New-York tribune., 1900-03-11
VICTORIA N IRELAND.

War is a game of strange surprises as the
news of the day most strkingly sets forth. 1t
has been supposed that the unhappy conflict in
South Africa would be cause of unrelievcd
distress to the venerab BILE Queen and Empress
who had been hoping to conclude her long
reign without another serious breach of the
peace in any quarter of her vast dominions.
That hope was last year fatally dashed. Yet
out of that very catastrophe there now prom
ises to rise JOY and splendor all unexpected
and commensurate only with one or two other
of the greatest glories of her reign. It will be
recalled that our own Spanish war effected a
healing of old animosites and an establish
ment of union and affection between North and
South such as no one had ventured to hope for
in this generation There is to-day a promise
of a similar reconciliation between the two long
estranged members of the United Kingdom.
The wearing Of sprig of shamrock is little
thing, and weeks visit to Dublin Is a little
thing. But trifles such as these are sometimes
of supreme significance in the affairs of ma
tions
The complaint has often been made and with
must say, some show Of justification, that
the Royal Family has neglected Ireland The
Duke of Connaught has now and then visited
the island from which he gets his title The
Prince of Wales has been not altogether IN
known at the Punchestown races. But it is
nearly forty years since the Queen has set foot
on Irish soil, in which time she has made her
home in Scotland for a considerable part of
each year, and has spent weeks in almost every
year in France Italy. Beyond doubt it
looked though there were discrimination
against Ireland The fact has been recognized
by the British Government, and while there has
been no idea that Her Majesty would ever
again visit Ireland. there have been suggestions
of the establishment of royal residence there
for some member of her family In such cir
cumstances the announcement that. acting
tirely upon her own initiative. the venerable
sovereign is herself about to visit Ireland, to
dwell for time on Irish soil and to show her
self publicly TO her Irish subjects, must have
a profound impression. We cannot in this
country, exactly appreciate the feelings with
which subjects of monarchy regard the person
of the sovereign. The divinity that doth hedge
q king may be nothing but sentiment Yet
sentiment is something for which millions of
men have been willing to die. And we may be
sure that people more abundantly en-
dowed with such sentiment than the impulsive
generous, warm hearted people of Ireland. In
the midst of his strongest invectlves against
English oppression O'Connel was ever ready
to cry THE Queen, God bless her. and TO ex-
press-what he undoubtedly fet-a personal de-
votion to Her Majesty as passionate and as
chivarous as that of any Englishman. We shall
see if the spirit of the Great I1berator is not
still vital and potent in O'Connell's land.
1t is to be said that Ireland deserves in fullest
measure the attention which the Queen is about
TO pay TO it. 1t is true that early in the
many Irish politicians seemed full Of the venom
of treason They were adopting resolutions of
sympathy with the Beers and offering prayers
for Boer success, and eXuting in every British
defeat and loss. They acted. indeed, very much
ms some of own folk acted over Aguinaldo
We do not know that they We're much more
numerous important than were these. But
their vaporings from the first sounded hollow
and of late have faded away to the merest
echo. With Irish regiments winning the honors
of the war and commanding the admiration of
the world and with Irish commanders Roberts,
Kitchener. French, Kelly Kenny, White and the
rest-leadng them TO victory after victory there
is small room for railing at home against the
empire which these heroes are serving. 1t was
only few years ago that an Irish soldier was
sent TO the guardhouse for wearing a bit of
shamrock on st. Patrick's Day To-day the
Queen commands that in future all members of
her Irish regiments shall wear shamrock On
that day Is ii to be supposed that any will
object to wearing ii. just because Her Majesty
commands il!
We are not cOnjuring up illusions. One royal
visit does not make revolution. But there
seems serious reason for hope that In this case
il will prove to be the elimination of a revou-
tion which has already proceeded much further
than has outwardly appeared 1t is conceded
that Ireland Is enjoying greater prosperity
than the average man now living can remem-
ber 1t is enjoying self government too, in
fuller measure than any other part of The
United Kingdom. Practically IL is getting ell
the benefits of that Home Rule Of which II
dreamed without suffering any of the deprlva-
tions and burdens of IT, Those who regarded
Home Rule rs the end TO be striven for and
would prefer hard times with independence 70
prosperity with maintenance of the union are
still dissatisfied. Those who regarded Home
Rule as mere means to end, the end being
good government. redress of grievances and
prosperity for the people, must now feel meas
urably satisfied. Which is the larger class we
may not say There is no doubt as 10 which is
the more noisy And yet we are inclined 10
think that for this occasion, at least the
shrewd practical sense of the Irish people may
make itself felt and heard above all other pas