THE IMPROVED FEELING IN IRELAND. T HERE is one ray of
comfort in this miserable Home- rule business which has been perplexing and enfeebling us for so many years. The working alliance between Gladstonians and /■Tationalitits has sadly lowered the tone and impaired the political character of the It would be altogether unjust and unreasonable to Everything, in fact, points to the not far distant collapse propose to take up the whole of the Autumn Session with of the present Nationalist movement, which has now held Irish business." Most sensible doctrine; but when we the field for about fifteen years, and to the clearing of the remember the place which the word " reasonable " has scene of action for the rise of something new—some new hitherto occupied in the vocabulary of the Nationalist leader or new organisation—to change the entire aspect of movement, and that twelve months ago the Parnellites the problem of Irish government. If we look to Irish were clamouring for an Autumn Session to deal with this history, we find that leader succeeds to leader and move- very question of the evicted tenants, we may well be ment to movement with unfailing certainty, though at surprised at Mr. Dillon'a newly-found moderation. It is varying intervals, and we may be sure that sooner or later evident, indeed, that he and Mr. O'Brien—since the a strong man will appear to bring order out of the present adjournment of Parliament Mr. Sexton has, as usual, chaos of Irish parties. The Hierarchy have wofully failed fallen into the background—speak in fear and trembling, in their attempt to control and guide the present Parlia- for they know that the eyes of the Parnellites are upon mentary movement, and they must ever fail in any such them, watching intently for the opportunity that a false attempt. Priests cannot themselves be Members of Parlia- move would supply. But the most striking fact of all— ment, and they will never find a layman of the capacity for it shows that the change is not only in the Irish requisite for leadership who will play their game Members, but in the great body of the people as without thinking of himself. The Dillons, Sextons, well—is that the now policy of working in harmony and O'Briens are not the stuff of which leaders of with an English party can be openly adopted, while the a nation—least of all the Irish nation—are made, Parnellite appeals to the old spirit of independence and and when the next strong man appears they will vanish irreconcilable antagonism to England and English parties from the scene. His appearance may be sooner than is without distinction meet with no response. More and expected, for when the time arrives these men start up in more the main body of the Nationalists try to become Irish history with astonishing rapidity. The longer it is identified with their allies, to take their place as one of delayed. perhaps the better, for every movement in Ireland the competing sections—the most greedy and success. reflects in its spirit and methods the state of Irish society ful of all, indeed, but still only a section—of the great at the time of its genesis. The Parnell movement estab- Gladstonian party, and the Parnellites are powerless to lished itself in 1879, and drew its inspiration from the land war, almost amounting to rebellion, which then prevent it. If we thought that this new spirit of live and let live in prevailed. That now the old. wounds are healing, and Irishmen was wholly, or even mainly, to be ascribed to the hatred of England diminishing, can hardly be doubted, the influence of the Gladstonians—if we thought that, and the altered conditions will be reflected in the without flagging for a moment in their pursuit of Home- political movements of the future. Englishmen, even rule, Irishmen had suddenly come to realise the value of Unionists, disappointed. by the failure of concession after tact and prudence as means to securing their object—then, concession, too often assume that Irish discontent is though we should rejoice at the improvement of their unappeasable, and that the country is destined for ever to political character, we should none the less regard it as be a prey to agitators who will appeal to the ingrained rendering the immediate political outlook even blacker hatred of the Saxon. But a study of Irish history will than before, as adding dangerously to the chances show that the island has never for a moment had an of the ultimate success of the disruptive movement, opportunity for rest, that there has always been some and as permanently strengthening a party deeply festering sore in the heart of its society, some genuine and committed on all sides to a policy of destruction, serious cause for rancour and discontent. Agitators can But fortunately there is no occasion to spoil our satin- nowhere succeed without a lever to work with, and in faction with alarm. If Irishmen are showing them- Ireland the stock of levers available will soon be exhausted. selves able and willing to adopt a less irreconcilable atti- One thing at all events is certain : the motive force of tude, it is not by a deliberate effort of self-control in order Home-rule is now in Hawarden Castle, and no longer to further the movement for Home-rule, but because their within the four seas of the land it is to regenerate. enthusiasm for Home-rule has in a considerable degree spent its force. We have over and over again pointed out, and it cannot be too often repeated, that the root of the Irish difficulty is agrarian, and not political ; the land, T" speech dealing with the condition of the Navy, made by Lord Armstrong on Thursday in last and not self-government, is what the people want. The go-called National movement prospers or languishes week (September 28th), to the Elswick shareholders, according as the land war rages virulently or is at a lull, was one of the most remarkable and significant ever and the healing effect of the land legislation since 1870 is spoken on the future of our fleets. Lawyers attach special value to testimony made against interest, and now making itself felt. From the latest returns, it would appear that the tenants, after a period of hesitation, due Lord Armstrong's was of this sort. The great busi. probably to their exaggerated expectations froth Home- ness at Elswick, with which Lord Armstrong is so closely rule, are beginning to make use of Mr. Balfour's connected, largely depends upon the fitting-out of those Purchase Act, and every occupying owner that is huge ironclad vessels which are now looked upon as the created means so much sustenance withdrawn from essential features of all powerful fleets. Lord Armstrong, the revolutionary movement. It is because the land then, would be naturally inclined to think and declare difficulty is on a fair way to settlement that we that there is " nothing like ironclads." Instead, how- find. the politicians growing more temperate in tone. ever, of exalting his own wares, he frankly told his audi- English party ; but, as might have been expected before- If any Gladstonian on reading Mr. Dillon's speech in hand, the effect on the Irishmen has been quite the Monday's papers felt unduly elated at its comparative opposite. Even before the fall of Mr. Parnell it was moderation, he had only to pursue his study of the Irish becoming evident that the need of co-operating with question in Tuesday's papers to find the real, and to him English allies was imposing a wholesome check on a not very satisfactory, explanation of the change. There Hibernian violence and extravagance. Since his fall, and he would realise that the calmness of the Nationalist especially since the Irishmen have had to accept the leaders is not the calmness of deep and far-sighted responsibility of keeping an English Government in office, resolve, but the calmness of stagnation and indifference. the cooling of their political temperature has been still It is not so long since Mr. John Morrough resigned his more manifest. Last week we drew attention to a speech seat as a protest against the usurpation of Mr. Sexton. of Mr. William O'Brien's which was a plaintive and On Tuesday we had Mr. John Barry explaining his tremulous appeal to the evicted tenants to extend their threatened resignation as a protest against the tyranny— patience to the Government in their present very real or fancied—of Messrs. Dillon and O'Brien. The fact embarrassing situation. This week we have a speech is, there is no longer any strong compelling force of from Mr. Dillon which is even more imbued with public opinion. in Ireland to drive forward the Home-rule the spirit of compromise and moderation : " A good movement and give cohesion to its supporters, and in the deal of disappointment had been caused among the absence of this the leaders quarrel among themselves for evicted tenants at the delay in bringing in a Rein- the chief control, each fancying that the mantle of Mr. statement Bill. It had been a long and laborious Parnell has descended on himself. The country mean. Session ; and during the whole of that °Session they had time looks on with indifference while subordinate Members not allowed the English to do anything for themselves. withdraw from the whole business in disgust.
Previous page
