The Irish standard., 1888-03-24
THE IRISH STANDARD SATURDAY, MARCH ~.

I'LL Cno masters themselves, as Cney Il'eG ale
chains,
weep.
For the first time during the seven
hundred years which have passed since
the soldiers of the Second Henry landed
upon the Irish coast the Irish people
have made surrender to an English
statesman. They have surrendered to
him because he came to them with justice
in his heart and on his lips the burning
words Of the indictment which at the bar
of the House of Commons in his official
character as the Prime Minister of Eng
land he had preferred against his own
government. Mr.. Gladstone was no new
recruit, no recent and untried convert to
the cause of Irish liberty. He was the
friend of ireland when she had few to
plead her cause in the House of Com
mons and his voice was raised in her be-
half in days when her advocates had
little hope for favor. For more than a
quarter of century Mr.. Gladstone has
been far in advance Of the sentiment OF
his constituency in all measures concern
ing Ireland, and has patiently bided his
time until the accumulated misunder-
standing and prejudice of centuries that
stood like wall against the patient dis
cussion of Irish questions could be dissi
pated by reason andjustice. Ireland has
never had a patriot truer to her cause
Shan the greet Englishman who in the
prime of his manhood, at the risk Of
social and political destruction defended
the just claims of the College of Maynooth
ant, put the axe oflegislarion at the roots
of the church establishment. History
will date the regeneration Of the Irish
people from that June morning two
years ago when the Prime Minister Of
England marshaled the allied Liberal
anal Nationalist parties in support of the
biz for Home Rule. Home Rule was
defeated by The narrow majority thirty
| votes in total Of + 2. In the election
| which ensued on this dissolution of Par
| Lament, the Parliamentary majority re-
mainetl with the landlord party, but the
popular vote showed that the people Of
England, Scotland and of Wales We're at
last convinced Of the justice Of Ireland IS
demand. The rest is modern history.
| The last weapon Of ancient hate and
bigotry was drawn when the Crimes
Amendment Act, the cighty-seyenth CO.
erciol bill of the century, was forced
through the House CT Commons. The
avowed object Of that measure was to
punish as criminal acts chat are protected
| by the letter and spirit OF the British
Constitution. New and strange were
those crimes, membership in branch of
the National League, attendance at a
public meeting called 10 discuss Home
Rule. cheering a Nationalist leader. For
such acts rs this delicate women, tender
girls, sanity ministers Of God are to-
night confined in Irish jails by the jndg-
| ,nent ola stipendiary magistrate without
trial by jury. Editors have been and still
! are imprisoned for reporting in their pa
lers tle proceedings Of the Nation;,
! League, members Of Parliament for adj
dressing their constituents upon the only
publ: question Of the day that Interests
them. A great English philanthropiss,
Sir Wiltted Blunt, may LIS name be for
ever bouored and blest, is in jail Tonight
because, forsooth, lac crossed the Channel
aud on Irish soil held out the hand OF
love aud Friendship to the Irish people.
But the end is near. Coercion has been
glorious failure. The honest yeomanry
of England, Scotland and Wales are in
the field TO do battle for the peasantry Of
Ireland. It is a significant and q cheer
ing fact thai the Liberal party OF Eng
land in ali its history has never suffered
perman ent 3cteaE III any great measure
that it has espcused. Is it too much to
hope and pray that He who rules the fate
oil nations may Youclsa1e to William
Ewart Gladstone the crowniDg Of his
llO!liC 1lIE WITH iLSSAOnt NJ VIZ IA lSll
people. for one believe that the lorg
dark night Of suffering and sorrow that
has shro11ded our ace in the years that
are gone, is passing rapidly away, and
that before many anniversaries Of this
day shall return che glorious sunburst OF
our nation will illumine q free and happy
people. Then shall the harp that has SO
| long lain idle on Tara's walls be walked
to the sound Of joyous 1ninstrelsy. At
the touch of tbs magic wand Of liberty
the Litfey and the Shannon will bear
again on their bosoms the produce Of q
fertile land. The cities shall re-echc
with the hum of busy wheels, the green
valleys with the lowing Of a thousand
herds. The genius which has given &c
the world more than its share OF that
which the world will not let die shall
win again shining triumphs in the realm
of art and poetry. Freedom shall there
abide and never again depart. May God