seem
unworthy of notice, but contempt may be pushed too far. Even wasps
become dangerous when in swarms. And Hatred is like fire: it makes
even light rubbish deadly.

Sligo, August 8th.

No. 59.--IRISH NATIONALISM IS NOT PATRIOTISM.

My tour through Ireland having now come to an end, I propose to sum up
the conclusions I have formed in this and the three following
articles. In connection with the Home Rule Bill, we have heard much of
the "aspirations of a people." Mr. Gladstone has taken up the cry, and
his subservient followers at once brought their speeches and facial
expressions into harmony with the selected sentiment. These
anti-English Englishmen would fain pose as persons in advance of their
time, determined to do justice though the heavens should fall. They
agree with Mr. Labouchere that John Bull is a tyrant, a robber, and a
hypocrite, and that it is high time justice should be done to Ireland.
As no substantial injustice exists, it is necessary to fall back on
sentiment, and to quote the "aspirations of a people." The desire for
a system of Irish autonomy is praised as a manifestation of patriotism
which in all ages of the world has been honoured by worthy men. The
English supporters of Mr. Gladstone, with their assumption of superior
virtue, their Pharasaic We are not as other men, nor even as these
Tories, would have us believe that with the granting of self-rule
Ireland will be satisfied, that the gratification of a laudable
sentiment is all that is now required to bind together the peoples in
an infrangible Union of Hearts, and that peace and prosperity will at
once follow in the wake of this merely sentimental concession.

The great mass of the Irish electorate know nothing of all this. Tap
them wherever you will, north, south, east, or west, and you find one
dominant thought--that of pecuniary gain. They know nothing of the
proposed bill, and are totally incapable of comprehending its scope
and effect. The peasantry of Ireland are actuated by motives entirely
different from those affecting the rural constituencies of England.
The Briton is proud of his country, believes in its might, justice,
supremacy; and despite occasional grumbling is satisfied that the
powers that be will do him right in the long run. The Irish peasant is
essentially inimical to England. He is always "agin the
Government"--that is, the rule of England. He regards the landlord as
trebly an enemy--firstly as a heretic, se