erection of engineering structures, which in their design and usefulness can equal any in existence if we do not already possess many of such. W. M. C. A STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM THERE are three stages in pacific reform, agitation, controversy and legislation. The inhabitants of the Emerald Isle across the sea, those people so long suffering, so greatly persecuted, much maligned and so little understood, have passed through the first and are entering upon the second of these stages. When her leaders in Parliament controlled only fifteen or twenty votes, they were an agitational influence, not a power. Since the number has been so greatly in creased they compel John Bull to listen to what they have to demand. When the legis lative stage arrives the union with England which has cursed Ireland for nine-tenths of a century will be sundered. That this will be accomplished is a natural result which follows in all cases where undying perseverance is allied with shrewdness and sound reason to accomplish an end. Many men of great wisdom have come to realize that such a hard struggle, kept up so persistently, should re ceive a fit reward. No one will for an instant deem the ideas set forth by such able men as Parnell and Gladstone to be perfect folly. O’Connell, who was considered by all who were in the position to judge to be one of the most perfect men of the century, advanced the same ideas with these to the utmost. We seldom find in any nation one who will to completely devote to its interest his whole talent and life, The disposition of the Irish people is most directly opposed to any sort of subjection such as now holds them down. This natural trait is by many brought under the same head with the bull dog pluck of savage nations which do not know any THE FREE LANCE. better. Ever since they have been deprived of the proper opportunities to obtain learning have not many of the most energetic shone among the lights of their age? Let us in justice to Ireland fondly hope that under better auspices the ignorance which deems her intellect degraded be compelled to recog nize its mistake. In order to see just how long and how fearlessly this struggle has been kept up let us briefly look into its history. In the twelfth century England realized that Ireland was a very rich country, blessed by nature with enormous material resources, inhabited by a people of the greatest intelli gence, courage and enterprise, and therefore capable of becoming a strong competitor in the world’s race. She then began her inva sions of this happy country and continued them until the inhabitants were literally pinned down, though even then they were freemen in soul and foeman in act. England made all the laws for them, deprived them of all rights, even the right to live, and offered rewards for the arrest of all school teachers and priests. All schools and Roman Catholic churches were thrown down, and their ruins which fill one with a feeling of awe are found throughout Ireland to-day. Ever since then has the question arisen as to her natural intellect. To those who know the facts the answer suggests itself. One of the means of abolishing the religion held by the majority of the people was the slave ship. Is it any wonder then that to day the negroes of the West Indies use a great many Gaelic words when we know that three hundred years ago 60,000 Irish boys and girls were sold by Henry VIII to planters there ? During all this desperate struggle she had wasted her blood, money and resources. There were millions of Irishmen friendless, voiceless, disarmed, ignorant, misrepresented and held up by the English press as a race of
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