Ireland and the King

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 7, 12 February 1903, Page 2

Ireland and the King

King] Mr. M. McD. Bodkin contributes to the ' Fortnightly Review' for December a clear and forceful article entitled ' Why Ireland is Disloyal.' The points which Mr. Bodkin makes both as to the fact of Ireland's disloyalty and the reasons for it, though well and tellingly put, are sufficiently familiar to our readers and need not be repeated here. The answer to the question he has asked is given briefly in the following

words: 'The question, "Why is Ireland disloyal?" maybe supplemented by another, " Why is England loyal ?" The answer is practically the same to both. England is loyal to the Constitution, and to the King as its head, because she is happy, prosperous, and free. Ireland is disloyal because she is miserable, poverty-stricken, and oppressed. 1 And the writer proceeds to elaborate and prove every count in this indictment. In the course of his article Mr Bodkin mentions some facts as to the personal feeling of the Irish people towards King Edward VII. which are not generally known outside of Irish circles, and it is principally For the purpose of drawing attention to these that we refer to his contribution. The following passages are, we think, well worth repetition :— ' Assuredly it (i.e., Irish disloyalty) does not spring from any personal feeling against the present Sovereign of the realm. The touching spectacle of the King stricken down by disease on the eve of his coronation has deeply moved the warm-hearted Irish people. There was unbounded admiration for the Spartan endurance with which he held out to the last, mingled with indignation at the Government which, with knowledge of the facts, accepted the Royal sacrifice and suffering. Nowhere were good wishes for his Majesty's speedy and complete recovery more fervent than amongst Irish Nationalists.' ' For the first time in the history of the country,' wrote the | Freeman's Journal,' the chief popular organ in Ireland, 'not in the arrogant and insulting spirit in which the words are customarily used, but in the spirit of reverent piety, Ireland breathes the prayer, " God save the King." ' 'The King is personally popular in Ireland; far more popular than was ever Queen Victoria, whose coldness and neglect to the last year of her reign awakened bitter and natural resentment. The Queen made no secret of her hosility to the great Home Rule statesman, Mr Gladstone. The King, as Prince of Wales, displayed his friendliness and admiration never more openly than when he was engaged in the historic struggle for Home Rule. The story goes that his Majesty, when he last visited this country, was sorely troubled to find that here alone, within this vast circuit of the Empire, was there active disaffection and disloyalty, and it is believed that he was sympathetic and statesmanlike enough to seek the remedy in justice and conciliation. Rightly or wrongly, the belief is general amongst Irish Nationalists that his Majesty personally favors the great conciliation scheme of Mr Gladstone for the reconciliation of the two nations.'