Irish Nationalism; An Appeal to History

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1893. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IX. CONCLUSIONS. Fob the purpose of bringing the conclusion intimated at the close of the last chapter within the reach of some definite process of analysis, I shall now enumerate the causes of Irish misfortune which are specified by Mr. Lecky himself in his sincere desire to omit none. He expresses regret that his narrative has assumed so polemical a character. But he need not do so. It has undoubtedly been polemical on the other side; and perhaps he is even justified in his opinion that the anti-Irish accounts have assumed a very unusual amount and malignity of misrepresentation. For my own part, I am disposed to look at all the causes as quite separate from either praise or blame--to consider only what it was but natural and even justifiable for men to do under given conditions of mind and circumstances, and above all to look to the effects of those ancient traditionary customs out of which no men can ever be lifted, except by some external agency or power. I look, therefore, to Mr. Lecky's list of causes operating adversely on the condition of the Irish people, with the greatest interest and curiosity--to see how far he has duly appreciated the comparative power of each. The first and most fundamental of all Irish disadvantages is its geographical position. It was a condition involving a long train of consequences. It segregated Ireland from the great stream of European history. It precluded her from the unspeakable benefits of Roman conquest. It kept her away from the civilisation of the Latin Church. It effectually prevented her later subjugation by any superior race. It stereotyped barbarous customs, and prolonged them even to our own day. All happier influences seemed to stop when they landed on the shores of England. There they remain...