The Northwestern standard., 1886-04-03
SATURDAY, April 8, 1886.
THE IRISH QUESTION.

THE IRISH QUESTION.
One OF the arguments frequently ad
vanced by individuals who are vindic
tiyely opposed to Home Rule is, tha
presuming Ireland was granted th
power to enact her own laws her peopl
would not be able to govern themselve
responsibly. In the light Of past events
to any mind capable OF reasoning with
out being prejudieed by a foolish, syco
phantic reverence for the despotic law
administered by England toward The
Emerald Isle, the honesty of this mode
Of reasoning will not occur with strik
ing force. Has not Ireland produced
men who are the peers, intellectually,
of the natives Of any country upon the
lord s green footstool. As impartial
and intelligent debaters where can the
supariors of Grattan, Burke and Curran
be found? Looking back over the al
most interminable list of Irish states
men, poets, soldiers, etc, both Catholic
and Protestant, the names Of such men
as Lord Fitzgerald, Sheridan, Plunkett,
Sir John Moore, the soldier, Thomas
Moore, the poet, Emmett, O'Brien and
the Duke Of Wellington pass before us
In glorious array Here in the United
States many Of the sons OF Ireland and
their descendants are to be found occu-
pying seats within the halls of congress;
in the Canadian House Of Commons
there are probably more native-born
Irishmen than either Scotch or English;
and we have never heard that any of
them lacked the faculty of reason in any
remarkable degree, but on the contrary
they have ever proved themselves lions
in debate. The old Irish Parliament
towers far up into the heavens both as
regards intelligent debate and legisla-
tive rhetoric
Home Rule for Ireland does not
mean, as rabid loyalists would have it
understood, the disintegration OF the
British Empire; it is simply a separate
Parliament, such as the people Of Cam
ada possess. All that the Nationalists
desire is the truly modest privilege Of
being permitted to say what is for the
benefit Of their country and what is not,
and to sanction the same by domesti-
Gated governing authority. It's only q
fanatioal minority, composed chiefly Of
Orangemen, many of whom can scarcely
indicate the date of the battle Of the
Boyne with any degree Of accuracy, who
desire matters to remain in the same
lachrymable condition as they are =,
that is, ireland must be governed by
military rule 40, 900 men are to gar
rison it AN Orange constabulary force
is to assist the army, and Ireland, 80 far
rs three-fourths of the people are con-
cerned. is to continue in the discontented |
and disturbed condition which has pre-
vailed since the repeal of the union in
1923. Ever since that date Ireland
may be said to hive been governed by
an hireling constabulary force and the
English army, aud has cost England
hundreds of millions Of dollars, amidst
the discomfort, poverty, tears and
groans, OF a partially enslayed peasantry
Ilandlordism and English indifference, or
hatred, have been her curse. She was
robbed Of her legislature by corruption
in 1902 and the names of her sons are
legion who have suffered the deprivation
of liberty, and even death itself, in their
eonmendable efforts to have it Justly re-
turned to her
We oan scarcely call to mind an in
stance where England has in any man
ner whatever, even attempted to con-
ciliate her wronged sister. Many of
Ireland's most brilliant statesmen have
been lost to her, and whyP Because
they would not submit to the intolerance
of people who had no right, divinely
or otherwise, to assume . domineering
attitude toward them, and to-day
America contains more Irishmen than
does the land Of their NATIVITY.
II is hardly TO be wondered at, taking
these facts into consideration, that
people who would play the part Eng
land has would hesitate for single mo-
nent IN putting forth any argument, no
matter how contemplate, to frustrate
the desirsof an oppressed race to break
the letters that hold them fast.
IL any one doubts 5 division in the
democraticsranks in the present con-
test for Mayor we would refer them TO /