The Commonweal/Volume 1/Number 3/Irish Notes

by Elizabeth Owens Blackburne Casey

IRISH NOTES.

We have received the following notes from a friend in Ireland. They are interesting as dealing with the past treatment of her country by England. We look forward to having a regular series of notes from the same source on the condition of events in Ireland at the present time. *** English peoples, as a rule, will not read Irish newspapers, if the latter have the least National tendency; and as we Irish wish the English nation to know some of the truths concerning the wrongs we have laboured under for centuries, we shall give a few facts—not theories, but hard facts—which can be proved from both the English Government side and the National side. *** In the last century, Dean Swift was a good friend to the suffering Irish. He always upheld the cause of the oppressed, and on one occasion said that the confiscated lands which were given by William III. of England, to his English followers, were given to highwaymen; inasmuch as he considered the recipients must have been stopped and slain on Hounslow Heath on their way to Ireland, and the highwaymen came in their stead. *** William III., when memorialised by the people of Bristol to stop the importation of Irish manufacturers, replied: “I shall do my best to hinder and obstruct the woollen trade of Ireland, and to promote that of England.” *** Shortly afterwards, Dean Swift at a public dinner was asked to drink the toast “Prosperity to Ireland.” “No,” replied the witty Dean, “I never drink memories.” *** A quotation from a letter written by the Lord-Deputy, about the year 1607, will show the spirit in which the inhabitants of Ireland were regarded by their English rulers:—“I have often said and written, it is famine that must consume the Irish, as our swords and other endeavours worked not that speedy effect which is expected; hunger would be a better, because a speedier, weapon to employ against them than the sword . . . I burned all along the Lough [Neagh] within four miles of Dungannon, and killed 100 people, sparing none, of what quality, age, or sex soever, besides many burned to death. We killed man, woman and child, horse, beast, and whatsoever we could find.” *** During the rebellion of 1798, the soldiers upon one occasion tied and man and his three sons to trees, and then before their eyes, violated the mother and four young sisters. I can give my authorities for this.

E. OWENS BLACKBURNE.