The Irish standard., 1913-04-05

er, even when faced with the tragedy
and the loss of our great and incom-
parable leader. Charles S. Parnell. did
we despair of the arrival of this day.
1 believe there is not a people or a
country in the civilized world which
will not welcome as glad tidings Of
great joy, the announcement that the
British nation has at last undone an
old national wrong. In the words Of
William E. Gladstone, 1.-THE tide has
once more run out and the Star OF
Ireland has once more mounted in the
heavens" That was, indeed, a glor-'
ious and memorable day in the history
of 1reland-a day of glorious jubila-
lion to Ireland's friends throughout
the world. She now awaits with anx.
ious expectation the dawn Of q still
more glorious morn, when Home Rule
shall receive the stamp Of England's
prvy seal, and when:
Thy proud lords, unpitied land: shall
That man hath yet soul-and dare
be free.''
1t has often been alleged that the
Irish are unfit for self-government.
That they lack that persistency of
purpose and force Of character which
are essential to governmental eff
cheney. We are not entirely surprised
even at this hyperbole Of slanderous
tongues, especially when We remem-
Der that it takes its origin from two
such monsters as prejudice and jeal-
ousy. Even still, ID there not every
where percentage Of biased churls
to whom everything Irish is identical
with ignorance. vulgarity and dcgra-
dalton. No wonder, then, that at this
suspicious moment in Irish history
calumny Should assail our national
character. Calumny has effectively
assailed lis in the past and written
sorne direful pages In our history.
:Calumny has been largely responsible
for notorious national wrongs. Cal
urnny has prejudioed Bnglishmen and
perverted their attitude towards Ire
land. 1t has always been impossible
to reconcile England's policy towards
ireland. There is only one explana-
tion of it a1l-it is prejudice, and that
prejudice was in no small measure
created and fostered by tho calunlny
OF Irish landlords and their 1nihlons,
whose paramount interest it was to
sway the destinies Of Ireland. Hence,
has arisen that determination OF tho
Conservative British Parliament to re-
ject Home Rule bills and maintain the
anomaly of an Irish government seat
ed at Westminster. In the spirit Of
chivalry, however, we would fain ini-
tate Pope's ideal critic:
"Who to friend his faults can freely
show,
And gladly praise the merit Of a foe"
In justice to Great Britain, we must
say that there are and have been
some Englishmen who have not been
duped by the insidious lnisrepresenta-
ton Of irish landlordism. ireland has
found and still finds upon English soil
some friends-men, who, large OF head
and heart, desire to see justice done
to ireland, and denounce in unmistak-
able accents the unfortunate laws
which have till now kept her in bond
age. Mr.. Gladstone, Lord Morley, Mr..
Asauith, Mr.. Lloyd-George and Mr..
many illustrious Englishmen who have
supported the cause of Irish national
ism with all the fervent enthusiasm
Of Ireland's own most ardent patriots.
We would recommend our critics to
consult these impartial statesmen on
the question OF 1reland's capabilities
for self-government. We should prob
ably then have less Of this calumnious
hyperbole, so offensive to tho ears of
Justice and reason. Let me quote the
words of Mr.. Gladstone, when in 1886.
he introduced the first Home Rule
bill: Co." he said, into the length
:. and breadth of the world. ransack the
/: literature of all countries, find II you
can single voice, a single book in
which the conduct of England towards
ireland is anywhere treated except
with profound and bitter condemns
ton. Are these the traditions by
which we are exhorted to stand? No,
they are a sad exception to the glory
of our country"
We fully and frankly allow that the
English constitution is in itself a
magnificent instrument of government
that it has contributed to the adj
vanccment of civilization in many
lands. But, while We allow all this,
we, nevertheless, stoutly maintain.