The Martins Of Cro' Martin, Vol. I (of II)Lever, Charles
History
The Martins Of Cro' Martin, Vol. I (of II)
Lever, Charles
Ireland -- History -- 1800-1837 -- Fiction; Ireland -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction
I must not weary you with details. I accepted and kissed hands as
Viceroy on Monday morning; since that I have been in daily communication
with G------, who still remains in office. We have discussed Ireland
from morning to night, and I hope and trust have at last come to a
thorough understanding as to the principles which must guide the future
administration. These I reserve to talk over with you when we meet; nor
do I hesitate to say that I anticipate the very greatest benefit in the
fruits of your long residence and great powers of observation of this
strange people.” The letter here went off into a somewhat long-winded
profession of the equal-handed justice which was to mark the acts of
the administration. It was to be, in fact, a golden era of equity and
fairness; but, somehow, as codicils are occasionally found to revoke the
body of the testament, a very suspicious little paragraph rather damaged
this glorious conclusion. “I don't mean to say, my dear coz., that we
are to neglect our followers,--the Government which could do so never
yet possessed, never deserved to possess, able support; but we must
discriminate,--we must distinguish between the mere partisan who trades
on his principles, and that high-minded and honorable patriot who gives
his convictions to party. With the noisy declaimer at public meetings,
the mob-orator or pamphleteer, we shall have no sympathy. To the worthy
country gentleman, independent by fortune as well as by principle,
extending the example of a blameless life to a large neighborhood,
aiding us by his counsels as much as by the tender of his political
support,--to him, I say, we shall show our gratitude, not grudgingly nor
sparingly, but freely, openly, and largely. You now know in what ranks
we wish to see our friends, in the very van of which array I reckon upon
yourself.” We shall again skip a little, since here the writer diverged
into a slight dissertation on the indissoluble ties of kindred, and the
links, stronger than adamant, that bind those of one blood together.
After a brief but rapid survey of the strong opposition which was to
meet them, he went on: “Of course all will depend upon our parliamentary
support; without a good working majority we cannot stand, and for this
must we use all our exertions.” A few generalities on the comfort and
satisfaction resulting from “safe divisions” ensued, and then came the
apparently careless question, “What can _you_ do for us? Yes, my dear
Dora, I repeat, what can _you_ do for us? What we need is the support of
men who have courage enough to merge old prejudices and old convictions
in their full trust in us; who, with the intelligence of true
statesmanship, will comprehend the altered condition of the country, and
not endeavor to adapt the nation to _their_ views, but rather _their_
views to the nation. In a word, a wise and liberal policy, not based
upon party watchwords and antiquated symbols, but on the prospect of
seeing Ireland great and united.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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