Morning journal and courier., 1892-12-03


Gem of the Irish Sea-An Ancient
Land Where Liberty Has Never
Lost Its Sway-Patriarchal Laws
aud Olden Ceremo onfals-A Thou
sand Years of Home Rule.
DOUGLAS, Isle of Man, Nov. 10.
To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER.
Dear little Isle OF Man," ELAN Vannin
Veg Veen, is the fond title by its natives
of one Sf the most diminutive and inter
esting island countries to be found in the
civilized world.
1t is sturdy little bit of ses-girt land,
set in the turbulent Irish Sea almost equi-
distant from England, ireland and Scot
land, forever withstanding the fercest of
ocean currents and the widest of ocean
storms. The hardy little nation inhabit-
ing it has as cesselessly bid defiance to the
maelstroms of conflicting interests of men
and governments seeking its thrall, and
from almost prehistoric time has preserved
30 remarkable national independence,
that to this day it comprises practically
the only folk on British soil who enjoy
the full benefits of self government.
Briefly told the little Manx nation has
had three periods of history-a period of
Celtic rule, one of Morse supremacy and
of British dominion. In the tenth centu-
ry the Vikings came. They had just over
come Iceland and established their Morse
kingdom there. When they found the
"Dear little Isle of Man" they made short
work of taking complete possession. The
women were dark haired, fair skinned and
blue-eyed. The Vikings were freckled and
bleached as to hair and eyes. The Msnx
nation of to-day sprang from the union of
these handsome Celtic women and these
huge freckled men.
The latter were led by one Orry. He is
called King Orry now. Whether he was
sea rover or the son of Danish or Nor
wegian monarch does not matter. But he
became King of Man and the Isles. He
was great without the title. He gave the
Manxmen their first constitution. 1t was
quite like that which had Just been given
to Iceland 1t was good one, too, and
the proof of it is that with little change it
has existed to this day.
King Orry divided the island into six
ship-shires. They are the Manx "shead-
ings" or representative divisions of the
present time. Each shesding elected four
men by a popular vote to a lawmaking
house called the House of Keys, probably
from the Morse Keise or chosen men.
They were the peoples delegates Just as
they are to-day. Then King Orry gave the
church a share in the government, but
prevented its supremacy. He established
Tynwald court where church and state
sat together. Two law men, called deems
ters, one for the north and one for the
south, were appointed. These were equiv
alent to the Icelsndic speakers of the
law" These remain unchanged. Orry
then had built, after the manner of the
lava law-rock of Thingyellir, an artificial
Mount of Laws. The House of Keys sent
up laws to the Tynwald court, or the lat
ter sent them down. Assent in joint ses
sion, and the kings sanction, concluded
. the making of law. But laws were never
operative until the king, the court and th'
) House of Keys had convened on TynwalC
! hill and promulgated them by reading
, them first in the language in which the.
were written, and second in the laDgusg
of the people.
: Every essential feature of this patri
| archsl and representative government es
1 tablished early in the tenth century exist
In its original simplicity to day. TIL
j Manx are the only Morse nation left ths
d can show so close sud strong binding t
= the days of the Ssgss through an IN
;. changed governing system. And the fol
OF this little island are the only people &C
t knowledging complete British dominic
= who are In no way interfered with fror
q Westminster, and who enjoy the actui
4 practical blessings of home rule.
Ireland battling for a similar privileg
4 of self government, Scotland restive NJ
y der conditions, well enough in their ds
y of making, which now prevent her dealin
= with pressing church and economic quel
. tions, Wales constantly almost in revo
over her burden of tithes, and Wesleya
Cornwall glowering over her lost prestie
IL and uncongenial relation to an order
. things out of all sympathy with mini
't tenths of her people, can almost frol
% their shores look upon the misty mountai
r heights of this self-governed Utopia A
are unable to secure what this handful {
D, unyielding island fold have held intact fc
more than thousand years. On this liz
y Of consideration Mainland Is unique, an