Halpins of Wicklow, etc. - Part 4

[Shanachai]

In Reply #146 above, dated Friday 10th July, I mentioned the positive role played by Captain R C Halpin's cousin, Charles G Halpine, in the successful campaign by Northern leaders to enlist black Americans in the Union Army.  I also drew attention to the hostility of the Irish on both sides of the conflict to any participation of American blacks in the Civil War.  It might surprise you to know that there were also furious debates in the Southern House of Representatives about the enlistment of 'slaves' in the Confederate Army.  Davis argued that the South couldn't possibly win without more manpower, and it seemed counterproductive not to utilize the 'help' they had at their disposal.  In return for their co-operation, the Southern parliament would offer 'their' black population greater personal liberties.  Naturally, the proposition was rejected by a nearly apoplectic House.

By sheer coincidence, there was a reference to Charles G Halpine in last Saturday's Irish Times.  The great Irish historian, David Fitzpatrick, was reviewing Cian T McMahon's The Global Dimensions of Irish Identity*, when he wrote this:

McMahon maintains that ''the average Irish soldier fighting in the Union army'' shared the sardonic outlook of ''Private Miles O'Reilly'' (Charles G Halpine) of the New York 69th in Sambo's Right to Be Kilt:

Some tell us t'is a burning shame
To make the naygurs fight;
And that the thrade of bein' kilt
Belongs but to the white:

But as for me, upon my sowl!
So liberal are we here,
I'll let Sambo be murthered
instead of myself,
On every day of the year.


The poem is blatantly racist, and illustrates the kind of prejudice black Americans faced even from Northerners, who were supposed to be fighting a war to end slavery and reinstate the Union.  The Irish did not identify with the plight of black Americans, even though their respective situations had much in common.  Regretfully, the Irish tended to regard African Americans as racial inferiors, the same way Dr Stopford W Halpin regarded Arklow's Catholics as part of an inferior and treacherous native race.  As far as Irish nationalists were concerned, they belonged to a racial group that included all Europeans.  If they were not sitting as equals at the table of nations, that was only because England had colonized Ireland and oppressed her people.  It was not because of any inherent racial inferiority on their part.  After the end of the American Civil War, the 'fighting Irish' set their sights on liberating Ireland from English rule.  The disastrous 'Fenian plot', which took up so many column inches in the Wicklow Newsletter throughout 1865 - 67, was the practical outcome of their endeavours.  While the plot was an unmitigated military disaster, it convinced British Liberals that significant political reforms had to be introduced in Ireland if the country was to be pacified.  That campaign for meaningful reform in Ireland began in earnest after Gladstone assumed office as head of the UK government in 1868, although a glimpse of what was to come had already been revealed by the Conservatives' Reform Act of 1867.  In the meantime, Captain Halpin did his bit for Empire by laying thousands of miles of telegraphic cable across vast expanses of sea, his brother Stopford Halpin did his bit to keep the Catholics in their place in Arklow, and the Town Secretary in Wicklow, Robert Wellington Halpin, gave the books of Charles G Halpine a prominent place in the town's Main street bookstore.

*The Global Dimensions of Irish Identity: Race, Nation, and the Popular Press, 1840 - 1880, By Cian T McMahon, University of North Carolina Press, reviewed by David Fitzpatrick, The Irish Times, Saturday, July 11, 2015.

[Shanachai]

The Wicklow Newsletter, Saturday, September 23, 1865.

Editorial

.

The Corn Harvest is now completed.  Nothing could exceed the splendid condition in which it has reached the stackyards.  There has been no waste, and its value to the millers will be enhanced.  In the Northern districts wheat is reported as yielding well, in the Southern as only middling.  Oats are generally near an average, but short in the straw; this, however, does not matter much as the hay crop is more than usually prolific.  Barley is an average.  So that on the whole the cereal crops in Ireland are fair enough.  Potato raising is just begun, and from the general reports we think it will be found that fully three fourths of a very fine crop will be gathered; the other fourth we fear will be lost.  If we look abroad we find low estimates of yield from most of the great corn-producing countries, from which, heretofore, England drew large supplies, so that in the coming year the imports of foreign grains are not likely to be near as large as those of this year or the last, and therefore it is probable that prices will advance.  At all events there is no likelihood of their being lower than at present.  As regards cattle and sheep the value has risen to such a pitch that large profits must result to those who made rearing them the chief business of the farm.  And it is impossible to say where or when the upward movement may stop, for as long as trade prospers in England and such numbers of operatives get high wages, a penny or two in the pound on beef or mutton, or a halfpenny or a penny on the loaf, will not stand in the way.  The beef and the bread and, we may add, the beer, will be taken as freely as ever.  But for the heavy imports of foreign cattle into England it would be hard to say what the price of meat would rise to.  The price of wool also has risen so much that sheep farmers are making large profits.  It is, therefore, the obvious interest of Irish farmers to make cattle and sheep raising their chief aim, and this we believe can best be done by a judicious system of tillage, by which a portion of the farm will in its rotation be under grass.  Where land is thrown out entirely under grass the least is made of it even as regards cattle raising.  Taking all things into account, farmers have no cause for grumbling while all should be truly thankful to the great Giver of All Good for the unspeakable blessing of a fruitful season.  If those with fixed incomes or limited means find it harder to get on, they may at all events be satisfied there is no danger of famine or even of scarcity.

