The Irish standard., 1897-10-23
national complement of liberties Sc
cured and Of rights maintained, to the
advantage of the people ruled. But in

advantage Of the people ruled. But in
instances In which the civic obligation
OF loyalty Is not earned of the people,
where the head of the state is the SYM
Dol of a predominant power and not of
the national will, where the very term
loyalty is made to mean an anti-Na-
tional feeling, how can you, in reason
or common sense, look for or expect
your simple sentiment to take hold of
the popular mind?
1t Is said, and, of course, with truth,
that the royal family have no response
bility in the matter OF Ireland's govern
ment, and are powerless in the applica-
ton OF political remedies. 1T is also
contended that this fact, coupled with
the widely recognized family and social
virtues of the sovereign and her chill
dfen, ought to beget among all classes
Of Irishmen a kindred feeling to that
which the British people manifest to-
ward the queen and her household
But why and wherefore? The rooted
influences of political human nature re-
main to be considered. 1t was not on
account of the non-interference of roy
atty in the Canadian government or in
recognition of her majesty's domestic
and womanly record on the throne that
the premier Of the dominion came
across the Atlantic in June to voice so
eloquently the loyalty of the Canadian
people. No. 1t was, as he had tine
courage to say again and again, be-
cause his country possessed the rights
of nationhood, and was endowed and
secured in the proud privilege of guild
ing Its own destinies. This is why Sir
Wilfrid Laurier played so prominent
part in the event of June last, and the
politicians and journalists who ap-
plauded his utterances, knowing as they
must do, from whence the fervor Of his
Imperialism arose, speak and write
about this royal visit as if a govern
ment of Canada from Downing street
and royal residence at Ottawa would
have produced just the same stamp of
jubilee Laurier, had Canadian home
rule been denied, as in Ireland.
A royal residence In ireland will
please section of the population-the
classes who are already "loyalist gar
rison." 1t will hold out a prospect of
more knighthoods to leading Unionists
who want handles to their names, and
1t will, I admit help some millincrs,
give employment to a few more domes
tic servants, and breed higher class
of flunkeys than those who now pay
homage at the Brummage1n Court Of
the Viceregal Lodge. 1t will add, pos
sibly, hundred thousand pounds to the
cost of ruling the country, and this sum
will be put down as being spent for the
benefit of Ireland. Beyond this the lat
tent at English rule will accomplish
nothing. Royalty no longer possesses
the attractions with which the attribute
Of power once endowed it in the popu-
lar mind. 1t has lost all its political
influence in the state.
Much has been made in recent Eng
lish writings about O'Connell's demon
strative loyalty on the occasion of the
visit to Ireland of the fourth of the
Georges, which earned for the great
liberator the merited castigation given
in Byron's "Avatar." But !here was
at least an explanation of O'Connelrs
proceedings in the fact that the court
then welded comparative power with
both ministers and parliament, and
something was expected for Ireland in
return for this public exhibition of OBJ
sequious loyalty on the part of leader
struggling against a host of adverse In"
fluences. Today the shadow Of Sir
Henry Howarth is more than enough
to deny English royalty the smallest ex-
ercise Of that clemency towards poliii-
cal prisoners which in no court In Eu-
be denied by minister or government.
No Irish Nationalist thinks It griev-
ance on, or slight to Ireland to he
without royal residence. Our aspira-
tions are not to be satisfied by regal
pageants,' and we believe that there Is
not, and never has been, any real desire
on the part of any member Of the royal
family to take up position in Ireland
which must necessarily become one Of
political character. Pray therefore
allow the parties most concerned in
this patent proposal for the solution
of your troubles in Ireland to remain
Of one mind in this matter. Take Sir
Wilfrid Laurier rather than Mr.. Gerald
Balfour as your political Mentor, and
keep your royal residences where they
are pleasing all round. Any other
course will simply add one more to the
innumerable blunders made by English
men in their hopeless attempts to gov
ern Ireland against the will of her peo-
pie.
II know" said the African chief bit
terly, that your people will sooner or
later grab my territory" Don't use
such harsh expressions" said the Euro
pean diplomat soothingly. eve may
some time find 1t necessary to rectify
our frontier, but don't talk about grab
bing territory"