The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-09-24

land, against which the people
maintain an unceasing protest, we find
1T characterized in rather strong terms
of disapprobation. Denunciation from
nationalist critics may be taken for
granted; more weight. perhaps. may be
given to the utterances of men less
directly interested.
"I say the time has come" declared
Joseph Chamberlain, several years ago.
ITO reform altogether the absurd and
as Dublin castle. to sweep away alto
gether the alien boards of foreign Of
ficials and to substitute for them a
genuine Irish administration for purely
Irish business
THE government of Ireland" de-
clared Lord Rosebery. "is the most in
efficient government in the whole
world"
eign power" writes l.. Paul Dubois, a
noted French historian; 1T is at once
hostile. anti-democratic, mercenary and
irresponsible"
Irish administration" said Lord
Dunraven, ''is the most costly and least
efficient in the world. We are gov
erned as no other people in the world
are governed Castle government is
not democratic, 1T is not despotic. 1T IS
not an oligarchy. No one has any con-
troll over these Irish boards. No one
can say that such a form of govern
ment Is suitable to the needs of the
country or the age in which we live"
"a chaotic anachronism, was the
terse description of Dublin castle by
Sir West Ridgeway. who was under
secretary-that is, virtual head of the
castle government--from 1887 to 1877
Finally shall quote just one Irish
nationalist, to show that nationalism IS
not a matter of religion. Alfred WEBB,
who died in July of last year. was bred
a Quaker, and throughout all his long
life maintained the simplicity, dignity
and moral courage of the society TO
which he belonged He was treasurer
of the United Irish league, and for sew
eral years was the unopposed repre-
sentative in parliament of an over
whelmingly Catholic constituency Here
are some of his utterances:
"Wbere else but in ireland do men
hume themselves on esteeming their
fellow eountrymen unfit for the man
agement of their own affairs?
"Time has belied every evil prognos-
tication regarding the character ana
capacity of the Irish people
"The difference between Ireland ana
other countries invaded by the Anglo
saxon is that in Ireland the natives
have withstood the efforts to annih1iate
or assimilate them. or make them IN
thought part of the conquering state
their own traditions, and not those OF
the conouerors, still animate and. in
spire them"
.J1ntil Great Britain restores to us
that of which she has robbed us-seif-
.rovernment-her desire that we should
forget the past is an insult to our in
telligence"
Now. what is this system of govern
ment which calls forth such unsparing
Senunciation? How does it differ from
the government of England and Scot
land. which causes no such wholesale
opposition?
The basis of it is the act of union OF
1900. That act, forced upon Ireland
against its will. effected union only or
the pariiaments of Great Britain and
Ireland-orS rather it submerged the
legislature of the latter in the imperial
legislature 1t did not effect union as
regards the civil law, the judiciary or
the administration. The administration
in Ireland today remains just about as
English and as anti-Irish as it was in
1900 and before. 1t centers in Dublin
castle. and the name of that Institution
is the popular and accurate designation
of the power that controls the destinies
of Ireland.
Dublin castle, physically speaking. is
a collection of buildings in the heart
of Dublin. 1t is the palace of the vice.
roy, or lord lieutenant; 1t is also the
seat of administration, military depot.
and headquarters of the constabulary
and secret police.
enthusiastically speaking. Dublin
castle includes many other buildings
throughout Dublin, housing various de-
partments, as we'll as some hundreds of
depots and other appurte-
nances throughout the country. with all
the officials and machinery of the gov
eminent
At the head of Dublin castle is the
viceroy invariably Protestant peer,
either English or Scotch or Irish He is
appointed by the crown. and in turn ap
points privy council of about so men,
bers. consisting of royal personages.
retired chief secretaries. high judges
and other persons of distinction. This
is an advisory body, but also exercises
certain judicial functions. The lord
lieutenant. however. is largely figure
head, his chief Office being TO preside
over official society, sign proclama-
lions and generally act as representa-