One hundred years ago
THERE IS a significant letter in Thurs- day's Times, signed "A Saxon in Dublin," on the Irish view of union with England. The writer says that the Irish view of what that means is "Ireland for the Irish alone, — England for Irishmen first, and Englishmen afterwards." For instance, they complain bitterly if an Englishman is appointed to the guardianship of the Dublin National Gallery, while they fully expect that Irishmen should have something more than their fair chance of getting English appointments. The curious thing is, that Englishmen are almost indifferent whether that is so or not. They seldom make any complaint if the English are excluded from Irish appointments, while the Irish have more than their propor- tional share of the English appoint- ments. They would be quite indifferent even if the Irish conception of the Union were to be carried out in prac- tice. Only the Irish must not push this too far. Englishmen will certainly not permit Irish representatives to meddle in the English Legislature while English representatives are excluded from the Irish Legislature. That would be alto- gether too absurd for toleration.
The Spectator 2 April 1892
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