The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-03-20
Ireland's Festal Day.


halls" according to Tom Moore, the
king OF Irish bards, "the soul of music
she'd" aud in Tara's halls Irishmen of
ancient times were wont to meet to
make or amend their laws.
In Irish history the Feis of Tara was
tri 3nnial assembly on the royal hill of
Tar, in the county of Meath, some
forty miles northwest of Dublin. This
as3enblage is claimed to have been in
stituted at so remote period as 1900
years before Christ. According TO ira
diion oil the chieftains or heads of
clans, the bards, historians and mill
tary leaders of the country were re-
quired to attend these assemblies under
the penalty of being treated as the
kings enemies. The meeting was
held in large oblong hall, the first
days being spent in enjoying the hos
pitality of the king, who entertained
the entire assemblage. The bards-the
historians of the shadowy past-give
glowing accounts of the magnifcence
displayed on these occasions, the cere-
monies observed and the business trans
acted, and were themselves the center
of festive and patriotic interest. "To
chiefs and ladies bright" their harps
were wont to swell.
The departure of this era of prehis-
toric splendor, the complete subsection
of Ireland to Great Britain after centu-
ries of heroic warfare against invading
armies, and finally, in the times OF this
brightest of Irish bards, the extinction
of the last vestige of Irish nationality
by the parliamentary union of Ireland
with England, awoke the moving strains
of "The harp that once through
Tara's halls" with "The wearing of
the green" conned and sung by Irish.
men the world around.
ST.. Patrick's Day is not exactly relig-
ious anniversary. 1t is not a political
occasion, but time like the American
Fourth of July for patriotic reminis-
ences, for recalling and celebrating
what is glorious, distinctive or arous-
ing in Irish history. So on this day
Irish lyrics, Irish heroes and martyrs,
Ireland's heroic struggles for indie
pendence, Ireland's great and pitiable
misfortunes and sufferings naturally
come in for large consideration and
much patriotic and sympathetic reel =
tai. If there is pervading the bitter re-
membranes of war and conquest, and
wrong and famine, tide of feeling in
respect of England which is not al
ways or altogether an undercurrent,
Americans can understand this and
know how to make proper allowance
for its expression. If the greater part
of 1reland's sons and daughters are
hanging their harps today on the will
lows on the banks of some Euphrates
it is not because they are willing exiles
from the land of their birth or the
homes OF their ancestors. British pro-
scription drove them to self-sxpatria-
ton. OF them it can be said, as Burke,
defending the American colonists, told
the ministers of George III, "Your OPP
preston planted them in America"
England's mistakes in her early and
later policy in Ireland and in her treat
ment of her American colonies, are
twins in monumental folly. Ireland
has furnished England brains in past
and present times, in her civil and
military affairs. Ireland possessed the
physical and geographical requirements
OF empire, and the Irish people the
capacity to make effective use of i'm
perial conditions and resources.
Ireland was about the last conquest
OF the military forces that succeeded
Rome and became the dominating race
in England. The England of the Anglo.
Saxon proceeded to use the conquest as
an orange, and squeezed Ireland for
the juice it might yield for the material
delectation of her conqueror. En-
glands superior military strength pre-
vailed.
In the eighteenth century Ireland was
particularly distinguished for her wool
and flax, her wooden and linen manu-
features. Other industries were also
fourishing. Agriculture and industry
went hand in hand. BY England's re-
strictive policy the wooden manufac-
lures were ruthlessly strangled. The
same policy killed or hamstrung every
other industry in which England was a
rival.
In respect Of natural advantages for
commerce and shipping Ireland is hard