The San Francisco call., 1909-09-16

UBLIN. Aug. 5.-With a parliament
of their own. a lifting OF the cloud
of religious persecution. and re-
vival OF industry. Ireland faced toward
the end Of the eighteenth century an
era of peace and prosperity. But a
fatal weakness remained in the system
1t was destined to undermine the whole
structure and bring with the close of
the century such reverse to Irish
progress as would darken the succeed
ing hundred years with records of in
justice and suffering
While the parliament in Dublin was
freed from English dictation, it did not
become truly Irish parliament Its
independence was won by Grattan in
1882, but it was not until 1898 that
Catholics gained the right to vote
wholly Protestant-Presbyter as
well as Catholics were excluded-and
almost wholly devoted to the interests
of the oligarchy.
The opposition. led by Grattan, fought
gallantly, but could not overcome the
arbitrary power of the government
forces, founded upon representation
from rotten boroughs," and the most
1agrant corruption. Electoral reforms
became burning issue, supported
strongly by the volunteers, Protestants
for the most part, but the demand was
treated with contempt Gradually the
tyranny and venality of the parlia-
mentary majority drew patriots of both
races together in a campaign to break
the vicious system.
Out of the turmoil arose the newt
able leader. Theobald Wolfe Tone. He
was Protestant. but man of just and
liberal ideas, which under the inspira-
tion of the French revolution became
radical. Under him the volunteers be-
came the united Irishmen. Presbyte-
rfans. Catholics and all men OF liberal
ideas joining with them The jobbery
and corruption of the government were
hotly denounced; in Belfast began a
movement to found an Irish republic.
But as the maddened people of France
plunged into excesses, and the Irish
radicals applauded them. there was a
reaction among the middle class Prot
estant liberals and some of the Catholic
clergy, and as a result the movement
shrank until It included only advanced
revoiutionaries. The government in 1898
was able to disband the volunteers
Wolfe Tone and Lord Edward Fitzger-
pedftfon under Hoche, who failed In an
attempt to land at Bantry bay.
Under policy of Cancellation the un-
rest subsidized further, and in 1876 the
government felt strong enough to as
sumo the offensive. Once more the dis
reputable weapons of religious perse-
secution were seized upon. Using the
Orange society, just then founded In
Ulster, the government deliberately
fomented religious war. and the new
born spirit of nationality expired amid
the rancorous strife of sectarianism-
Having relighted the torch OF intol-
erance, it was not difficult for the gov
ernment to start confiagration- BY
policy of provocationtit stung the pro-
testing peasantry into open revolt This
is not a charge of partisanship, but the
established conviction of unbiased his
torians OF the famous rising in 1898
Goodwin Smith says:
Upon the homes of 1.-THE peasantry
were let loose the license and barbar-
ity of an irregular soldiery more cruel
than a regular invader. Floggfng. half
hanging, pitchcapping. picketing went
on over large district, and the most
barbarous scourgings without trial
were inflicted in Dublin. in the very
seat of government and justice.
TT appears not unlikely that the
peasantry might have been kept quiet
by measures of lenity and nrmness-
and that they were gratuitously
scourged and tortured into open re-
belIion."
The putting down of the insurrection
was little more than a matter OF
slaughter. though the Irish fought with
desperation and won some victories.
Wolfe Tone and Lord Fitzgerald died
in prison. Then followed a reign of
terror" when the hapless Catholics
were subjected to the most merciless
punishment. The vengefulness of the
minority was fairly glutted upon the
blood of it's victims. Lord CORVALLIS.
appointed viceroy against his will. was
the most loyal of Englishmen. but his
heart revolted against the systematic
barbarity which was everywhere in
fiicted upon the Irish people. He
wrote:
The principal persons of this coun-
try and the members of both houses
of parliament are averse to all acts of
clemency. and would pursue measures
that could only terminate in the exter-
mination Of the greater number OF the
inhabitants and in the utter destruction
of the country. Our war is
reduced to a predatory system In the
mountains of wicklow and the bogs of
Kildare am very much
afraid that any man with brown coat
who is found within several miles of a
field OF action is butchered without
discrimination. - There is no
law, either in town or country, but
martial law. Numberless mur-
ders are hourly committed by our peo-
pie without any process of examination
whatever"
Thus the despairing revolt of 'sS was
crushed. Brute force had once more
put down the effort of the people to
win common justice from the govern
ment. But this was not all. England
had still to revenge herself for the