Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-07-26
IRISH SPIRIT GROWS
Revival of Nationality in the North
Of Ireland.
0RANGEMEN AS NATI0NALIsTS
Did Religious Differences Are Dying
Out. Says Cullen.
BELFAST CENTER OF MOVEMENT
scotch-Irish Of Ulster Are Now Con-
sidered Real Irishmen.
DEMAND A LOCAL LEGISLATURE
Sive Up Idea of Reform from British
Parliament and Espouse the
Cause of Imperial
Home Rule.
DEMAND A LOCAL LEGISLATURE


DUBLIN, July A.-(special)-I have Just
returned from a trip through the north
Of Ireland during which 1 visited the
counties Of Antrim, Down. Tyrone and
Derry formerly the stronghoids Of
orangeisu and auti-nationalism, and con-
fess that I have been astonshed by the
change which has come over the people of
the north We in Dublin arc accustomed
TO hear from time to time OF the growth
of nationalist sentiment in Loyal Ulster
and while we have recognized that things
were improving I'm the north in this respect
] doubt II any Of us realized the revolu-
'tion which has come over the position Of
he scotch-Irish OF the north.
l must apologize, however, for calling
them Scotch-Irish. 1t is only done for
The sake Of Identification. Today the
descendants OF the Scotch planters Of
Ulster are as Irish as the descendants of
the O'Neils whom they displaced. gem
Grafton ago. or even ten years ago. they
prided themselves on the fact that they
had nothing in common with the Irish.
Today they are disposed to resent any title
which would indicate that their Irish ma
honalty is qualified in any way.
Remarkable Change in Belfast.
This change of sentiment was particu-
larly noticeable in Belfast. Formerly every
Protestant in Belfast and most OF the
Roman Catholics, who we're above the
laborng class, were ardent unionists. To.
day I find that the lead in the national
movement is being taken by young men
and women, whose names have been house.
hold words for generations among union
lists and orangemen of the north OF Ire
land. Gaelic signs can be seen on some
of the qhOng I -
ancient Irish tongue spoken, and spoken
fluently, on the Belfast streets and In the
Belfast drawing
Even the Orangemen-that body of
sincere fanatics whose hatred of Irish ma
tionality has only been equalled in the
past by their hatred of the religion OF
the majority .of their fellow countrymen-
have felt the change. The Orange body
Is now split into two parts and the larger
part Is franlslSOAR~favor. of large meas
ure of home rule for Ireland The demo-
cracy of the north OF Ireland as repre-
sented in the Independent Orange organI-
cation has abandoned all hope OF any re-
form from the British Parliament and is
looking forward to the re-establshment of
the Irish legislature.
Imperial Home Rule.
To all this intense wave of nationality
which has sprung up over the north there
is practical side. The northern nationalist
Is not separatist. He feels that Ireland
could not stand alone from military point
OF view, and he recognizes the Importance
OF federation with the British empire But
he insists that the federation shall be so
loose that Ireland shall have free hand
In managing all its Internal affairs and
that only truly imperial matters like ma
tional defense foreign relations and inter
national trade shall be left to the Imperial
Parliament.
II is likely, too that the northern nation
aist will add great strength to the national
movement by going for the practical thing
rather than by straininR after the unat-
'ainahle ideal Already some of the leaders
II the northern movement have established
friendly relations with leading men in Scot
and and Wales and demand is growing
these countries for home rule all round
II Is not a. all impossible, then, that the
inionist party itself might be induced by
It's friends to bring in a measure which
would grant the various countries local
self-govornment without weakening the
empire.
To Unite Celtic Peoples.
Another extremely practical step which
has had its origin In the north is the foun-
aatlon Of a movement for the union Of the
Celtic nations. Il must not be forgotten
that the people OF Wales and Scotland are
OF the same stock as the Irish and that
their ideals and mental attitude are prac-
ticaly alike and equally antagonistic 10
those OF the people of England Perhaps
this In some measure explains the awaken
ing the the Scottish Celts OF the north OF
Ireland, who are at last realizing their re-
Adonship to their fellows OF the rest OF
ireland, The re-awakening is pervading all
classes, ! found the traders OF Belfast en-
Enthusiastically Irish and found the farmers
OF Down and Tyrone just as Irish in their
sentiment Moreover, found among the
Protestant farmers who used TO be the
backbone OF the irreconcilable Orange party
profound disgust and WEAKNESS with Eng
lish methods OF government. One man
whose family has occupied the same 400
acres In County Tyrone for 800 years told
me that he was done with unionism.
What have We ever got from the union
ists?" he sad.~ Every reform that the
Irish farmer has gained In my lifetime
has been won by the hard fighting OF the
nationalist party whose members we Pres.
ayterian farmers have despised as 'heatlcn'
snd dnounced as Irish. What are we II
We are not Irish? We have been here
OO years and we ought to be acclimatized
by this time. What does our religion OF
the religion OF our fellow countrymen mat
lerf l am frankly sick OF this division
for the benefit OF politicians in a foreign
country. who care no more for their loyal
supporters In Ulster than they do for the
rebels OF the south, and 1 intend TO BE-
come rebel. too. We cannot cut looss
from England altogether and II Is un-
thinkable that England could afford to
let US 90, but Il must let US manage our
own affairs"
Another northern farmer reminded me
that the Ulster Presbyterians were only
returning TO the position in which they
stood in l7sS. when the Irish volunteers
We're composed almost exclusively Of Pres
byterian farmers.
North Always in Lead.
Our greatgrandfathers were Irish." said
shis man. and surely then We are Irish,