National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-02-09
WHAT IRELAND WANTS.

The Views of n Leading Irish-Ameri-
can Upon the Needs of His Native
Land.
The sympathetic interest manifested by
all classes Of our fellow citizensin the pres
ent movement for Irish legislative indc.
pendence gives rise TO many inquiries rs to
the exact meaning which the Irish attach
to the familiar phrase "home rule''-as dis
tinct from absolute separation from Eng
land.
As an Irishman supposed to entertain
wcll-grounded opinions on the subject, a
REPUBLICAN reporter selected T. ii. Walsh
and put the leading question to him:
"What form Of self-government not
necessarily involving the dismemberment of
the British empire would satisfy your
cOuntrymen Y'
"My answer" he replied, 'given in ac-
cordance with my own feelings and my
knowledge Of the aspirations Of my race,
is that, in so far as the query applies to the
moiety Of the Irish nation resident In
the United States, nothing short of
total separation would thoroughly sat
isfy them, for the feelings Of antipathy
to foreign rule Inherent I'm the Irish
nature, cngendered by free instincts, in
confirmed by personal experience, which
they inherit In common with their kindred
at home, has in their case been aggravated
by their involuntary expatriation, and
confirmed by their participation in the
blessings enjoyed by the citizens of free
republic.
t'But, as It is to that portion of the Irish
race still clinging to the native soil that the
question more Immediately applies, as their
present expectations OF 'sclf-government
are based on the CONSTITUTIONAL exertlons
OF their chosen representatives, backed by
the moral force Of public opinion at home
and abroad, and as their allied kindred are
for the present satisfied to aid them in
their own way in securing the substantial
am OF opinion that In all probability the
Irish people would be content with ma
tive parliament competent to deal with all
questions of purely local INTEREST,"
"What do you consider the chief OF
these ?"
"The final settlement of the land oues-
tion by the ycsting of the supreme title to
the soil of Ireland in the national govern
ment, the present claimants to be cOmpen-
sated on such equitable terms as may be
agreed on between the Irish representatives
and the imperial government.
"The right to devote the surplus revenue
of Ireland, after defraying the necessary
Imperial expenditure, including the cost of
the executive national defenses, Sc.--spent
in lreand-to the general interests Of the
country.
"The establishment of system of thor
oughy national education, commensurate
with the wishes and requirements of all
classes and creeds, and on the basis Of per-
feet equality in the expenditure of public
funds.
"Thc fostering Of the national language,
history, and literature, including the
preservation of Irish monuments, &c. The
development by the national government of
Irish mines and fisheries, the improvement
Of navigable rivers and harbors, and the
reclamation Of waste lands.
"The encouragement of native manu-
factllrers on the cooperative system.
"The abolition OF all hereditary or class
privileges incompatible with public rights.
"The election by the people of grand
juries, sherifTs, justices Of the peace, con-
stables and other local officials.
"Ihe organization and maintenance of
an effective militia for the preservation of
order and defense from foreign invasion.
"-All these questions are of Il purely local
character. There Is nothing in their con-
ception incompatible with the integrity of
the empire. But while enjoying the ben
efts to be derived thorefrom, it is reason
able to expect that the Irish peopleswould
be content to ignore feelings engendered by
past wrongs, wrongs which, after all, were
their fellow suiferers-but by the common
enemies of the toiling masses of both ma
tions-the English oligarchy and their Irish
gn- oh &c