Views of Ireland, moral, political, and religious Volume 2 - Tapa blanda

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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1823 Excerpt: ...of separation would soon become a religious war, and then a war of extermination: it would leave Ireland a desert, deluged with blood. But supposing what appears to us impossible, that these great parties were to concur to shake off the power of England, and that this were effected; what then? how many questions would start up and press for a decision? Questions which have heretofore been decided by the arbitration of arms, and which, we fear, would admit again no inferior appeal. Where would the statesman find materials to build up his moral structure? Such as they are, they would ignite in his hands, and burn as they were brought in contact, until the whole island presented the aspect of a great volcano. We partake not of the sickly sensibility of those who can see nothing in the fortunes of their beautiful island that is not to be deplored, and wept for. The history of all nations is thickly enough sown with crimes and calamities. Those of Ireland are a little nearer to us, and affect us by their proximity more strongly. Who is it in England now mourns over the Norman invasion, or weeps for the woes of the Saxons? Which is the Norman, or the Saxon blood, the truer English? Or must we go back to the days of Caesar, to find a "True Briton," and trace the blood of the painted savage down to our times? We find no cause of lamentation in the fact, that Ireland is a great and principal member of the first empire in the world. We deem it no light thing to sit at the right hand of Great Britain, in all the importance of that high association; partner in the power of the Empire; sharing in the dignity and honours which it has gathered from its wide dominion over the globe, and from the great waters over which it sways its sceptre; and enjoying the splen...