The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-13
SENATOR LOGAN ON HOME RULE.
ireland Should Have Parliament In Fact.
and Not Merely in Name"


Patrick Ford ESQ Editor The irish World:
My Dear Sir-Your favor inviting me to an
expression upon the subject Of justice for Ireland
reached me by the due course of mail.
In complying with your request have to pre-
mise the remark that neither the observance Of
the proprietes of official station. nor the CAREFUL
guarding of official reserve can, under fair in
depreciation, be held to conflict with the open
expression of individual opinion upon any ques-
tions of public nature.
Il may be said that the modern world Is
greatly indebted to the English people; that they
have fostered and assisted to develop the arts
and sciences; that they have led in the evolu
ton of Jurisprudence; that they have
enacted wise laws and shone resplendently
In the fields of literature; that they
have quiekensd and promoted commerce
throughout the globe; that their invention
has ad led to the stock of useful appliances in
every avenue of life, public and private; that
they have sent their merchant marine to every
sea. Can it not as we'll be said that, unfor-
tunately, her merchant marine has often been
preceded by her men-of- war, and her diffusing
of peaceful commerce has frequently been accom-
plished behind wooden walls and iron-cased
vesselsa
The English nation has always been great; it
has not as constantly been just. Both In its
internal and external relations it has frequently
committed the act and searched for the lustifca-
ton afterward 1t has often been unjust to its
own people and frequently oppressive to others.
it has restricted within the narrowest
limits the liberty of the masses
aud has showered the benefits of life upon
favored class. In the conduct OF its foreign re.a
man. the jurist and the humanitarian 1t has
appropriated states and absorbed peoples. 1t
has disregarded afiinites, and has swallowed
populations in defiance Of natural laws.
In the course Of subsequent government 1t has
frequently failed to rule either wisely or well.
Its dealing with the Irish question has not
been marked with broad craftsmanship, wise
administration, nor due regard to equity. justice
or common expediency The world is familiar
with this fact, however the English nation may
seek TO blind itself to the truth. The sen timent
and sympathy of all liberty-loving people are op-
posed to English treatment of the Irish subject.
Americans by all of their traditions their pro-
fessions. and all OF their hopes must be opposed
to it.
1t will be in the interest of national justice as
we'll as to the direct advantage of the English
people themselves, if they only realize the
general prevalence Of this feeling among the
people of this country
Without entering more extensively into the
question than the scope of your letter will pre-
scribe, | have to express the conviction
that the least and the very least, that
the English government can now do In repa-
ration of the mistakes and wrongs of the
past is to grant parliament to the Irish people.
Let me not be misunderstood. They should
have Parliament in fact, and not merely in
name. It should not be limited to the func-
tons of a board of supervisors whose powers are
exhausted in the repairs of roads. bridges. etc.,
but should be endowed with faculties of legis-
lative body, with sufficient scope to legisIate
upon internal, economic and other affairs of the
State SO as to give vitality to its home interests,
education to it's children, prosperity and con-
tentment to it's people.
1t ia time for the English nation, whose history
is embellished with many brilliant pages to
purge itself of selfshness and to cultivate
strict regard for the rights of communities, peo-
pies and individuals. 1t has had some hard ex-
periences in the past Bya continuous disregard
of right aud justice England once lost the terri
tory Of an empire, though the nations gained an
asylum OF freedom thereby So the England of
1776 might send a message to the England of
to-day. and suggest that the incident may not be
forgotten. Very truly yours,
JOHN A. LOGAN.
CALUMET PLACE, Washington.