The Irish standard., 1917-07-21

IL is NOilu WlIHe CouSluefluS lue
origin OF that Irish Constitution
which we contend still exists, although
in allegiance, owing to the Act of
Unicn. All historians admit that
Henry H., at Lismore, by solemn
treaty with our native chiefs and
princes, pledged himself to confer on
this country Parliament similar to
that existing in England. That the
constitutional liberties. even of the
people of the latter country were aft
erWards grossly infringed by the SOW
ereign named and his successors the
enforced acceptance of Magma Charta
by King John is convincing evidence.
That document is generally admitted
to have been the foundation of the
British Constitution, but that it was
intended--to serve the same purpose in
the case of this Kingdom is convinc-
ingly proved by the words of it's pre-
amble and by the names of those who
extorted it's acceptance by reluctant
and INSCRIPTIONS King. The great
Charter reads, in part, as follows:
John, by the Grace of God, King of
England, Lord of Ireland, Duke Of
Normandy, Aquitain, and Earl of An
jou, to the Archbishops, Bishops, Alb
bots, Earls, Barons, Justices, Fores-
tiers, Sheriffs, Provosts, Ministers, and
all his Bailiffs and Lieges, Greeting;
Know Ye, That We, in the presence
Of God, and for the health OF our soul,
and the souls of all our ancestors, and
Of our heirs, and for the honor of
God and the advancement of Holy
Church and for the amendment of the
government of our realm, blythe adj
vice of our venerable Fathers, Stephen,
Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of
All England and Cardinal of the Holy
Church of Rome; Henry, Archbishop
Of Dublin; William, Bishop of London;
Peter, Bishop of Winchester; Jocelin,
Bishop of Bath and Glaston bury;
Hugh, Bishop of Lincoln; Walter,
Bishop of Worcester; William, Bishop
of Chester; Benedict, Bishop of Ro-
chester; and Master Pandulph, sub
deacon of our Lord the Pope; and our
friend and brother Eymeric, Master
Of the Order of knights Templars in
England; and by the advice of our
noblemen, William, Earl Marshal, Earl
of Pembroke; William, Earl of Sails
bury; William, Earl of Warren; Will
l:an, Earl of Arundel; Alan, of Gallo
way, Constable of Scotland; Warm
Fitzgerald, Peter Fitzherbert, Hubert
de Burgh. Steward of Pricton; Hugh
Nevill, Matthew Fitzherbert, Thomas
:'assetts, Philip D'Aubenie, Robert de
Rcpel, John Fitzburgh, John Marshal,
and of our other faithful Commons"
1t will be seen that Ireland was ade-
quately represented at Runnymede and
successive English sovereigns fully adj
mitted that all the provisions there
put upon record applied as completely
to this Kingdom as to England. We
cannot now find space to quote the
many evidences readily available to
prove this contention, although further
opportunity may offer. All that we
contend for is that Mr.. Lloyd Geor:
might as reasonably convoke hap
hazard Convention to play ducks and
brakes with the boosted British Con-
stitution as convene one to devise
new-fangled one for Ireland, which al
ready possesses another only cruelty
and wrongfully suppressed for the time
being by a monstrous statute which
he could repeal in a single night if
there was sincere desire to give full
effect to the pledges which Mr.. Balfour
on behalf of Great Britain-has given
to the United States. If this were
done, the King could issue his writs
for the assembling Of his remodelled
and modernized Irish Parliament
fully representative OF all creeds,
classes, and interests-within a week
afterwards!