New-York tribune., 1907-09-01
A DIVIDED IRELAND.
Ho,r 4ncient armagh LOOKS
That 1t Stands For.
Armagh. August 15.


r,or noddInr their withered, toll creased faces
A., .re doo-yyavs Of wretched novels. AS the slopes
:. ere hills are ascended. two splendid churches
,,d ouf on opposite crests like antagonistc
,or,resses of faith: and each has record or
,enefsctfons and evidences or wealth that con-
,rasts strongly with the pathos OF poverty an@
,,ise-y- in the lower town One Is the Protest
~. cathedral of the PriInRte OF All ireland,
-ee.ored and enriched by the Bcresfords' arch
,sebons deans and archdeacors, and converted
,n,o = stately shrine Of the Anglican Church
which has been steadily gaining power and IN
,,ence IN the island since disesta blshment eK-
,-icsted 81 from a false and anomalous position
The other is the modern Roman cathedral. one
- .,a costIiest and most artistic structures in
,o,,-5 with two lofty spires and richly carved
-.5as above the massive stone terraces. and
r5f, surnptuous afsIes. nave, transeptS ano chor
where decorative art has been softened ana re-
ene5 In marble lacework- The shanhE h'lio
,o7-n with g population OF q few thousands ana
.s single industry Of brown and colored hiiehS'
5oes not require splendors OF architecture anu
ritual SO much as relief measures for poNerH
md the stimulus Of mercantile enterprise hst
.he noble old cathedral in the shaded close On
,4e summit Of a hill has been challenge the
-an,a of ST Patrick and the traditions oI an
.rcian, shrine ravaged by Danes and maTau0-
a.. --et,s1e generation after generation. inspired
o,-,.+,+i,,e rivalry: and decade after decade
-e-+x- and pietv have rendered tribute WIN
ono, hand. until The new cathedral mas ila'clieu
.ba Anglican stronghold in refinement OF stons-
work and beauty Of ritual ihere are -
things TO he seen the sloplne hlisiues u -
rambling town. such as the palaces % INC
- IorInate and the Cardinal Archoishop'
tba observatory in a spacious garden H"Ia1!
@o- scholars wooded mall ana slouP III
Er-~r he
,bea-als boldly challenging each other IN wealth.
- -,,.,or,+,- ernhodv the spirit Of unhappy
Ireland. distracted with religious anilii'si'i'S
- ,,,-a1,s+ and sepsratist aspirations.
:. ~, he natural for one who has been looh-
t,- -, i-, Belfast at the armed camps ana oa'-
80 under cover Of darkness to exaggeraIe 'le
militant aspect OF ArmaghS catheoreis, ~
here is evidence that as Ireland even IN oiFes'
,ox-erty is never zoo poor TO make sacriIlcts ho'
rsneion so also in its most tranquil moments
- IS ever abnornlally controversial anu COM
,,a+ive and eager TO accept every chaiiehse.
a, .,, ,,-ensitx of religious feeling that stinu-
,stes intolerance and makes IL doubtful II the
,uro Irelands. Protestant and Catholic, Loyaiis'
and Nationalist can ever be brought into hai-
,nonious relations. One compromise follows an
,hsr nut the oIdtirne antagonisn survives ana
ss constantly breaking out afresh- The Union
t.+s established the local councils. sanctioned
COSTLY scherne Of land purchase, and appointed
g Roman Catholic and sympathizer with Home
Rule permanent Secretary for Ireland ana the
Liberals in their turn. have proposed ctose
aoproach 10 selt-government. are trying to enact
an evicted tenants BILL and are committed 10
4 scheme Of university reform These measures
and policies ought 10 have done much TO tran
c-llize the island and soften the asperitles OF
faction politics yet Irishmen are ready at a
-. nFfpT pTlGf fEp
end 10 rally their forces in hostile camps. II Is
the land Of irrepressible political and religious
feuds When vaciliating trirnners and over
saneuire oytinnists are crying "Peace,' there are
sudden outbursts Of sectional feeling over trivial
incidents or Irrelevant issues like picketing in
& labor strike or the employment Of constabes
end soldiers in populous Nationalist district
The militant factions. like the rival Armagh
cathedrais. stand on guard and grirnly challenge
each other.
II is interesting TO hear some Of the sentries
on the Cnfonist walls talk about traitors in
camp who profess TO believe that the dangers
of Home Rule have been exaggerated. Their
voices vibrste with intensity Of feeling when
they forecast the ruinous consequences OF put
ting the prosperous minority under the ruthless
tornlnat!on oT the thriftless and hungry major
ity, and rhe havoc that will follow in the loss
q religious liberty, the suspension Of the rights
. Of conscience and the cOnfiscation OF private
property. One zealot whom I have in mind-he
IS 4 Member OF Parliament and a captain Of in
dusiry--contends that the minority will soon be
The majority, and he is disposed 10 condemn Mr.
Bslfour with fine irony for not perceiving the
relative increase OF the population and wealth
OF the northern province and acting upon it.
What ought he TO have done7" asked, with
languid curiosity. He should have passed
redistribution bill and gone TO the country. He
should have laid equitable basis for II in
population, and then deprived the Nationalists
II twenty-five thirty seats That would have
been playing listers game, for while it is
or four provinces Il has nearly one-t third of the
population and even larger proportion of the
capitalized wealth and business enterprise OF
the island II he had only shown more grit he
could have warded of Home Rule for twenty
years. and by that time Ulster would have half
the population and no longer &c in minority.
he was not clever tactician. but allowed the
golden opportunity TO slip by and left the 10y
ahs's 90 shift for themselves: and long run
Mng fight we shall have against a coalition Of
haoicals. Socialists and Nationalists!" I may
not have quoted the precise words. but the
spirit has been caught-the same spirit that in
tpired the defence and relief OF loyal Derry!
Lest may be suspected of partisanship.
must Cross to the opposite camp and find
oat what the outposts are talking about. The
Naeionalists Gro as hopeful the Loyalists
suppressed. They are represented in Parliament
oy delegation under absolute discipline and
brilliantly led: and they have set up in the four
provinces political machine that has never
peen equalled. not even In America. in the pre-
clsion and economy OF its processes. Candidates
IRE selected by the master workers; elections
are not contested: when there is resistance II Is
stamped cut They are the best politicians in
tne klngaau. They knnru what theY want and