Irvine Express. — 1883-11-09 (Irvine, Strathclyde, Scotland)

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1883.  Iv is disheartening to fiud that notwithstanding all that has been done for Ireland, Irishmen will do so very little for themselves. Indeed, the present condition of that country indicates what in all probability would be the result were the celebrated College Green Parliament revived, and Ireland permitted to rule herself. The elements which go to make up the country do not seem capable of any coalition. Orangemen hate and mistrust Roman Catholics to their heart's content; and Roman Catholics pay them back with interest in their own coin. Cut Ireland adrift from Great Britain to-morrow, and permit her to settle her own affairs after the fashion just now in vogue, and what would be the result? To begin with, the Orangemen of the north would start on their "rather die than yield" policy. Whatever may be said about their unwisdom, or the short-sighted stupidity of their leaders, there can be no question of their determination to maintain themselves independent of the Roman Catholic majority of the island. They are not afraid of fighting with sticks and stones, and we have no doubt that if necessary they would take up more formidable weapons, and use them without fear and without compunction. The Nationalists, who are in the main Roman Catholics, might be depended upon to respond with that species of delight which filleth the heart of an Irishman when; like the war-horse, he smelleth the battle affar off; and the country that was, in imagination, to have been great and glorious and free would ere long be interred in the grave of the, suicide. There is enough fighting material in Ireland to be the death of it; and, unfortunately, it is too true, although, perhaps, it is just as well, that Irishmen would rather turn their weapons of destruction against one another than against any other body. Even when they leave behind them the shores of the fairest country under the sun—as most of them do on the smallest provocation they carry their antipathies with them. Residence in Scotland does not cool their .ardour or their hatred, and they are just as ready to fight here with one another as they are when their foot is on their native peat. That being so, it is no wonder that they show so little gratitude to those who would politically befriend them. It does not seem to matter what concession they receive, or how much is done for them by certain statesmen they take all they can get, but they take it with a grudge, and are not satisfied. One grievance out of the way, another is pushed forward into its place; and the present generation may reckon with laying down its bones ere it witnesses an Ireland absolutely contented and without something, the removal of which is necessary if it is to be absolutely happy. Indeed, it is beginning to look as if Celtic happiness consisted in Celtic misery; as if Irishmen were only happy when' they had a grievance. Nor can it be doubted that if they had Home Rule to-morrow the result would be quite the same. One has only to take up the newspapers to see what an amount of latent feeling there is in the country, and realise that were the British garrison withdrawn a period of chaos would be introduced. On the one hand, the Orangemen are firmly resolved that they shall maintain their hold on the north at whatever cost. If they cannot brow-beat the authorities and get Nationalist meetings proclaimed, they will prevent their being held, by force. They will have liberty for themselves to do what they like, but they Will not extend liberty to any other body, and have actually the effrontery to appeal to the Magistrates to proclaim meetings of the enemy, lest they in their zeal should be tempted to take the law into their own hands and prevent disloyal utterances, by unlawful rowdyism. The; see nothing wrong in meeting en masse themselves, and proving their loyalty by the discharge of firearms; but as soon as the Nationalists attempt to demonstrate in like manner, they think it not amiss to break the peace and to prevent counter demonstrations. It is gratifying to find that the Chief Secretary has ordered an inquiry to be made into "the causes and the circumstances" of the recent disturbances in Derry, with special reference to the proceedings which led to the discharge of fire-arms from the Town Hall, and it is to be hoped that those who thee acted in so unconstitutional a manner will be dealt with after such a fashion that similar outrages will be prevented in the future. On the other band, men like Mr