The Irish standard., 1893-05-20
HISTORIC DUBLIN CASTLE.
It's Coercive Power and Iniquitous Rule in
Ireland Nearly at an End

the Catholic Times, gives the following
interesting review of the iniquities for
mulated in Dublin Castle, the infamous
seat of British power in Ireland:
All true Irishmen and their descend
ants throughout the world will heartily
rejoice in the fact that the coercive
power and rule of that infamous seat OF
British sovereignty IN Ireland-Dublin
Castle-will soon be no more. If all the
DEGREES Of oppressive cruelty that were
concocted for the destruction OF the
lives and liberties of Catholic Irishmen
within the walls OF that historic estab-
lishment for centuries past could be seen
in their naked deformity, humanity
would shudder at the sight.
If we take q retrospective glance at
the penal law times and think OF the
monstrous enactments that came through
the executive hands of the English Off
cials in Dublin Castle to rob, torture and
slay the unofending Celtic peasantry OF
Iuo Aa01Ou IOA uO CLluo S6vo oAu o4OAA0
their steadfast and unfinching loyalty
to the faith of their fathers, the humane
mind of Christianity IN this more en-
lightened age revolts at the spectacle
and wishes that England could pluck
out that blood-stained page from her
history. But that she can never do, as
her crimes committed against Ireland
are recorded before the eyes of an all
seeing Judge, who demands reparation
or punishment in due time.
While it may justly be said that the
memories of the Celtic Irish race are a
treasure house of wrong with regard to
English faith and English perddy, in
view of the altered feeliA g toward IRE
land evinced by the enfranchised demo-
cracy of England, and of the great states
man at it's head, it should be the province
of charity to draw veil over the past re-
lations OF the two countries. And the
present measure of Home Rule, so wisely
constructed by Ireland's great advocate,
should be gratefully accepted by the
Irish people as peace offering, and be
regarded by them at the same time as
the best boon which the great democra-
tic heart of England and Scotland have
in their power to bestow.
Besides, if We view the position from
another standpoint it will be seen that
the religious persecution of Ireland was
not An unmitigated evil, inasmuch as
her children did not lose their faith in
the terrible ordeal through which they
came, but ON the contrary became more
confirmed in it, voluntarily laying down
their lives in it's defense or suffering the
pains of exile, in which they carried and
spread the priceless gift of the true faith.
This. however. was sadly opposing the
criminal intent. which the English perse-
cutors had in view. The complete up
roofing and total destruction of the
Catholic religion was what they aimed at,
and the world knows theinhuman means
they employed to effect their diabolical
purpose. God had decreed that what he
had reared in His infinite wisdom should
not be destroyed by the blind fury of
man.
In the dark days of persecution the
Vice-Regal occupant of Dublin Castle
was generally well-chesen instrument
FOR the rigorous execution of Eng)and's
unrelenting policy in Ireland, and it did
not relax in intensity of malicious ferocity
as 1t filtered through the hands of the
lesser magnates until it reached the suf-
fering peasantry whom it was formed to
crush, torture and despoil. Still history
records noble examples OF fair minded
Viceroys whose manly nature revoted
against inflicting unmerited punishment
on helpless and hopeless people, who
had done no crime save g consistent and
unconquerable refusal to accept the
tenets of new sham religion which the
British government vainly sought to
thrust upon them at the point of the
bayonet.
AS this famous Dublin Castle has
been for centuries the seat and centre of
British dominion in Ireland, it naturally
drew within it's borders the alien aristo-
cratic element, and sheltered under it's
hospitable roof men and women who, in
spite of their exalted rank, had more of
the serpent than the dove in their com
position.
The lack of moral rectitude that pre-
vailed in high official quarters was re-
vealed and unearthed some years ago by
the fearless pen of Mr.. William OBrien,
M. P. The terrible exposure was shock
to the moral community and no doubt
acted as curb to further criminal mis-
conduct, but it drew down upon the
hapless head of the valiant Irishman a
storm of abuse and persecution from the
aristocratic and immoral circles that will
beset his path until his dying day. In
by gone times when the host of English
and alien. Irish officials in and about