The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-03-24
GRATTAN AND THE IRISH PARLIA-
MENT

independence, at least in domestic govern
ment, that it may not be amiss to glance at
the career of Harry Grattan and get an idea
of the sources OF the esteem of his country
men. He is sometimes alluded to as the
founder, or chief mover in the formation, of
the first Irish Parliament, but this is partial
ly a misapprehension. There had been an
Irish Parliament in existence for five hun
dred years nearly when Grattan was born,
but it was little better than a travesty, and
fitted It's expansive name with the
ludicrous deficiency of the pToverbial
"bean-pole in a shirt" But a half
dozen counties were represented in it, and
all the exclusions and penalties applied
by the imperial Parliament to Catholics were
maintained by this bigotted little humbug.
1t was called "the Irish Parliament" but
was in fact Protestant Council maintained
by a small portion of the people of a smaller
portion of Ireland. In 1875, at the age of
twenty-five, Grattan was elected to this
select assembly by the Borough of Chail-
mont. He at once Joined with Flood-who
was later his most determined and damaging
enemy-in the effort to obtain some relief
posely crushed by English policy to aid
English manufacturers. The alliance OF
France with our country had filed both
England and Ireland with rumors of French
Invasion, and the Volunteers" so
celebrated in Irish history, were formed to
resist such an attempt. 1t was formidable
body of 80, 600 men, commanded by officers
of its own choosing and capable, therefore,
of being made very helpful or very danger
Gus to the Government, as its disposition in
clined it. Here was Grattan's opportunity,
and he selzed it at once with the presence
and promptness of the born statesman.
In 1879 he made a motion, which he
changed later to a resolution, declaring that
nothing but free trade could save the coun-
try from ruin" The House passed it with
enthusiasm, and the armed nation joined in
the acclaim. Lord North was scared into
instant acqulescence. He wanted no hight
with the Irish Volunteers and Parliament
when he had France and this country both
on his hands. Burke, in one of his finest pas
sages, thus describes the effect: GA sudden
light broke in upon us all. 1t broke in, not
through we'll contrived and well disposed
windows, but through flaws and breaches
through the yawning chasms of our ruin"
But Grattan wanted more than free trade
under English law for Ireland. He wanted
an irish Parliament that meant all the name
implied, and on the 10Th of April, 1850,
when but thirty years old, he moved his
celebrated "Declaratian of Irish Right, the
most splendid piece of eloquence that had
ever been heard in Ireland" says noted
critic. That the reader may have some idea
of Grattan's eloquence, or at least of this
sample of it, we reproduce the peroration:
Hereafter, when these things shall be
history your age of thraldom, your sudden
resurrection, commercial redress and miracu-
lous armament, shall the historian stop at
liberty and observe that here the principal
men amongst us were found wanting, were
owned by weak ministry, bribed by
empty Treasury. and, when liberty was
within their grasp and her temple opened its
folding doors, fell down and were prosti-
tuted at the threshold? 1 might as a con-
stituent come to your bar and demand my
liberty. do call III pom you by the laws Of
the land and their violation by the instruc
ton of eighteen centuries by the aims, in
spiration and providence of the present
moment, tell us the rule by which we shall
go; assert the law of Ireland declare the
liberty of the land / will not be
answered by public lie, in the shape of an
amendment; nor, speaking tor the subjects
freedom, am to hear of faction. l wish for
nothing but to breathe in this our island, in
common with my fellow subjects, the air of
liberty. L have no ambition unless it be to
break your chain and contemplate your
| glory. I never will be satisfied so long as the
meanest cottager in Ireland has link of the
British chain clanking to his rags He may
be naked, he shall not be in irons. And do
see the time at hand the spirit gone forth
! the Declaration of Rights is planted; and
| though great men should fall off, yet the
cause shall live and though he who utters
this should die yet the immortal fire, shall
outlast the humble organ VINO conveys it,
and the breath of liberty, like the word of
the holy man, will not die with the prophet,
but survive him."
The resolution was defeated, in spite of
the eloquence of its author. English lnhu-
ence was still too strong among the Protest
ants, who elected and composed the Irish
Parliament. Almost precisely two years
later-April 16, 17s2-Grattan renewed his
motion for Declaration of Irish Rights,
and carried it, with hardly dissenting voice.
The English Parliament soon confirmed it,
and Ireland for the first time had real Par
lament and chance for self-government.
Faction and bigotry threw both away. 1t is
worth noting that the orator, at the very
outset, took his victory for granted.
II am now to address free people. Age
have passed away, and this is the first mo-
ment in which you could be distinguished
by that title. l have spoken on the subject
of your liberty so often that have nothing
to add, and have only to admire by what
Heaven-directed steps you have proceeded
until the whole faculty of the nation is
braced up to the act OF her own deliyerauce.
found Ireland on her knees. / watched
over her with an eternal solicitude. and have
traced her progress from injuries to arms and
from arms to liberty. Spirit of Swift-spirit