condly as the representative
of British rule, and last, but by no means least, as the person to
whom rent is due. He desires to abolish the landlord, not in the
interests of religion--I speak now of the peasantry, and not the
clergy--and not in the interests of patriotism, for if a Dublin
Parliament were to cost him sixpence, the priests themselves could
hardly drag him to the poll; but purely and simply to avoid any
further payment of what he regards as the accursed impost on the land.
Phillip Fahy, the leading light of Carnaun, near Athenry, is exactly
typical of rural Irish Patriotism. "Did ye hear of the Home Rule Bill?
What does it mane, at all, at all? Not one o' us knows more than that
lump o' stone ye sit on. Will it give us the land for nothin', for
that's all we hear? We'll be obliged av ye could explain it a thrifle,
for sorra one but's bad off, an' Father O'Baithershin says 'Howld yer
whist,' says he 'till ye see what'll happen,' says he. Will we get the
bit o' ground widout rint, yer honner's glory?" Mr. Tynan, of Monivea,
said that his landlord was liberal and good, and admitted that his
land was not too highly rented, but, said he, "We have no objection to
do better still." The run on the Irish Post Office Savings Banks at
once illustrates the patriotism of the people and their confidence in
the proposed Dublin Parliament. It was well known and understood, so
far as the poorer classes are capable of understanding anything, that
the floating balance of the Post Office Banks would constitute the
only working capital of the Irish Legislature. Here was an
opportunity for self-sacrifice. Here was a chance of manifesting the
faith animating the lovers of their country. But at the same time it
was made known that the Post Office would pass from the British
control to that of the Irish people's chosen representatives. It might
have been supposed that the electors would rejoice thereat with
exceeding great joy, and that in order to show their trust in an Irish
Parliament they would increase their deposits, and at considerable
personal inconvenience refrain from withdrawals. Nothing of the kind.
The "aspirations of a people" were at once strongly defined, but this
time not in the direction of patriotism. It availed not to urge upon
them the argument that the four millions of the Post Office Savings
Banks were absolutely necessary to the successful administration of an
Irish Parliament. In patriotic Dublin the run on