New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-09
ON COLLEGE GREEN.
WILL THE HOME RULE PARLIAMENT MEET
IN GRATTANS OLD HALL?

of n new Irish Parliament mas assumed h'o''
practical form, especially in Dublin How ,"e
| body will be formed, and what social ana other
changes it will affect. are earnestly discussed III
the famous capital on the lhhey' mere w
6orh. fiat il will have a marked effect locally
Dublin Castle and its English occupants ana hans
o,s.on will no longer dominate society," but will give
nlacc to the freshly elected representatives ana
lawmakers Of the Irish people. But perhaps
mos. ~ all interest centres upon the probable
n,o,t;rc-naco of the new Parliament, and covetous
-o, ore turned 10 the historic pile OF buildings
| On ColIeoe Green. II was there that Irish Parla-
| mcnts of old assembled, and by their proximity
70 Trinity College and their often stormy pro-
oood;nrs inspircd Swift to place them IN MS
caustic lines:
Not bowshot from the college.
Half the world from and knowledge.
Other rbes were launched against the House
Tho shane of its dome led some one to call IL the
Goose Pie and the name stuck 10 IL lof Nc"i''
oven after the dome was destroyer by he ia
1902. But then it was an Irish farhameh' oh,y
in name During most Of the time IL was ah "i,
most powerlcss body and whcn III ITS Closing S'a''
il rose to something like real power IL was '"e
creature of corruption, managed from westminster
And il never was in any true sense representative
of the people Of Ireland.
Still il is fondly remembered, ami It's OLD nome
on College Green il regarded "a something AKIN
70 religious vencatiOn. For it was there Una. aO
least some true Irishmen strove to serve 'htif
country: though against hopeless odns. ABOVE an
norhans it. was there that Grattan filled all hearers
with his splendid cloquence, that rang true ana VI
hrant until the hand OF Castlereagh pulled down
,ho orrtain m tbe closing scene. The desire is
often expressed that the new Home Rule Parliament
Al hui
can be done Il a problem. The building no longer
belongs 70 the Government, and 1t IS doup'i"i
whether it's present owners would sell It, lne'e
-, othcr buildings of course, Just az well sul''u
~ tbc nurpose but sentiment calls strongly Tor
rotur6 70 the spot that vacated ny INFAMOUS
means nearly a century ago The story Oh ."c
downfall Of the Irish Parliament and the aoop'l'"
of the act Of Union is familiar. While the respoh-
sibility for the job is generally given to fitt ana
Coetlercaeh il is interesting 70 REMEMBER th't 'he
nominal responsibility rested upon Lord CORNWALL
Iis-thc same gallant gentleman who had oee"
forced 10 surrender the British army IN America
y, Yorktown IIe was then Nlceroy OF lr'la'''''
aud inst after The rebellion Of 1893, on me meet
ino Of the Irish Parliament in January, l1o'' ne
bro,ched the idea of Union in the Speech from 'he
Throne He said The moro have reiecteH Oh
fine situation and circumstances OF TINS hlheuoni'
considering on the one hand the strength ana STA
bility of Great Britain! and, on the othef' those
divisions which have shaken Ireland to lis fonnoa-
tion. the more anxious | am for some permanent
rdin,tmcnt which may extend the advantages en-
loved by our sister Kingdom 70 ever part OF thiS
island The mWmtting industry WIN winch
our enemies pcrsevere in their avowed design OF
endoovorinr 70 effect separation Of this hlngd)m
from Great Britain must have engaged your par
ticulor attention; and His Majesty commands me
>, cynrc.s III. anxious hope that this considerations
io;,ol "a Tin, sentiment Of mutual affection ana
.con,nor interest may dispose the Parliamen's III
18th Kincdoms 10 provide the most enectnal
means of maintaining and improving connection
essential 70 their common security and of conso-
dating rs far as possible into one firm and lasting
fabric, the strength. the power ard the resources
of the British Empire
u. . felicitons circumstance. il was Sir John |
parpcll who frat 10 reply to this propo- |
sit,on. and he strongly opposed ii. lie cautioned
,hc House not 10 hazard all that was dear to
them forever until th" necessity OF the measure
and It's beneficial consequences were attempted
% he proved He yielded in loyalty TO no one,
lno,vinr that the interests OF England and Ire |
land depcndcd on the closest and most intimate
connection. But. Instead of binding their af-
c.c.ion By law. or providing for their strength |
hv deriving them Of the guardians of their OWN |
Interests he would adopt the means of sup- |
rortinr Great Britain which were obvious AMI
prncticablc. and not speculative and liable TO sns-
uicion The Union was not adopted az th"t |
.cs,ion which closed in February. But PITT was |
inncxiblv determined that il should BE- done. AMI
lurnq the following ten months took effective |
mcars 70 insure its accomplishment as soon as
Parliament should come together again.
The ncxt-ard last session of the Irish Parlia |
ment. Of Grattons Parliament. rs it is still |
fondly called. opened AT College Green on |
Wednesday, January -, 1900. No reference 10 |
Union was made in the Viceroys speech, but tine
matter was immediately brought forward in Ge
hate In that debate Henry Grattan again male
his appearance in the House. and made one OF
his most powerful speeches against Union. con
clnding with these words: The British Min. |
ister proposes TO you to abolish the Parliament
and 10 continue the Minister. He does more; he
proposes TO you TO substitute the British Parla-
mont in your place; to destroy that body that |
restored your liberties, and restore the body |
which destroyed them. Against such PROPOSE.
ton, were | expiring on the floor, should beg |
to utter my las, breath and to record nv diving |
testimony"
But Fit was rcmorsclcss 4 few weeks later
Castlcreagh formally introduced resolution for
union with England and the abolition of the
Irish Parliament. A long and intensely bitter de- |
bate followed, in which Grattan again spoke. say
ing The question is not now such occupied
you OF old-not Poynings, not peculation. not
plumber not an embargo. not Catholic bill.
not Reform bill il is your beinQ-it is more.
II is your life to come, whether YOU will go
with the Castle AT your head 10 the tomb OF
Charlemont and the Volunteers and erase his cpl
taph; whether your children shall go TO your
graves saying venal, military Court attacked
the liberties of the Irish, and here lie the
bones OF the honorable dead men who sav,N
their country. Such cpitaph is nobility
which King cannot give his slaves-it is glory
which the crown cannot give tie King
Gmttan's fiery eloQucnrc lid not avail how
ever, and March -, 1900, the act OF Union