Now that a Congress of the European powers is about to meet to settle Europe; now that the
rights and wrongs of different nations, their relations to one another, and their internal
institutions - so far as these affect, or are likely to affect, general tranquillity - are
about to be brought up for discussion and revision; now that multifarious 'reforms' are to
be suggested, and even enforced, in the dominions of minor sovereigns, as the King of
Naples, the Pope of Rome, the Sultan of Turkey, etc - and that England is presenting
herself before Europe as a champion, the champion of nationalities, self-government, and
reform; and her statesmen are encouraging subject nations to insurrection and revolution,
and even subscribing money to purchase them arms for those purposes - not having the least
idea all the time of sustaining them with British forces after they shall have taken
British advice and involved themselves in war; now that public attention on the continent
of Europe begins to fix itself upon the system of government administered by England
herself, and to ask whether there may not be some reforms required in that direction also;
it may be useful to set down in good order, for the information of all concerned, the
principles and practices of that government as we experience them in 'that portion of the
United Kingdom' called Ireland.
I have observed that when an Irishman undertakes to narrate truly any of the dealings of
the English Government towards his country, his statements, however calm in tone and
unanswerable in fact, are sure to be dominated by the English Press as complaints, or even
whines or howls.
Against this imputation I desire to guard myself as far as possible; and hereby declare, to
begin with, that I neither complain, nor sympathise with those (if any) who do complain,
against any part of the legislation or administration of English Government in Ireland.
It is true that journalists and publicists on the continent do frequently remonstrate with
England upon her treatment of Ireland, and suggest that ameliorations should be made. It is
true also, I regret to say, that certain Irish writers and members of Parliament are so
irrational as to waste their time in making real complaints and preferring claims, demands,
petitions, for changes in the system by which Ireland is governed, while, at the same time,
they profess attachment to the British Crown and Government.
I desire, however, to approach the subject in a more philosophical spirit; and to hope to
prove that the government of the British Empire is administered in Ireland with as much
lenity, kindness, and indulgence as is compatible with the continued existance of that
British Empire as a power in the world.
As to the value of that same British Empire and the virtue of its influence upon human
affairs there are two opinions. Some do hold that it is a great and beneficent power, an
example and a bulwark of liberty, a great Providential agency for humanising and civilising
mankind - or as Lord Brougham says, a beacon to guide the nations through their darkness
to a brighter future.
Others, on the contrary, that is a vast organised imposture; a machine for exploiting
nations; and unmixed and unredeemed mischief, whose fruits are torture in India, opium in
China, famine in Ireland, pauperism in England, disturbance and disorder in Europe and
robbery everywhere.
Between these two opposite appreciations I do not mean to pronounce; but assuming the
first opinion to be true, and that the aforesaid Empire is indeed a precious possession
for the world, then I hold and mean to prove that Ireland is well governed. Every logical
mind will assent to the proposition, that omelettes cannot continue to be manufactured
without a continual breaking of eggs. No more can the British Empire stand or go, without
famine in Ireland, opium in China, torture in India, pauperism in England and all the rest
of the apparatus. You cannot have a British Empire and repudiate the conditions sine quâ
non. There stands your British Empire, and here is what it costs: every one can determine
at his leisure whether it be worth its price.
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