The Irish standard., 1909-05-15


up by the English as Earl of Clan
rickarde, and maintained purely by
force of English soldiers, was given
twelve abbeys in Connacht to supply
as I believe, stations for his English
troops and pay for them. Otherwise
he would not have had one foot of
ground, nor one penny of rents. This
is the solitary grant find on any con-
siderable scale given to an "Irishlnan.'
p A far larger grant than this was
made to the Ormonds--,nainly, l think,
to the father of Anne Bullen, who was
sent over from London to get the title
of Earl of Ormond, but can scarcely
be ranked as an Irishman. Except for
very few Irishmen late in Elizabeth's
reign, who got small portions allotted
to them (probably conformers in the
long troubles), the lands seem to have
fallen to the lot of Englishmen, as
might, indeed, be expected when the
Royal plan was to extirpate the Irish
and plant in their stead "a better race"
1 have not attempted to make a COM
plete list. but my notes so far have
convinced me that that charge, that
the Irish slackened i'll patriotism for
the sake of brides of this kind must
be deferred until the whole materials
of the case are laid before us. Again
W. told tho Irich cnnnIleraH
by themselves. Some Elizabethan
drew up list of Irish. or Anglo Irish,
who had come in with the head of a
famous enemy. l think there were
seven of them--the most notable men
who had been trained up in English
households from childhood, and sent
by putting themselves in blood"
This indictment against a nation is
not formidable. 1t is part of the allie
cation that the armies with which
Elizabeth overran the country were
Irish. That is not true. The enor-
nous cost Of the army after 1858 was
uut ID lHe 1dCL lIAl IL Ildu W DC dill
army of English soldiers. The Irish
would not fight against their country
men. If they were dragged about in
the deputy's train, it was not because
he expected they would fight for him;
1t was only that by keeping them I'M
der guard they might be prevented
from joining their own people against
him. 1t was actually only thought
safe to have one in ten of the army
of conquest Irish. This charge, too.
needs to be examined in the light of
figures and facts. The civil strife of
the tribes forms another accusation.
Here again we want the facts.
In a vast number of cases. If the
English saw a territory peaceful I'M
der, a lawful ruler, they set up an IL
legitimate heir, appointed him by Eng
lish right, and defended him with Eng
lish soldiers. The tribe was forced to
fight for a double reason. They had
to defend their own elected chief; and
they had to assert the right Of their
people to live by Irish law, and not by
English. Tribal and national motives
We're mingled here. and intensified the
quarrels. And the civil strife that fol-
lowed was represented by the English
down to our own day as showing the
and ferooity Of Irish tribes
men, wholly unflt for self government.
Now as the Irish were like other peo-
pie, I do not say that every tribal
conflict had this beginning; but have
come across such a multitude of in
stances Of 1t that I do say we must no
longer indolently ignore this problem.
but must historically examine its ex-
tent, its purpose. it's results.
In that tossing sea, great men were
lifted up. one after another. as the
generations passed: men of high ge-
MUS, brave captains of their race.
Commanders rose to formidable power
by valor and genius. There was panic
in England at these ceaseless efforts
to organize the Irish nation. for Ire
land, the English said was IS good
as gone If wild wyrlinge sN>,ld be
chosen there as king" II any leader
Of superior authority in peace. or pow
er in war, appeared, the whole might
of EnglaaA was Immediately called to
his destruction, and an external force
thrown in to break the rising hope Of
union and of peace. and to fling the
country again into disorder. 1t is owl
dent that we need full examination
of the facts. and till that is done We
must refrain from worthless generali-
ties of the senseless wars OF the Irish.
But. say the critics. why did the IT.
ish let themselves be beaten? In the
fashionable talk of survival of the fit
test" among nations 1t is usual to re-
fer, everything to character. But char
iacter must be in some relation to cir
cumstances. A man may have the
greatest force of character, but he can