New-York tribune., 1903-07-21
ENGLAND AND ICELAND.

A few days ago the relations between Eng
land and France were being materially i'm
proved through the agency of royal diplomacy.
The Kings visit 20 the President and his en-
tertainment OF the President on the latter's re-
turn visit TO England unquestionably did much
more than anything else for many years-to
abolish distrust and antagonism between the
two nations and to create anew that fraternal
relationship which ought increasingly TO pre-
vail between them. This week King Edward
undertakes another somewhat similar work 1t
is not a foreign country which he visits, but
part of his own dominions But it is country
much less visited by English sovereigns than
some foreign lands have been, and one between
which and England greater animosity has lately
existed than between England and any alien
country under the sun. In no quarter of the
world is IT more desirable for England TO create
and cultivate good fellowship than in the sis
ter isle at the other side Of ST. Georges Chan
mel We shall see If the Kings gracious pres
ence and tactful diplomacy will prove as ef-
fectiye there as beyond the Straits of Dover.
Tommy dearly loves lord" was said Of an
IriShman. There should be no offence in saying
that the disposition thus described is somewhat
characteristic of the Irish people generally. In
common with their racial kinsmen the French
the warm hearted and romantic Irish are fond
OF the display Of power and greatness. Cere-
mony and parade are welcome TO them. While
they insist that "a mans a man for a that"
they have in them a strain of hero worship
which leads them 20 regard with admiration the
man who possesses distinction, whether it be Of
social rank, Of intellectual achievement or of
political prowess. For all their railing against
England and the English sovereign, there can
be no question that they have sincerely felt
aggrieved at the infrequency Of English royal
visits 10 their island. Let it be remembered
that between William III and George " no
English sovereign set foot in Ireland, that Will
lam III is remembered there only as a stern
conqueror and that George " made only one
visit to that part OF his realm. The long reign
OF the gracious Victoria was at first marked
with some personal attentions to Ireland, which
were received as gratefully and Loyalty as they
could have been In royal Windsor, but the
many years and decades Of the major part of
her reign saw no visit 10 that island, any more
than If it had been remote and hostile alien
land
King Edward, while Prince OF Wales, often
visited Ireland, and was generally well re-
ceived, though On one occasion both he and his
consort were treated with gross and violent in
dignity. There has been some manifestation of
hostility 10 his present visit, chiefly the part
Of those professional politicians and agitators
10 whom popular discomfort and iii viii toward
England are sources OF profit. That the masses
OF the people win share that animosity is not
10 be believed. There is no reason why they
should The simple fact is that, instead Of being
the abused or neglected part Of the United
Kingdom, as it certainly was for many years,
Ireland is coming 10 be the petted and pam
pered part 1t now enjoys some marked ad-
vantages over the other members, and in the
forthcoming enactment Of the new Land bill it
will receive such benefits and opportunities as
probably never before were conferred upon any