New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-24
DTRLIN CASTLE.

The Irish question promises TO assume pres
| entity novel phase. There is talk Of abolishing
| the Lord -Lieutenancy. There has been such talk
before. but it either has not been serious or has
not been at a time or in circumstances that made
It's fulflment practicable. Now 1t is entirely
serious Public men and journals Of undoubted
authority are discussing the scheme favorably.
Some Of the strongest and best supporters Of the
Government are urging that such action be
promptly taken. Moreover. present circum-
stances render the achievement Of the project
| entirely feasible The Unionist Government has
so strong a majority in Parliament that 1t can
do practically as 1t pleases. Even were such not
the case. the measure could probably be enacted
with little trouble. There is small reason to sup
pose that any party in Parliament would serious
~ object to It, If any did, 1t would be on purely
factious grounds
The Irish NatiOpalists could not consistently
oppose such action. For years they have regarded
Dublin Castle as the chief badge OF their sub
lection to the Saxon, and have held the Dublin
Castle gang" the object Of their most bitter
execration. No Lord Lieutenant has ever been
really popular with them, not even those sent
over by Mr. GladstOnes later Governments. The
little favor any one may have enjoyed has been
personal, and in spite Of his office and not be
cause Of it. The Irish Unionists, il we may ac-
cept Colonel Saunderson as their spokesman.
have long been DESTROYS Of the abolition Of the
office Nor is there any reason why English LIB
erals Radicals or Home Rulers should wish 1t
preserved. If they do, they are inconsistent
with their expressed principle. namely. that the
wishes Of the Irish should govern Irish affairs.
Finally the UnIOnists themselves ought Of all
10 be most ready to abolish IT, For the Lord
Ieutenancy Is a sy mbol Of partial and imperfect
union, and by its abolition the Union to which
they profess to be devoted would be made much
more real and complete.
The Lord Leutenancy is, indeed and has al
ways been an anomaly. 1t is a contradiction Of
the theory on which the United Kingdom is
formed That theory is that the four States
England Scotland, Wales and Ireland-are on
an equal footing. They are equal partners in
the Union That has been the argument Of the
I'nionsts in their opposition to Home Rule for
ireland. Why, they ASK should Ireland have a
separate Parliament and Ministry when no other
Of the four partners has! If Ireland is to have
Home Rule Scotland ought also to have 1t, with
Parliament at Edinburgh and Wales too;
and England should have at Westminster a
Parliament that should attend exclusively TO
affairs Of the rest Of the Kingdom. Well. that
Is logical. But if, on that line Of argument, a
Parliament is to be denied to ireland, because
Scotland has none and Wales has none, how can
any one Justify the imposition OF Lord Lieu
tenant upon Ireland. when no other member OF
the United Kingdom has one?
II is time for Irish affairs TO be put upon
a more consistent basis. If Ireland Is not full
l,,to inf rinr
n conquered province, or a mere colony. doubtless
the Lord Iieutenancy should be retained. as 1t
IS in other colonies But then. to be logical Irish
representatives should be excluded from West
minister and an Irish Parliament should be re-
established in Dublin. In brief Ireland should
rule herself, under Il Viceroy or GOvernOrGen-
cral just as Canada, and the Cape, and the Aus
trallan Colonies do. II, on the other hand, she
is full member of the Kingdom, she should be
treated exactly as the other members are. The
Lord Lieutenlncy. which is mark OF discrim-
nation and infcriorty should be abolished. In
its place a royal residence should be established
there and the sovereign or some other member
Of the royal family should live there Mt least
part Of each year. Wales il honored In the title
Of the Heir-Apparent Scotland contains the
Queens favorlte residence. But Ireland Is for
saken The Prince Of Wales has been known to
go over there for a few days to attend the
Punchcstown races. but that Ii all. The Irish
are practically made to feel that they are sub
jecis Of an alien sovereign. What wonder II
their allegiance be thus weakened? England
herself was not much in love with the Georges
when they spent most Of their time and money
In Hanover.
The Irish might not accept the new order Of
things as a satisfactory substitute for Home