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Searc's Web Guide to 19th Century Ireland - Robert Holmes (1765-1859)
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Email: info@searcs-web.com Searc's Web Guide to 19th Century Ireland - Robert Holmes (1765-1859) |
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Robert Holmes was born in Dublin and educated at Trinity College where he studied law. He
joined the Volunteer Lawyers Corps of Yeomanry and in 1791 he was imprisoned for refusing to
go under the command of the English military. After graduation Holmes was called to the
Irish Bar. In 1799 he published a pamphlet entitled: A Demonstration of the necessity of a Legislative
Union of Great Britain and Ireland, involving a refutation of every argument against that
measure.
When Holmes' brother-in-law,
Robert Emmet, was arrested in 1803, Holmes was again
imprisoned as a result of which he changed his political allegiances. In 1845, at the age of eighty, Holmes successfully defended Charles Gavin Duffy of a charge of publishing treasonous articles in The Nation. In 1847 Holmes published a brief history of the English in Ireland entitled The Case of Ireland Stated from which the extract below is taken. In 1848 Holmes defended Young Irelander John Mitchel.© The question is a plain one; let the answer be direct. Let there be no evasion, no shuffling, no delusion, no trick, no artifice, no contrariwise, no juggle, no subterfuge, no free discussion safety-valves, no bland restorative epistles, no ulyssean duplicity - Let the question be answered honestly and boldly. Let it be put and answered in Parliament. In the next Parliament let it be clearly and distinctly made known, whether the British Minister, the Whig Minister, the Minister professing Liberal policy, a Minister of that ancient and noble House, in which female heroism has left an illustrious example of generous sentiment and intrepid fortitude, will dare to tell Ireland her fate. Infirmity of purpose in the ruler harasses the people, and brings the government into contempt. But obstinacy is not firmness and it is a great mind only which can afford to be candid. Ireland cannot remain as she is politically and morally. This is impossible. She must rise much higher or sink much lower. Famine is a scourge which visits nations rarely and but for a season. The scourge of misgovernment is more frequent, more general, more lasting and more fatal to the happiness of man. Famine in Ireland will cease and the Irish peasant will again have potatoes for his food. But will renewed vegetation in the soil make the Irish landlord respected and beloved? Will it make his midnight rest deep and quiet? His morning dream fancy's picture of waking happiness? His daily pursuit of business, health and pleasure, safe and cheerful? Famine in Ireland will cease. The green fields of Ireland will still be grateful to the traveller's eye but will a view of its people, their state, physical, moral, intellectual, social and political, gladden his heart? Will it elevate his thoughts in admiration, and open his lips in praise? Will he exclaim with rapture, Happy Country! Where the hand of man combines with nature in the production of good - Where the British arms have introduced civilisation, and order and peace, and abundance the sure results of liberty and law depending on the people's power and not the ruler's will. In the next Parliament the Minister of England must reverse that picture. He must propose some means to avert impending ruin - he must propose some means to give new life and new growth to Ireland. In the measures which he proposes, let him be just and fearless; let him give to Ireland the energies of hope - Let him dread the energies of despair. © Searc's Web Guide 1997-2008 |
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