The Irish standard., 1913-11-01
IRELAND ROBBED OF HER PARLIAMENT
BY THE DISGRACEFUL ACT
OF THE UNION
STRUGGLE BY IRISH NATIONAL PARTY
TO RESTORE TO PEOPLE THE RIGHT
TO LEGISLATE FOR IRELAND
HISTORIC ACCOUNT OF ACT OF UNION BY
PROF. MICHAEL G. ROHAN OF
MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY
MILWAUKEE

The act called the "Union" was an
act passed by the Irish parliament in
1900, abolishing itself, and providing
that the English parliament should
legislate for Ireland direct.
The Irish parliament grew within
the English camp or pale during the
long period of the invasion. Its rule
being extended or contracted with
the varying fortunes of the wars. 1t
was not at first an Irish national par
lament, but rather an English parlia-
ment in Ireland. At the reformation,
when the national lines were more
closely drawn, 1t became bitterly Prot
estant. But, it was at least home
parliament and, as was inevitable, In
the course Of time, when, inspired by
men of broad minds like Grattan, Cur
ran and Flood, 1t became intensely ma
tional. So long US this parliament re-
manned subservient to England, all
went smoothly, but as soon as it show
ed national spirit. English jealousy
was aroused. Towards the close Of
the American war a circumstance oc.
Cured which shattered forever any
faith England might have in the loyal.
ty of Professionalism in Ireland.
England was hard pressed in for
eign wars, and some Irish Catholics
made overtures to France In aid Of all
uprising, which aid was promised.
The Protestants became alarmed and
demanded protection from England.
The minister answered frankly that
he was unable TO give any "Arm us
and we will protect ourselves" cried
the Protestants. This demand was
granted and -as+velunteer army of one
hundred thousand men, everyone from
the commander-in-chief to the last pri-
vate, q Protestant 4 was equipped for
the special e5purp ose 4 o. resisting the
French Invasion All at once, as if by
magic, this army was transformed in
to the tiercest national patriots. They
elected delegates to national con-
vention, proclaimed equal rights for
Catholics, and demanded the indie
pendence of Ireland. So when Grat-
tan on the 14th of April, 1882. in the
uniform of colonel of the volunteers,
stood in the Irish parliament and
moved the declaration of independ-
ence, England could not resist for the
cannons Of the volunteers were la
beled Independence" Thus 1t came
|
ed about the same time that American
independence was won, and might have
been as firmly established, had the
brilliant Grattan possessed the sound
sense of Hancock or Adams, or the
profound craftsmanship Of Curran or
Flood. 1t was on this occasion that
Curran sounded his famous classical
warning. Addressing Grattan he said,
when you immerse the charter of
Irelands independence In the waters
which will render 1t invulnerable, be-
ware lest, like the mother of Achilles,
you forget to immerse the part by
which you hold it," Curran had no
faith In England. He knew that the
independence of Ireland rested upon
the volunteers. He wanted absolute
separation, and the volunteers made Il
national army. Grattan hal full faith
and clung to the fatal golden link Of
the crown" Had Grattan, in 1882.
needed Curran's warning, he would
not in 1880, upon the same floor, brok-
en- in health and spirits, have had
cause to exclaim, II have stood by my
country's liberty at the cradle and
now come to follow the hearse."
Amongst all England's statesmen
the name OF Pitt stands pre-eminent.
He lived only for England, and there
is a grandeur in the intensity Of his
ambition to serve her. BY the most
diabolical plot known in all history,
he now resolved to destroy at one
blow the Irish parliament. Grattan,
overwhelmed with praise, was lulled
into fancied security. This gave Pitt
an opportunity to lay his plans for the
act Of union. The plan was, first to
disband the volunteers, then to goad
patriotic men into secret conspiracy
and hopeless rebellion, when by
wholesale slaughter and public execu-
tion. the people terrorized and hope.
less, would seek protection in an En-
glish parliament. The plan worked
well; the volunteers were quietly dis.
banded, and the society Of United
Irishmen was organized in secret.
Wolf Tones proclamation aroused an
unarmed people, twenty thousand Of
whom were slain, and Ireland lay
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