Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-19
of acting as spies and encouraging the
prejudices OF the people against England.

Not a Crime to Kill an Irishman.
The killing of a person of Irish birth
was not crime, but the penalty for an
Irishman who struck an Englishman was
death. None but the members of FIVE
certain families (Quinque Sanguines> were
even allowed standing in the courts. The
statutes of Kilkenny in effect outlawed
all persons of Irish birth in their own
country. The historians Of the time ex-
planned that it was intended to provoke
perpetual enmity between the races for
the determination of the Irish.
But the laws were impracticable, and
were never enforced except in spots. The
Irish and the English went on intermarry-
ing, gossiping. dressing, speaking Irish.
quarreling and fighting, just the same as
be fore.
In 1494. in the reign of Henry VII, the
Irish parliament met at Drogheda and
enacted what is known as "Poynings' law.
This consisted of few sections reviving
| and confirming the statute Of Kilkenny,
except that part which forbade the use OF
the Irish tongue. 1t provided also that no
parliament was in future to meet in
Ireland until called by the king, and no
acts passed by the Irish parliament were
to be enforced until permission was given
by the king and the privy council. Up
to this time the Irish parliament had been
practically independent. met wherever 1t
pleased and passed what laws it thought
proper. without interference from Eng
land. but Poynings' law took away all
those privileges.
Henry VIII Rubbed It In.
In 1887 Henry VIII attempted to make
Ireland a Protestant nation, and called
a parliament at Dublin, which was at
tended by all the chieftains except the
kildares-once the greatest of them all,
but at that time the only survivor was a
boy of seventeen, who was hiding in the
boys to save his life. Without a dis
senting vote that parliament passed what
is known as the "act of supremacy"
which. in effect, recognized the authority
of the king as superior to that of the
pope. and conferred upon Henry VIII the
title of king of Ireland" AS compensa-
ton. his majesty conferred titles upon
nearly all of the Irish chiefs. o'Neil was
made Earl of Tyrone. OBrien Earl of
Tbomonde. Burke Earl of Clanrickarde
and many other chieftains were elevated
to the peerage. Thirteen of the largest
and wealthiest mOnasteries and four hum
dred other religious houses were sup
pressed and their property was divided
among the new earls. 1t is estimated to
have included nearly one-half of the en-
tire wealth of Ireland. The earls &C
cepted the titles and the gifts and the
people made no disturbance, because the
friars were generally unpopular for the
same reason that they were unpopular in
the Philippines. Professionalism was off,
cially established and Henry VIII was
proclaimed Defender of the faith and of
the Church of England and Ireland on
earth the supreme head" This also was
received with comparative indifference by
the people. but when the venerated relics
OF the saints and martyrs, including the
sacred staff of St. Patrick. were burned in
the market place Of Dublin the trouble
began. The attempt to force Protestant
ism on the country broke down all rivalry
and the people united against the crown.
Warred Upon Catholicism.
Thereafter the Irish parliapents were
entirely Protestant, for all citizens who
would not accept Professionalism were dis
franchised. What are known as the
penal laws were passed by the parlia-
ment of 1896. and they were the worst
that have ever been given to Ireland in
the form of statutes. Those who did not
accept the Protestant religion were for
Didden to preach or to teach or to send
their children to school. No Catholic was
permitted to buy land or even take q
lease for life. and IL Catholic inherited
land he was placed under a Protestant
guardian. No Catholic could be guardian
to a child: no Catholic could vote or hold
once. Catholics were not allowed to live
In certain cities; they were not allowed
to own arms. and any Protestant was au-
thorized to take possession Of any horse
owned by Catholic by offering him the
sum Of f5. All Catholic clergy were ex-
PEELED from Ireland. and any who re-
turned were adjudged guilty of high
treason. for which the punishment was
death. These laws were intended to sup
press the Catholic religion, but while they
succeeded In impoverishing and degrading
the people, they only strengthened their
faith. as has been the result Of all perse-
cutions.
Built a Parliament House.
In 1923 the lords and commons of Ire.
land determined to demonstrate their i'm
portance by providing an appropriate par
lament house, and the building now &C.
cupied by the Bank of Ireland, a well
proportioned. classic structure of one
story with an imposing portico, was erect
eo. lts low elevation suggests the Bank
of England, and its windowless walls in
close court from which the rooms are
lighted and ventilated. There are only
two entrances-a private door in the rear
and an Imposing gateway in the front.
where two sentinels are always on guard.
squad of six soldiers in command of
corporal comes from the barracks every
morning and remains twenty-four hours,
The corporal receives Is I'd and each of
the privates a shilling besides their meals,
which are abundant and well cooked and
are served in mess room. Two hours
on and four hours off, two soldiers pace
the pOrtico behind the long rows of Ion C
columns, saluting each other as they pass.
The Bank of Ireland like the Bank of
England, is only semi-official institu-
ton. being the financial agent for the
government. the official depository and
disbursing agent with the privilege of is
suing notes.
The site was occupied by a hospital
founded by George C. Carey during the
reign of Queen Elizabeth, and it was
made the official residence of the vicerOy
by Sir Arthur Chichester, who reigned
from 1904 to 1915. 1t was therefore known
as Chichester House. Parliament met
there first after the restoration of Charles
ii, and also under William III when the
great struggle for Irish autonomy began
Struggle for Autonomy.
The authority of the British parliament
to pass laws for an unrepresented portion
of the kingdom was boldly challenged by
William Molyneux, a member Of the Irish
parliament for Dublin University. and
his book, called 1.-The Case of Ireland"
was ordered burned by the common hang
man. Some one has said that it Is easy
to burn books and even men, but ideas
cannot be destroyed that way, and Molly
neux became the hero of a movement that
has not yet subsidized.
The Irish parliament grew in popular
estimation. During the latter half of the
eighteenth century the debates of GRAFT
tan. Flood, Curran and other men OF brill
liant attachments reached the highest de-
gree of ability and eloquence. Grattan' s