The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1893-05-20
HENRY ,GRATTAN.
Contrast Between Irish Autonomy
in the Last Century and Glad-
stones Home Rule.
ERIN,S BRIEF INDEPENDENCE.
with the Aid of Armed .Volunt teers
Grattan Made the Emerald
Isle Distinct Nation.

Henry Grattan was the son of a promi-
rent lawyer, the recorder of Dublin, and
was only S5 when he became the fore.
most figure in Irish politics In the
whole story Of Ireland there is no more
striking or picturesque career than his.
He was intended for the law, but early
association with Henry Flood, one Of the
greatest parliamentarians Of the time, in
creased his natural bet for public life.
Flood was far older than Grattan, who,
tor a time the contemporary of the vet
eran, finally outshone him.
The political earthquake of 1882 was
precipitated by great national grievance.
Since the time of Charles I. English laws
had placed such restrictions and embar-
goes upon Irish commerce that it was
dying of inanition. The volunteers &C.
cordingly headed movement for the
boycotting OF all articles of English man
1facture. thus taking the famous Dean
Swift's advice: Burn everything Eng
lish except their coal"
Action in Parliament was resolved
upon and Grattan was appointed leader.
2n the noble plaza of College Green,
which faces the Irish Parliament house,
there then stood, and stands to this day,
an nngainly equestrian statue Of King
William III. of England. For years it
was the butt Of practical jokers and had
been repeatedly disfgured. On the day
that Grattan, amid the cheers of multi
tude, entered the house, the same Cap
tain Napper Tandy mentioned in the
Wearing OF the Green" in tia line--~.4-s
~ met with Napper Tandy and he shook me by
the hand,''
commanded force of volunteers drawn
up in military array outside the Parlia-
ment house. The artillery company
forming part of the force had trained its
cannon on the statue of King William,
and from the muzzles of the guns hung
placards inscribed 'Free Trade or-This. -
A few yards away, in the Commons
chamber, Grattan' g eloquence secured the
passage of resolution for the removal
OF the restrictions on trade.
The restrictions were swept away, but
the volunteers, fortunately for Ireland,
renamed, and so did the popular discon-
tent with the supremacy of the English
parliament. People saw that unless the
Irish parliament had the exclusive right
to make ali laws, those that had been re-
pealed might again be imposed. "Don t
ask England for too many concessions at
once urged the National party, but
Grattan was deaf to them, and in stir
ring speech in April, 1870, he formulated
the rights of the country before the com
mons in these words: ''The Kings, Lords
and Commons Of Ireland alone can make
her laws The words went ringing
through the land aud in two years bore
fruit
The volunteers, now grown the strong
est influence outside Of parliament, held
a grand convention at DunQannon, in
February, 1882. Delegates from all the
various corps attended, and Grattan'e
policy was indorsed. ''The Kings, Lords
and Commons of Ireland was now the
watohword of the people, and in April
Grattan arose in parliament, and de-
manded that it repeal the Poynings act
and also asked from the English parlia
nent the repeal Of the law claiming right
to legislate for Ireland. With these laws
repealed, Ireland would be freed. After
a memorable debate the day was won an6
the Irish constitution of1782 was granted
Under it, all military forces quartered il
Ireland depended on the Irish parlia
nent; England could not make any Law
affecting Ireland; the court Of final resort
in all Irish lawsuits was the Irish House
OF Lords; the Dublin parliament was alb
solutely Independent on all IRISH sqnes
tions, internal or external, acknowledg
ing no authority but the king.
"Grattan's Parliament" was now an &c
complished fact. Ireland was running
her own affairs and was free to act upon
questions of tariff, foreign treaties, for
eign policy, and all relations with foreign
powers. An act Of the Irish parliament
needed nothing but the royal assent &
make it final. England might even de.
clare war and Ireland constitutionall
decline to contribute to the cost IRE
land,'' said Grattan, .sis now for the first
time in her parliamentary history . ma
ton. = Within ten years commerce, land
values, and the rate Of wages had doubled
So had the consumption off all taxable