Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-07-29
The Irish Parliament.

1He IrlSn tournament.
In view of the interest at present man
ifested in the subject of home rule for
Ireland, and other political matters in the
old world, the following historical facts
as to the old Irish parliament may be of
considerable interest to many readers:
The Irish parliament had its origin in
the assembly instituted by the Norman
barons who settled in ireland in the thir-
teenth and fourteenth centuries. These
settlers founded towns, generally on or
near the coast, which they fortified and
wherein they lived, always ready to attack
the hostile natives that surrounded them.
The Irish people were at that time rude
and lawless, and acknowledged no rule
but that of the strongest chief. The
Normans, for mutual protection, organ
lied parliament, which consisted of an
upper house, whose members were the Law
peers, abbots, priors, and bishops. and a
lower house made up of knights of the
shires and burgesse.r This parliament
met at irregular intervals at different
places, at the summons of the KINGS
lieutenant, or his deputy, for the Normans,
be 1T remembered, were subjects of the
King of England. In time the hostility
between the Normans and the native Irish
lessened. The two nations intermarried
largely in spite of the edict of the Eng
llsh sovereign against it, the NOrmans
adopted the costume and language of the
native Irish. This union strengthening
the Irish nation, Henry VII, thought it
time to make them feel the superior
power England. In 1892 Sir Edward
Poynings was sent over to Ireland as Lord
Deputy, with an army to enforce his
his plans, He summoned parliament
at Drogheda, at which the famous meas
ure known as the 'POyning' Act was pass
ed. This act provided that all English
laws should operate in Ireland, and that
the consent of the Privy Council of Eng
land was necessary to validate all acts of
the Irish Parliament. In the reign of
Henry VIII. parliament was called at
Dublin, and that was the first assembly
In which representatives or the Irish were
present. The purpose of this gathering
was to enforce in Ireland Henry's confis-
cation of the lands and property of the
Catholic Church. This parliament con-
ferred on King Henry and his successors
the title of King, instead of Lord Para
mount, Of Ireland, as hitherto, and pass
ed laws compelling the Irish chiefs to
hold their lands as vassals of the King of
England, to come to the courts of the
king for Justice to attend parliament
when summoned. to send their sons to be
educated in England and to renounce the
authority of the Pope. Under Edward
VI was begun the confscation of the
Irish lands, which was carried on to so
great an extent in succeeding reigns. 1t
would be hard to conceive of a country
worse governed than Ireland was under
Elizabeth and the Stuarts, and it is little
wonder that the pretense of parliament,
which usually met but briefly at inter
walls of several years for the purpose of
passing money bills"-and in times of
war and revolution did not meet at all
could not greatly improve matters. Crom-
we'll conquered Ireland with the sword,
and ruled it with a severely that only
William of Orange could surpass. This
King, though he at first repealed "POyn-
ing's Act" in the hope of inducing Ire
land to Withhold assistance from the de-
throned King James; and, to pro-
cure the surrender of the Irish army
signed the treaty of Limerick, which
guaranteed entire religious freedom to
the Catholics; subsequently, in the obi
Gus ''penal CODE" Outdid all his predeceS-
sors. This code not only forbade Cath
Olics to sit in the Irish parliament, or
vote for it, but deprived them of all civ
vs.
babe them to educate or even to control
their children. They were excluded from
every profession and every public Office,
even the most mental. To still further
complete the destruction of Ireland an
other act of parliament forbade all direct :
trade from Ireland with the British colo
MES. In 1902 an attempt was made to
decree the abolition of the Irish Parlia-
ment, but it failed In 1919, under George
I, the British Parliament passed an act
declaring its power to make laws to bind
the people of Ireland. In 1870, Grattau,
at the head of the volunteer corps" Sc
cured the repeal of this act, and of the
most of the harsh provisions against the
Catholics in the "penal CODE" England
was in no condition to cope with the re-
bellion in Ireland which she feared at that
time, and therefore conceded these de-
mands. But when the revolution of 1889
broke out, all that Grattau had gained was
lost. The rebellion was put down by
force of arms, and all the leaders of the
insurgents were put to death. And now
1t was determined to put down the Irish
Parliament, and to accomplish this toe
votes of sufficient members of that Par
lament to carry the ''bill of union" were
purchased, by order of the English Mir
lstry. This is no mere political charge,
but known historical fact, attended by
the letters of Lord CORVALLIS, who,
though thoroughly ashamed OF his com.
mission, carried it out at the behest OF
his government. Money, place, office and
IN the most difficult cases, peerages, were
given for the needed votes. Ireland
yielded her Parliament, and received the
privilege of representation in the British.
Parliament in 1900, but, she did not Civ
up control of her finances until 1917.