The Washington times., 1906-03-05

To the Editor Of The Washington Times:
Apropos of the celebration last night OF
the 12sth anniversary of the birthday of
Robert Emnet, the Irish hero martyr,
by the united Irish societies OF this city,
it may be Of interest to glance briefly
a. the relations between the two natural
divisions of the United Kingdom
Great Britain and Ireland-as tLy have
been in the past, and as they are today
The term Great Britain is properly
applied only to the larger island, COM
prising England. Scotland ana Wales.
and dates from the union Of the parlia-
ments Of England and Scotland in 1907.
Among the constituent pSrts Of Great
Britain there has been of late times
com parativeIy little trouble politically,
but between the predominant partner"
and ireland there never yet has been
a real union-a union founded or the
mutual consent Of the peoples o. both
countries.
Why Ireland Spurns Unicn.
The persistent refusal Of the great
majority of the Irish people TO regard
the union with Great Britain as a.
equitable and binding pact. is due chief
Iy to two causes. q these the first
is mainly one of sentiment and historic
pride. From the earliest times in au-
thentic European history TIL the latter
part Of the twelfth century ireland was
IN independent entity. peopled by a
branch Of the ancient Celtic race. Dur
ing the greater part OF the Dark Ages, y
when the Roman empire OF the West
had gone down and the civilization OF
southern Europe had cruTn nbled before
10
hordes. ireland alone among the na-
tions of Europe kept alive the lamp
Of learning. sent forth her teachers and
her missionaries 10 foreign lands, and
was universally regarded as the intel
leotual EYE Of Europe" even as Athens
Of old was the eye Of Greece Her
scholars were tha most distinguished
at the court of Charlemagne: her
scribes produced the most artistic work
OF their time, and from the courts of
Europe students Of noble rank fiocked
TO her. schools and seats OF learning
Even after the nominal annexation of
Ireland 10 the English crown in the
reign Of Henry II. the greater part OF
the country remained independent un-
der the native chiefs, and only a sns III
portion in the vicinity % DuoIh-
.4WiFhfR the Pale'i-showed Any Eemb-
lznce Of submission TO the fore~{n yoke.
II was not until the beginning of the
seventeenth century that the whoie
island was brought under even nominal
control. About the erd OF Queen Eliza-
beth's reign 1869 tn native chiefs were
crushed and upward Of 60o.O00 acres OF
their land conhsoated and distributed
FOR the most part among English col
onLstE.
No Recourse TO Sword.
Various unsuccessful attempts at rev.
oIution have been made since that time:
and even yet a large proportion Of the
Irish people regs'd Englard's domina-
ton OF tho country merely SIS q tenn
poTarY asoendanoy OF might over right
and are even In hopes OF TeReining their
lost independence. But the idea of fight
irR England singls-handed for that pur-
pose has long ceased II have O. nIace IN
the practical politics OF Ireland, and
those who would have recourse to the
sword admit that armed iasurI 5ct1On
can only De attempted with any prosper
Of success when England becomes en-
gagged IN conflict with some OF the great