The Irish standard., 1892-12-17


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national victory; yet j continuation Of
circumstances almost rendered the glor-
ious pageant deceptive and evanesoent
Protestants, who in most cases were
deeply prejudiced, held all the positions
Fof honor and power. They boasted Of
their love for Ireland, but Ireland with
them did not extend beyond their CO.
religionlsts, and the entire Catholic
body four fifths, at least, Of the popu-
lation, disfranchised. The
minority was hercely English, and re-
fus ed to recognize Grattan's declaration,
which made them free nation. They
considered it their duty to oppose every
useful and popular measure, brand the
institution as pugnacious and inefficient,
SO that the old enemy might find some
plausible excuse to destroy what had
been conceded so unwillingly. Centur-
les Of persecution had cramped native
enterprise, absenteeism had steadily
drained the country Of it's capital, and q
general spirit of decay seemed to possess
all species of industry. Such condi-
tion of things was discouraging in the
extreme, bnt the new government boldly
faced the situation. With it's admins
trative capacity thus unfairly handi-
capped, few nations have risen to more
brilliant opulence than did Ireland dur
ing it's eighteen years of eelf-government.
Lord Clare, VINO was by no means a
patriotic Irishman, said that no nation
on the habltable globe advanced IN Gull
tivation, commerce and manufactures
with the same rapidity as Irela d from
l78! to 1900. Mooney the historian laid
report before the Appeal Association
in 1910, which contains valuable sum-
mary of the works of the Irish. Parlia-
ment during it's days of independence.
The following quotation includes great
deal in few words: "a general attrac-
ton seemed to draw artists and citizens
from England, Scotland and France, for
every enterprise, invention, and exercise
Of mind and labor found free scope in
Ireland. The population swelled in that
time from three to five millions, and the
wages of common labor was doubled and
trebled. There were in Dublin alone
five thousand carpenters fully employed,
where there are now scarcely five hun
dred; there were in Dublin fifteen thou
sand silk weavers, there are not FIVE hum
dred there at present. Other trades are
in the same proportion. There were then
the separate residences of two hundred
and seventy peers, and three hundred
commoners, members of both houses,
who spent their incomes in Dublin, the
gross amount of which may be placed at
three million pounds per annum. There
is not dozen of this class now resident
in Dublin. Their wealth circulated
through the country, and remaining in it,
reproduced new capital, which encour-
aged new enterprise, and afforded new
employment. The nation as VIII, lie and
the people as individuals became mag
ni6cent. Their architectural p les pro-
claim, at this day, both taste and opu-
lence. They are the graceful and uner-
ring symbols of an independent people
and call, in eloquent language, upon the
living to restore them to national pur-
poses. All the great undertakings of that
era are directly attributed to the political
independence of the nation, and to the
healthy action of national. parliament.
Free trade was declared in l779, and two
years later the magnificent custom house
was commenced, which required ten
years and quarter of million pounds
to complete. The parliament voted It's in
dependence in 1882, and in 1888 quarter
of million sterling was applied to slim
ulate agriculture, fisheries, arts and the
literature of Ireland; and each successive
year down to the Union shows us SINH
lar application. In 1854, the beautiful
Rotunda was commenced; in 1886 the
erection Of the 'Four Courts" the most
elegant and extensive courts OF law in
the United Kingdom, was begun, which
occupied sixteen years in building, and
cost a half million pounds. These are
the works Of the parliament in only one
city. Every town in Ireland, and every
harbor, evidenced, by some great i'm
provement or erection, the presence OF a
careful and fostering authority. The
dwelling houses and public buildings
which grew up by a species of magic
during the independent action of the
legislature are beyond our limits to emu
merate. In 1888, there were in Dublin
over fourteen thousand residences for
one hundred and ten thousand inhabi-
tants, or about eight persons to each