The Irish standard., 1893-03-11
MARKED BY FATALITY.
A Glance Backward-How Ireland Lost
Her Parliament

Glance Backward How Ireland Lost
Her Parliament
To the Editor of the Irish Standard
A strange fatality has marked the his
tory of Ireland from it's earliest prriods.
it would seem that Proyi-
dence WIS displeased with the Celtic.
branch OF the human tree, and had
doomed it to nuceasing strife through the
AGES. Other nations have, at times,
grown from subsection to independence,
from oppression to power, and enjoyed
the fruits OF their struggle; but Ireland
has ever been victim. Time and again,
her efforts were crowned with snccess,
W!aen some accident, some unfortunate
mistake, or, more frequently, some act of
villan.y would intervene and dash to
pieces The work OF generations Brian
Boru OF famous memory organized the
people under system Of joint govern
mont that soon enabled them to expel the
Northmen. On his death, few am
bilious individuals plunged the country
into civil war, ruined their splendid adj
mlnistration, and became an easy prey to
England. Later on, Robert Bruce re-
PEELED the Anglo Normans from three
provinces, and held them in dire extrem-
ity near Dublin, when his army was at
tackled by a fr ghtful disease. A few
months afterwards, British dominion over
the entire country was quietly admitted
by crushed peasantry. During the
great rebellion Of 164l, Owen Roe O'Neill
ruled IN Ireland assisted BY the Confed-
GRAFTON, an institution that did honor to
those times. A treacherous hand cut his
thread Of existence, at critical luncture.
and soon the masses who had followed
his lead soloyally were embroiled ia petty
quarrels over successor Precious time
was lost, for the old enemy utilized eyery
hour amassing forces, which mercilessly
crushed the irish cause.
These are Sc ected at random as a few
from Vulnerable disasters which stand
out with hideous prominence in the story
OF unhappy ireland; but by far the great
est misfortune, in its effects, was the
loss OF Legislative Independence in 1900.
A parliament, which had accomplished SO
much during its short existence. whose
liberties were won by master stroke Of
policy, became a sacrifice to English
treachery and wontonness.
Scarcely had Grattan broken the fet-
ters from the nations limbs in 1892. than
did England set herself to think how she
could most easily and effectually restore
them. Not that any particular enmity
between the two countries existed, for
never during the six centuries preceding
had international discomfort been SO COM
pletely removed. Yet, schemes were
afioat through which the willy ministers
in London hoped not only TO limit the
privileges SO lately conceded, but des roy
the legislature on College Green forever.
King George and the Cabinet promised
to refrain from further interference ia
Irish affairs so solemnly, that nothing
save base suspicion could distrust them.
Flood, however, did not hesitate to OK
press certain misgivings, and insisted on
q more definite remuneration from Eng
land, for which Grattan assailed him as
40 ungsnerous statesman. Many rea-
sons combined to lead Flood to that
course OF action. Catholic Ireland had
no voice IN the new erament, it's rep
resentatlye code was thoroughly corrupt,.
and enabled a power like Britain to pour
n it's vile influence through a hundred
channels. Time proved the wisdom Of
bis foreboding, for soon needy and un-
members were bought to sup
port their own destruction, whilst the
patriotic party was insulted and perse-
cuted even in the recesses of private life,
Their numbers decreased in power des-
plte every effort made to arouse the con
The young Liberals under
the guidance of Wolf Tone, impressed
with the necessity Of d regular organiza-
ton, founded the society Of United Irish
non, towards the close OF 179l.- This
to stem the averse tide, and OBJ
sain parliamentary reform, under which
Catholic Emancipation was necessarily
included. For time ita success was en-
,ouraging; it multiplied. was agreeable
q all classes, but utterly failed to out
strip English gold and treachery. Those
after elements were encountered at eYery
move, and finally drove many popular
eaders to retirement, others to dark re-
solves OF gaining by arms what was con-
'ldered impossible through legitimate
agitation. The great body OF United
[rishmen finding themselves driven from
he field of constitutional action trans
lcted their affairs in secret, under the
zeal OF solemn oath, foolishly believing
hat each and every member was sound
'ompietely ''spy proof" Meanwhile, the
eRular army was doubled, and differed
lfter an unusual mannar Tho sanao