The San Francisco call., 1909-10-03


of the demand which won from Eng
land a free parliament, and in 1893
Wolf Tone enlisted many Ulstermen as
rebels. The union of 1900. perpetu-
ating. as it did. the ascendency OF UI-
ster in Irish affairs. made the province
loyal" and so it has stayed ever
since.
1t is necessary to remark however.
that the term Ulster used politically.
does not mean the whole province. In
the first place, of the nine counties.
Donegal, Cavan and MOnag CHAN are al
most exclusively Catholic. while in
Tyrone, Armagh and Fermanagh Prot
estants and Catholics are about
equally divided it is only in Down. An
trim and Derry. and especially in the
cities of Londonderry and Belfast. that
the Protestants are in a great major
ity- The RatiOnalists now hold nearly
half of listers 34 seats in Parliament.
whereas so years ago they had not a
single one. They even have a member
from Belfast, the stronghold of Orange
opposition.
1t is worth while. too. to note that
among the Ulster Presbyterians two
forces have always been at work
racial tendency toward independence
and democracy and a strong religious
of the landlord ruled Irish parliament
and of the eNactiOns of the state tAn-
glican) church in the form OF tfthes
collected from Presbyterians the lat
ter grew into bitter hatred of CsthOli-
cism.
Meanwhile the garrison"-the land
lords, the social aristOcracy and their
supporters in northeastern U1ster-re-
mains supreme. But it is doomed. The.
processes Of evolution can not be STAYED
and evolution is making the garrison
the vermifOrm appendix of the Irish
political body. The "mercenarfes' OF E
England and parasites of Ireland have r
lost ground rapidly during the last 40
years.
The first blow was the disestablish-
ment of the state church in 1859. In
the very next year came the establish
ment of tenant right the extension of
the Ulster custom" to all of Ireland
In 1881 the first move toward land pur-
chase was made, and now the peasants
are rapidly becoming land owners. and
hence powerful factors in the countrv.s
development In 1854 the franchise was
extended: the voters now number IA
per cent OF the population. whereas in
lS32 they numbered only 119 per cent
And In 1898 the right OF self govern
ment in local affairs was won. estab
fishing nationalist authority-that is
home rule-fn p OF the 50 counties.
Yet while the GARRISON is gradually
losing its grip it still retains immense
authority 1t no longer dictates the
laws, but it administers them 1t is su
preme in Dublin castle. il dominates ths.
judiciary, It controls the police and the
local courts It has only 19 Of the 103
members OF the house of commons but
in Ireland.
Slowly but surely it is passing, away
and passing unhOnored. It's exit from
the stage is not graceful. not even 5fr-
nIned throughout its long ascendencv
tne sarrlson fought every reform
Idea advanced for the better govern
ment Of the country; religious en,anci-
pauon, enurch disestabhshment. tenant
right, land purchase. educatiOnal eonaI-
lty' extension OF the franchise local
government. In lighting the fnevftabia
transfer or the land to the people IN
,.4-ss isassles 20 wrinS the last possible shil-
lInS or purchase money In oDnosi,s-
home rule is cIings desperate1S-l =, -
tlsht OF minority rule 1t offers moth
ing constructive for unfonisna fs -
the negation Of nationalism.
against this reactiOnary element arc
drrayed the great mass OF the Irish
people They are now eon,nfata1,
united. Sim Fein. an orranfza tyo- :,
some strength. opposes parlianoerta-,-
action, despite the remarkabfe acco~,
piishments Of the last generation. ana
the advocates Gin theory OF .sphvsfesI
force are also contemptuous. Nevsr-
theiess, IT IS apparent that the national
spirit OF Ireland is represented in the
work of the Irish parliamentary partv
and its supporting organization the
United Irish league.
For % years the party has been IN
parliament. but not OF it: sometimes
obstructing. sometimes compromising.
ktre
going forward Since 1900 n has heen
united. and is the most compact. most
ably directed force IN the house or
commons isdaS
Facing the might Of the British en-
pire IN parliament. the bitter opposi-
ton Of unionsm and the harassment
OF irish critics at home. this organiza-
tion still holds it's position and ad-
vances day BY day the cause which Il
represents