[Shanachai]

The Wicklow Newsletter, Saturday, September 23, 1865.

Editorial.

The Fenian bubble has burst upon its dupes sooner than perhaps the ''head centres'' reckoned on, at all events too soon for the ripening of their plans, if indeed they ever had any, beyond the notion of in some way or other taking revenge upon England for real or fancied wrongs.  That in this age such preposterous folly as Fenianism, so far as the public know of it, could enter into the heads of anybody outside of a lunatic asylum, it is hard to imagine.  But it is, nevertheless, a humiliating fact that it exists.  It is, however, some consolation that the clergy of all creeds and every layman with the least pretension to respectability are opposed to it.  It appears to us that the Fenians in Ireland and the Fenians in America have been deluding each other.  Information has, we doubt not, been conveyed to the American ''centres,'' that all Ireland was ripe for rebellion and would welcome their advent, while the Irish Fenians have in turn been deluded by the fierce speeches of their American friends.  In this state of things there was a golden opportunity for knaves and adventurers, and we feel satisfied it will be found that the selfish and untiring industry of a worthless few kept up the whole thing.  It is well therefore that the Government have set about its suppression with such spirit and energy.  We hope, but really after such preposterous folly, one can only hope that with Fenianism we have arrived at the last of such follies.  We cannot pity the dupes now awaiting their punishment; nor can we hope that that punishment when it does come will be light, for we hold with President Johnson, that treason is the greatest of all crimes.

To The Editor Of The Wicklow Newsletter.

Sir - Will you please allow me space, as is your usual courtesy, to ask what are the ratepayers of this district thinking of?  It is now some three months since a vacancy occurred for a Guardian, and yet not one has been elected; and what has been the result?  No less than that there has been an addition of twopence in the pound to the already heavy taxation; and, for argument sake I shall say such has been caused by the absence of the existing Guardians at the meeting for levying the rates.  No doubt two persons were nominated, and by the most glaring doggery both were requested to withdraw, and for what reasons the mediators are the best judges.  Now, Sir, if the ratepayers do not wish to be further cajoled; if they desire their interests to be attended to, they will elect a gentleman whose name I noticed in a former issue of your paper, and who has had ample experience as an agent and accountant, they will at once offer the unthankful position to him, and by paying his personal expenses, he would, I have little doubt, attend, at a loss of his time, and with a decided benefit to their interests.

I beg to remain, Sir, your obedient servant, Weak Back For A Heavy Burthen.  Arklow, September 18, 1865.

[Shanachai]

Part 1.

The Wicklow Newsletter, Saturday, February 27, 1864.

Lecture on The Monarchy of the Mind.

A lecture was delivered on the above subject, in the Courthouse, Wicklow, on Thursday evening, the 18th inst., by the Reverend J. J. Landers, of Blackrock.  After a few remarks from the Reverend J. Saul, Wesleyan Minister, the Reverend Lecturer expressed the pleasure he felt in again meeting his friends upon that occasion.  We lived in a world of wonders, but of all the marvels that struck an observant eye - man stood the first.  The question would naturally arise - whence comes man's superiority?  The secret of which was, the mind of man.  It was intellect that had placed man in his present position.  Some had affirmed that mind had no existence.  On the other hand Metaphysicians had gone to extremes in their classification of the mental faculties; but it was not his intention to treat his subject metaphysically.  He then showed the analogy between the mind of man and a monarchy: as the glories of a kingdom depended upon its constitution, so it was with the monarchy of mind.  As the wealth of a kingdom was closely identified not only with its agrarian wealth, but likewise upon the manufacture of the mineral resources which lay beneath its surface, so the wealth of the monarchy of mind could only increase in proportion as the latent powers of the mind were brought out by study and education.

