The Irish standard., 1907-05-04
SAME OLD STORY,


Now that the English government
is about to bring forth some sort Of an
Irish Home Rule measure, the Tory
members from the North of Ireland
have commenced Il campaign to block
the proposed legislation. They do not
want any reform. The present stua-
ton suits them. In all the world the
counterpart of the Orangeman cannot
be found. He is a. part of Ireland, and
yet he opposes giving the people of
Ireland control Of their own affairs.
He opposes governing himself Of
course the Orangemen know that if
the Irish people had control Of their
own affairs the Orangeman would no
longer enjoy any special privilege. He
would no longer be considered loyal,
and his Irish Catholic neighbour the
opposite. The cry is now that the
orangemen would be placed at the
mercy of the Catholic majority. Ac-
cording to the reasoning Of the Tories
of Ulster. the majority Of the Irish of
ireland ought to be kept at the mercy
of the minority. This attitude of the
Tories OF Ulster is in direct opposition
to the attitude Of the Catholics of Ire
land. There is in every Parliament
lrlsh Professionals representing over
whelming Catholic constituencies.
Many Of the famous leaders for Irish
nationality have been Protestants.
Parnel. who organized the Irish Ma
tlonalistS into Il fighting body, was a
Protestant, elected and supported by
Catholics. There have been MANY 9TH
erS III recent years. and in penal times
some of the most distinguished leaders
were Professionals Robert Emmett, the
idol of the Irish Catholic heart, was a
communicate of the English Church.
For the bigoted Orangeman of the
North of Ireland to oppose Home Rule
on the ground that the majority of the
Irish people arc Catholics is a posi-
ton not now assumed by any other
people on earth. We do not believe
that they themselves believe that they
would be unfairly treated by their
Catholic neigh5ors We do not believe
that there is any one acquainted with
the character Of the Irish Catholic who
believes that he would use his political
power to punish or place Mt a. disad-
vantage one of a different religious be-
lief. Irish Catholics have never been
prosecutors. either in their own coun-
try or in any other land. On the other
hand, no people in all the world have
suffered So severely because of their
own religious belief. The Englishmun
has some excuse for not wanting to
grant Home Rule to ireland. He be-
longs to d different race, and he knows
:hat the lrisfMnan has no particular
love for that race. He remembers the
many occasions OF which the Irish
man has shown that dislike. He real
ICES. if he is Intelligent. that the Irish
man is as well fitted to govern HIM
self as the Emglishmen is to govern
himself, but because of racial differ
ences, because of past religious differ
enres. and because of continued hos
tility and stuhbornness. he is unable
to bring himself to position whore
he will vote for simple justice.
The attitude Of the Irish Orangeman
Is even more unfair. He is an Irish
man. and yet he denies that he is able
to govern himself. He asks the pro-
lection of England against his Cath
olic neighbours who have on so MANY
occasions signally honored Irish Pro-
testants who have been loyal to Irish
nationality.
OF course, the complaints Of the
Orangeman furnish a convenient ex-
cuse for the English who are unwill-
ing to grant Home Rule. 1t gives them
an opportunity to say that the Irisl,
are divided among themselves and the
English, in order to promote that dis
sension. fatter the Orangelnan by say
ing that the most intelligent and in
dustrous portion of the Irish popula-
ton are against Home Rule: and that
it Is only the ignorant peasantry, who
are controlled by the Irish Nationalist
leaders and the priesthood who de-