National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-02-20
The Irish Question.

The Irish Question.
Only two of the many thousand readers
of the NATIONAL REPUBLICAN have made
any complaint or intimated any disapproyal
Of the earnestness with which the cause Of
the Irish nationallsts has been advocated in
these columns, while hundreds Of our
readers, representing nearly all the nation
alitles Of which the heterogeneous popula-
ton ofthc United States is composed, have
taken pains to signify their hearty sympa-
thy with the demand Of the Irish people
for home rule.
The two gentlemen who have endcav-
ored TO convince us that home rule would
he the reverse Of blessing to Ireland, and
that we were on the wrong side of the ques-
tion, based their polite but positive protest
on sectarian grounds. "You are booming
Catholicism said one; "you are opposed by
the Protestant sentiment Of America and
Europe said the other Both were mis-
taken. There is nothing OF sectarianism in
this movement. 1t is led by man who
says ~ was born Protestant, have lived
a Protestant, and hope to die Protest
ant" But his religious faith has nothing
to do with his political mission.
Among those who have freely and
earnestly expressed their approval of the
NATIONAL REPUBLICANS course on the
Irish question are several Of the Protestant
Clcrgymen of the District Of Columbia
They do not understand that they either In
dorse or condemn Catholicism, or indicate
any opinion upon that or any other religi-
Gus creed, by giving the right hand of fell
lowship to Parnell and his followers fire.
spective Of church or sect. AlLover this
country, in every state and territory there
Is a general and increasing interest in this
great question. The appeal Of Mr., Parnell
and his associates for material aid in their
struggle for great fundamental right has
touched the universal heart. Sect, party,
nationality are lost sight Of and II is only
remembered that the victims of oppression
are men.
The lnshmen who, as soldiers in the army
Of Washington, did all that men could do
to aid in the establishment of liberty on this
continent, did not stop to inquire whether
the majority of that army was Protestant
or Catholic. In the war Of 1872, on land
and sea, the ITsh-American was true
to the flag of our Union. In the Mexican
war and the war for the preservation Of the
Union the lrish-Amerlcans bore their part
grandly. The American character is moi
so lacking in manllness that there can be
any hating or hesitNncy TO take the side Of
the oppressed In this struggle for freedom
| in Ireland 10y reason Of sectarian prejudice
II is the belief of the NATIONAL REPUBLr
| CAN that the downfall of the tories and thu
incoming Of the liberals is a great gain t
the cause Of the home rulers. The LondOr
Times In recent issue gives indications o.
n state Of mind bordering on desperation
1t calls upon the new ministry to produce
their Irish policy at the earliest possible
| day. II fears the worst will be very bat
indeed. There is no secret about Mr.. JOIN
Morley's policy, it says. His appointment
| MS chief secretary was hailed In Ireland as
decisive proof Of Mr. Gladstone's conversion
| to home rule. lie has always consistently
refused to interfere with the dominion o.
the National League, and has denounced
all measures for enforcing the law in Ire
land and protecting the loyal minorit,
there. The Times fears that Mr.. Morley
policy is now Mr.. Gladstones policy, too
lie 10 ostoniohod to End public mon, who it
the past have struggled and protested
against the National League, willing TO be
come Mr.. Morley's colleagues. But it re
| joices in the attitude of Lord Harrington
and Mr.. Goschen, and Mr.. Courtney, and /
hopes that their patriotic example will ye
produce its effect. The Times remarks:
The situation is perllous, and would indeed
be hopeless but for the belief that at a great
crisis public spirit rises above and control
party rules, and that under the impulse o
aroused national feeling what ought to hay
been done long ago may be still done ut tn
eleventh hour-that steps may yet be taken t
enforce justice, and to insure that the queen
writ again runs in all parts of Ireland, an
to make plain the fixed resolution of tn
English people that at all cost and for all tim
the integrity Of the empire shall be preserved
The Irish policy of Mr., Gladstone ha
not been definitely announced, but 1t Gel
tainly embraces home rule. 1t decided,
does not mean coercion.
The tone Of the radical press in all part
Of England is jolly. The detection of tn
wings has not discouraged the liberals I
the slightest degree. One paper speaks G
the wings as men who have all the instinct
of tories without the fighting qualitie
which make the tories worthy Of politics
consideration. "The great fact upon whic
the liberal party ought to congratulate itse
to-day" eXclaims the Glasgow Mail, :"
this-that at last 1t is free from wing COZ
troll. Lord Harrington and Mr.. Gosche
have burned the bridges behind then
They may he elected hereafter as indepent
ent candidates, or they may pluck up cou
age some day or other to go boldly over
the tories but they can never again PR
tend with any decency that they are men
hers of party led by Mr.. Gladstone, NJ
Chamberlain, and Mr.. Morley.n
The world will soon know whether NJ
Gladstone is to be permitted to place Il
home rule capstonc on the monument OF h
fame. There is ground to hope for the bes
Pensions for Prisoners of War.
| A ppunfttan roprncnntinor tb. nv IFnio