St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-02-14
BROKEN PROMISES
Made to Ireland Written in the

Made to Ireland Written in the
COuntry's History.
Mr.. Gladstone proceeded to dilate at
length upon the circumstances under
which the act of union was passed. the
promise OF equality in the laws, and of
commercial equality under which union
was effected. ut was then prophesied
confidently" he said, that Irshmen
would take their places in the cabinet
OF the United Kingdom, but it had been
his hOnored destiny to sit in cabinets
with no less than sixty to seventy
statesmen, Of whom only one, the Duke
OF wellington, was al lriShman, while
CaStlereagh was tie only other Irish
man who had sat in the cabinet since
union. Pitt promised equal laws when
the union was formed, but the broken
PLY written in indeiUle characters in
the history of the country. Coming
to 1882. when the resurrection of
the people began, and thence down to
1880, Ireland could present her only a
small minority in favor of restoring TO
her something in the nature of cOnStitu-
tional rights and practical Self-gOvern-
ment. 1t is TO me astonishing that so
little weight is attached by many to the
fact that before 1SS6-betore 1885, indeed
Irish wishes OF government were
represented only by a small minority.
Since 1885, when the wide eXtens of
the franchise was protected by the
secret ballot, lreland'S position has been
improved in parliament. In 1855. there
were eighty-five Nationalist, Or more
than five-eighths. They have been
reduced from eighty-tive to eighty
under circumstances somewhat peculiar,
and must frankly own to myself as to
others, for reasons totally and absolutely
unintelligibe. Let us look at the state
Of the case, as it now stands. There are
but eighty out of one hundred-that is to
Say-the wishes of Ireland for Irish
self-government in Irish matters are
represented only by Iour-iifths. Honor
able gentlemen seem to have no respect
for such minority as that. Do they
Tecollect. sir, that never in England has
there been such majority. No parlia-
ment of the last fifty years has come
within measurable distance of it.
''If there be anything in the great
principle OF self-gOYernmeDt, which, if
it be reality, never can work except
through the machinery and by the laws
of representation. at any, rate the voice
of the Irish people, the. persistency of
the irish people in delivering that voice
and the peaceful constitutional circunl-
stances under which it has been deiy-
cred ministerial cheers and opposition
laughter constitute great fact in his
tory. It's said-and l admit, with truth
that Ireland is not a united country.
| don't deny that the division which ex-
lists is fact of great moment. In truth,
were Ireland united, any thing that can
render Ireland formidable would be-
come much more formidable. Were Ire
land united, all opposition would van
iSh, as shadow. Ireland is not united
in this sense, that in one portion of the
country not mere majority OF the high
er classes, but considerable popular
feeling, is opposed to the present ma
tional movement.
81 will not attempt to measure this
numerical strength OF the minority.
1t is said by the party opposite that the
minority in the North of Ireland is ar
rayed In unalterable opposition to home
rule. Unhappiiy at the successful in
stigation of those whose plot it was to
divide the people of Ireland, when they
were united at the close of the last cent
ury, through the medium mainly of
Orange lodges and through religious
animoSity, there was an alteration of
feeling, but the Protestants of Ireland
during the period of the independent
Irish parliament were themselves not
only willing but Jealous and enthusi-
astic supporters of Irish nationality.
lnasmuch as their political life was at
that period more developed, they led
on the Roman Catholic population in
the political movement which distin-
guished that period. This is written
broadcast upon the history of the times.
Genuine national sentiment, in the
sense of national unity, had at one time
prevailed among the North of Ireland
Professionals. We who have seen them
alter, not through their own fault, are
not ready to be persuaded that they will
not alter back again to the sentiments
of their own ancestors cheers, and
with their own blood and their own
people form one in noble, glorious
unity"