The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-12


vi land, June A. = Sir Horace
Plunkett is not so popular man in
Ireland as was Horace Plunkett. After
the king inflicted knighthood on
him he rose up a smaller man. People
said that it was some Of his enemies
induced the king to knight him. Let
1t have been unwitting or otherwise,
however, it was truly unfriendly act.
Inen, too, it must be supposed that it
was secret enemy who induced him to
write the book which he recently pub
Hshed about Ireland. In this book he
handles the Catholic church and the
Catholic religion without gloves. He
says that the impediment which ham
p4Es the Irish people and stays their
progress is their religion. This is a
right bold statement to make, surely,
In Ireland One might easily conceive
of his being knighted for the courage
displayed here. Personally, 1 admire
his daring; he has gone up in my opin-
ion therefor. His statement is anus
1ngly erroneous, but there is not any
doubt of the sincerity OF belief that
prompted it, and of the spirit that
nerved him to pen it. He is the most
heartily despised man in Ireland today;
and Is being kicked and cuffed around
the land-even by many that were
amongst his heartiest and best sup
porters. From a political point of view
the book Is a big mistake on his part.
By his Irish Agricultural Organiza-
ton society, Sir Horace Plunkett has
certainly done much practical good
during the past years. He has taught
the farmers In many parts of Ireland
the value Of cooperation, and he has
enabled many Of the farmers and many
OF the laborers, too, to exist more COM
fortably than they had before. This in
itself Is creditable to P1unkett, but in
his plan this was only the means to a
political end. 1t was his theory that
the Irish national spirit and demand
for independence was only stomach
deep, and that If our people got their
stomachs well filled with potatoes and
bacon and got good freize coats on
their backs they would forget that
mems souls would crave for mems
rights. AS his ostensfble object was
good, he got hearty support throughout
the country. The people awaited them
selves of the practical benefits offered,
and they smiled at the design which
NNAAo I4OoCA OCIltuQ O1I horace Is us
covering that the demand for inde-
pendence is soul-deep with the Irish
people, and that potatoes ana bacon
are not quite so effective as the lotus.
Plunkett Not Discoverer
This Is not the first nor yet the
twenty first time that their religion
has been credited with the want of
progress Of the Irish people. And, in
deed, when we come to think Of it, this
may be correct. There was a time
when the people of Ireland were given
q ehetce Of AN English religion and
favor, or of their own and perpetual
persecution. In our wayward Celtic
fashion we chose the latter. Then ev-
cry door Of advancement was closed
and bolted and nailed up against us.
There was a price put upon the head
of the schoolmaster who dared go
amongst them and keep alive with
them the light of knowledge for which
they had been famous over Europe;
and price put upon the head Of the
priest who dared to bring them spirit
ual light Priest and sehoelmaSter and
wolf were in those days hunted with
equal arder. and families who are today
titled first enriched and established
themselves in those days by harvesting
the heads of these three animals. When
Cromwell and his train fell upon Ire
land and swept it a blighting blast, to
those who still persisted in preferring
the old religion and poverty he gave
choice OF Hell or Connaught" We
chose Connaug4ft" their descendants
say, "and left he'll to himself" Pity
the devils! ApropoS of this, it may be
interesting to state that the educational
returns of the past half century show
that Catholic Leinster and Catholic
Munster have progressed intellectually
at a far greater rate than have Protes-
tant Ulster. In Ulster, likewise, it is a
well known fact that whilst the Prot
estant merchants and farmers are de-
eaying and disappearing the unpro-
gressive Catholic Celts are springing up /
from poverty and stepping into their
shoes. The once very Protestant city
of Derry, for instance, contains today
mere Catholics than Protestants, and
in most of the other towns the ratio Of
Catholics to Protestants is altering
yearly In favor of the former.
Col. Saunderson,s Theory
Col Saunderson, chief Orange repre-
sentative for Ulster in the British par
lament, and doHghtiest warrior that
never snelt gunpewGer, has been pro-
G1c1l9f1lS TO IH0 MOt1u dH0HI The nome
rule question that no one outside of a
lunatie asylum would desire to be gov
eTned by the Natienalists of Ireland.
The colonel, notwithstanding the blood
ard thunder speeches that he is noted
for, is not disliked by his National fell
low members. He furnishes a deal of
amusement to them, and to the British
parliament generally. Sometimes the
house of commons would be a dull
place but for the colonel and others of
his confreres who, like him, furnish
fun fer it. / do not remember whether
1t was the colonel or William johnson,
OF Balfylffbeg-t most anaiable old
bigOt that Ulster ever sent to parlia-
nent-Who at the time Of Gladstone's
henae rule bill declared that should this
bill become law the loyal Orapsemen Of
Ulster would that day take the field
against the Catholics of Ireland and
the government of England, fthe Bible
and hymn-book in one hand, and a
luuslsei In the ether" At the passing
of the bill for the diSestablish
1nent Of the Irish church, one of these
terrible champions threatened that
scorer than see with their eyes closed |
a fUAGapaental principle Of the British
constitution broken, they would kick |
ihe queens crown into the Boyne"
These too warm-hearted fellows are |
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