New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-17
IRELAND AND THE IRISH.

Upon this day, of all days in the year. the
thoughts OF Irishmen are supposed 10 be turned
toward the Emerald Isle. and the question
How is Old Ireland:' is on every tongue ana
in every heart The answer to that question To-
day Is an interesting one. 1t Is scarcely such
as 1t was In the time Of Napier Tandy. They
are not changing men and women for wearing
OF the green" and have not been for many
year. They are far more apt to be cracking
skulls for wearing of the red. Nor is the coui
try now by any means the most dstrcssful
that ever has been seen. 1t Is far better on
than it was only few years ago, perhaps than
il has been before within the memory Of living
mon Yet II is by no means either contcnted or
united.
That it Is not united u.s. indeed the most sa-
lent feature of the case. month or two ago II
seemed to he. Parnete and Antl-Parnclte
landlord and tenant. Ulster and Cork joined
hands-and volccs-to demand rcfunding of
the money Mr. Gladstone had wickedly wrcstcd
from the island 1t was discovered that that IL
lustrious Home Ruler had in his mrcgeneratc
DAYS been the chief opprcssor of Ireland. rob
bling her through the hated excseman of mill
ions of pounds So all party and fractional diff
fercnces were sunk and Tory and Fenian joined
taxes be repealed and the back taxes refunded.
But il was for only brief time. To-day that
most ausplcous harmony is smashed TO smith
Greens. the factions are again ut war. and the
air is full of clubs.
The second important fact is that the English
Liberals have dropped Home Rule from their
platform. \ dozen years ago, at Mr.. Glad
stones command. they made II the chief plank
thereof Upon that issUe they did not hesitate
to split the party asundcr To ii they sacrificed
all other legislation for the Kingdom. 1t was
Home Rule first and the rest nowhere. And
now they drop it ANONYMOUSLY. as no longer n
name TO conjure with. Il moral principle with
which TO move the conscience. Nonconformlst
or other They have fought for twelve years,
for nothing The Irishmen in Parliament have
supported them Loyalty. twelve years. for moth
ing Kecnly, indeed. must now come home TO
many an Irish heart Parnclls repeated warn
ings against alliances with English parties and
against trusting in English politicians. The
Irish Parliamentary party-or the AntiParnel-
lite majority of it-has been for years the ser
want Of English Liberalism Now 1t is CURLY
dismissed, without moments warning, ana
without even n certificate of good character.
There will be small encouragement for 1t ever
again to enter such service.
Finally the c-Unionist Govern
ment of the United Kingdom persists In its at
tempt to smother Home Rule with kindness
1t gave Ireland last year what is probably the
best of all it's land laws. Ii proposes to DO
much for Irish schools and colleges. for roads
and railroads and drainage. and 10 make some
equitable reimbursement of Irish finances so that
the island will get more local good H. return
for its taxes. and not be bled, as Mr. Gladstone
bled IT, for the good of the rest of the Kingdom.
How far such policy will be successful is TO
be seen. If ii does not satisfy the Irish people.
il will n: least give them better resources and
greater strength 10 renew the struggle for Home
Rule SO this much-ceebrated day. though not
in all respects suspicious, is neither in all re-
spects discouraging to tho friends and 10 the
/ cause of Ireland.