He then described, in most pleasing and eloquent terms, the faculties of consciousness, reason and imagination.  He dwelt especially upon memory; some, he said, had represented memory as parsimonious and gluttonous; he regarded her as a compendium of all the cardinal virtues.  Memory was the most industrious as well as most social of all faculties.

The Lecturer then alluded to the importance of education in the acquisition of discipline ... drawing attention to the success of self-educated men like Hugh Miller, Robert Stevenson, and others, but observed there were few who really made great progress without the benefit of early training.  He urged the advantage of a judicious course of reading, by which means many who had not the benefit of a Collegiate education had raised themselves to eminence.  He then described the delight and pleasure derivable from a taste for literature.  He urged his audience to avoid, as a pestilence, those works which tended to relax the mind and vitiate thought, pointing out the advantage of acquaintance with the works of master spirits.  It was in the power of all to cultivate habits of observation, to such many persons were indebted for arriving at distinction  Newton, Columbus, Galileo, Brunel, Franklin, Watt, and Paxton were adduced in illustration in eloquent and beautiful language, which elicited much applause.

The achievements of this kingdom were worthy of our regard; the painter and the sculptor were prompted to illustrate the deeds of their country's heroes.  The Rev. Lecturer referred, in glowing terms, to the heroes of Switzerland, Germany, France, Holland, Poland, America, and Britain.  The poet, from the earliest history of our race, perceived the adaptation of language to clothe sentiments and ideas of beauty.  He dwelt upon the connection which existed between history and poetry.  The Orator was then alluded to.  Oratory was a child of the soul, and was not confined, as was too often supposed, to the learned professions.  St. Paul, Demosthenes, Cicero, Chatham, and Curran, were referred to in elucidation of this part of his subject.

This ''monarchy'' was not destined to decline.  The empires of Rome and Carthage had passed away, and it was said, by some who would desire it, that this empire of Britain would share a similar fate, and that a traveler from some distant region would yet stand on a broken arch of London Bridge and sketch the ruins of St. Paul's; but he did not believe that such would ever be the case, so long as we were, as a nation, faithful to ourselves.  After eulogizing the press and noticing the privileges we enjoyed, both nationally and religiously, he dwelt most beautifully upon the word of God as the highest and most worthy study for the mind of man.

The Lecture, which occupied one hour and forty minutes in the delivery, was listened to with great attention.

After a vote of thanks to the Rev. Gentleman for his able and instructive lecture, the meeting separated.

[Shanachai]

Part 2.

[I think it's clear that the Lecturer, the audience and the reporter did not believe they were Irish.  Their understanding of high culture did not include native Irish culture; the capital of their world was London, not Dublin, and their spiritual home was St. Paul's, not St. Peter's.  The British Constitution underwrote their liberties, and British prosperity guaranteed their wealth.  They really did see themselves as a race apart.  Some, like Francis Wakefield and R W Halpin, believed that greater economic liberty would lead to more prosperity for all and less sectarian division.  The best way to ensure that was for Britain to cede more political power to local government in Ireland.  Their failure to secure that power, to break down the old monopolies in Wicklow - which were based on rights of conquest - convinced Edwin Halpin that his father's liberal politics were unworkable.  Only socialism, as far as Edwin was concerned, could answer the Irish Question and provide fairness to all.  But even socialism was inadequate if Ireland lacked her own Parliament, and this fundamental request made Edwin a constitutional nationalist.  His eldest son William (1885 - 1951) would go on to become a physical force nationalist and fight in 1916.]

[Shanachai]

The Wicklow Newsletter, Saturday, February 27, 1864.

Wicklow Petty Sessions.

Monday, February 22nd, 1864.

Three young men named Murray, Toole, and Bulger, were summoned by Thomas Doyle for the sum of 24s damage done to his cart, whilst standing on the Murrough during the night of the 12th December last.  Mr. Burkitt, who appeared for the prosecutor, examined him, when the following facts were elicited:-

Doyle had placed his car, loaded with ore, on the Murrough, and during the night it was smashed and the shafts broken.  He had a conversation with one of the defendants the following day, and he asked him not to say anything about it, for when they who had broken the dray came home, he would be paid for the damage done.

Thomas Broderick deposed that he was on guard that night, and saw some of the defendants lift the car up and then let it fall.  He could not swear which of the defendants it was, but saw them all in company.

Thomas Mitchell - recollected the 12th of December; he was at Doyle's house on that night, but did not hear of the car being broken until the next morning.  He was not present when the car was raised.

