of England, at the same
time that Ireland was impoverished. The
great contest of Henry Grattan, lead
ing the friends of Ireland, was to restore
the commercial activity and prosperity of
| Ireland, more than for the assertion Of po-
litical rights. But the parliament that was
| then conceded to ireland was Of short du-
ration. English money and English treaeh-
cry brought to an inglorious close, after a
brief existence, the Grattan Parliament,
and from that time to this, Ireland has
been growing poorer, her condition becom-
ing more desperate and her future more
| hopeless. Not until Parnell came upon
the stage of action and agitation for re-
form and home rule was inaugurated, was
| there CLEAN of promise for the unfortu-
nate and oppressed Island. His steady
courage, his tenacious endurance, his calm
reliance upon the justice of his cause,
have worked revolution even in English
sentiment, changing Mr.. Gladstone from
an impassioned prosecutor to an active and
aggressive defender and friend, for it was
but few years ago that Parnell was i'm.
prisoned by order of Gladstone on account
of his political sentiments and outspoker
sense of wrong from which Ireland suf.
fered.
Mr.. Giads tone may not be abie to carry
through the reforms he proposes at this
time, but there will be 10 step back
ward. The admission of British injustice
and oppression. coming from English
sources, can only be atoned for by future
Justice to Ireland. Her commercial and pc
litical condition will have to be relieved by
a parliament of her own and legislation and
laws enacted looking primarily to Irish in
terests. The enlightened conscience and
the progressive influences of the times will
demand this much and be satisfied with
nothing less. The cause that Gladstone
and Parnell plead, is the cause of human
ity-the cause of right against wrong, anf
will in the very nature of things, finally
triumph.