The magistrates enquired from Doyle whether there was any animus against him, whether he thought the damage was done out of mischief or from ill-feeling.  Doyle, who is a cripple, said he could not tell why the defendants should have any animosity against him; he was a cripple, as was his mother also; he had, before, two windows and his door broken.

The Chairman, after censuring the conduct of the defendants, fined them each 6s 8d compensation, and 5s costs, or 14 days imprisonment.

[Shanachai]

The Wicklow Newsletter, Saturday, March 19, 1864.

Emigration from Ireland.

The emigration mania is spreading in every direction amongst the agricultural classes.  During many years there has not been witnessed so many leaving as within the last two months.  The majority of the emigrants belong to the class of small farmers.  The lavish expenditure of money created by the war in America, has enabled the Irish settled in the United States to realize considerable sums, and a large proportion of their money is expended to enable friends and relatives in Ireland to emigrate.

[One of the tasks my great grandfather Edwin had to carry out was the reading of private mail sent to local Catholics from their relatives in the US.  This task was usually carried out by the parish priest, but not always.  Wicklow's clergy and nuns were trying to build a schoolhouse and a new church, and funds were short for the completion of these projects.  If the priest found out that some of his flock had received money from America, he'd request that part of it be donated to the local building fund.  Many people felt imposed upon, and took to asking the Post Master to keep the arrival of their mail to himself, which he agreed to do.]

[Shanachai]

News of two horrific disasters reached Wicklow early in 1864.  From Chile came reports that two thousand women were burned alive when the mostly wooden Cathedral of Santiago caught fire; and from Sheffield came news of the collapse of a poorly constructed dam at Bradfield, which claimed the lives of around 250 people.

A link to the Cathedral fire can be found here: http://archive.spectator.co.uk/article/30th-january-1864/1/news-of-the-week

A link to the Sheffield disaster can be found here: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-26478728

[Shanachai]

This is how the Wicklow Newsletter addressed the disasters:

Editorial

.

Scarcely have the horrible details attendant upon the burning of the Cathedral of Santiago ceased to fill us with sorrow and dismay at the awful sacrifice of human life, under the most distressing circumstances, than we are again astounded with another event of terrible magnitude occurring in our own country.  The former invested with all the horrors of human immolation, at a time of peculiar excitement in the observance of religious ceremonies; the other coming suddenly upon the unconscious occupant of the chamber in the still dark hour of the night, and, regardless of age or circumstance, sweeping its victims into eternity.  The accounts furnished us of the transactions on that fearful night, and the immediate cause of the catastrophe, ought surely to convince us of the necessity, in every public undertaking of a similar kind, of paying more than ordinary attention to the security of such receptacles of convenience for the supply of water to our towns.

This is the third accident for the same cause occurring within the last few years, viz: Liverpool, Holmforth, and, lastly, Sheffield, each of which were attended with like results.  For the immediate cause no one seems to be blamed, either as to the construction or the means provided in case of accident to divert the pressure of water flowing in one vast channel to the certain destruction of life and property.  Surely, in this age of science, some means might be arrived at to act as a safety valve, similar to the mode adopted to prevent accidents by steam, which would act in cases of extraordinary pressure, by an overflow of water, or where any portion of an embankment should give way?  Could no plan be suggested to avert at least a portion of subsequent disasters, by having more than one reservoir in connection with others, which, by communication, would divide the main body almost instantly?  Such plan, we believe, is adopted in the great works of the Manchester Water Company.  It is time, however, some precautionary measures should be taken throughout the United Kingdom; and we think it is the duty of the authorities in the different districts where these large undertakings are situated, to make themselves satisfied that public companies do not take advantage of their localities for the purpose of obtaining supplies of water to populous towns, at the risk of the lives and property of themselves and neighbours.  If anything prompt us to exertion, surely the natural instinct of self-preservation should do so.  Situated as Wicklow is to the Vartry and the works of the Dublin Water Company, it behoves the people to be on the alert, to their own interests and safety, in reference to these matters; and we do not think we are wrong in calling public attention to the subject, without wishing to create alarm or suggesting anything which might forebode some anticipated disaster.

But really these terrible accidents seem so many Providential warnings - the loss of more than two hundred and fifty lives, and the destruction of property to the amount of half a million of money - call to us not to raise the cry of alarm, but with the voice of warning, to urge a watchful supervision over those impending dangers, which might entail upon our town, though to a much smaller extent, the calamities of the Sheffield disaster, in the sacrifice of life, the destruction of property, and all the misery attendant upon the wreck and ruin of families and homes.

- Wicklow Newsletter, Saturday, March 19, 1864.