"FAUGH-A-BALLAGH."

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1138, 2 January 1874, Page 4

"FAUGH-A-BALLAGH."

This, says the Daily News, is the title of a newspaper for home rulers which was to appear on the Ist of November. To many persons the very name of the proposed journal may seem mysterious, the Irish tongue being even more neglected in England at present than the Welsh. " Faugh-a-Ballagh," or, as it ought to be written, " Fag an bealach," literally means " clear the road." Sir Charles Gavau Duffy, many years before he accepted" the honor of knighthood, wrote a poem on the phrase, and in a note appended to it informs us that the expression " was the cry with which the clans of Connaught and Munster used, in faction fight, to come'to a fair with light hearts and smashing shillelaghs." * * * * * The Faugh-a-Ballagh lays down the course to be adopted in the most direct and unmistakable fashion. There is to be a Khedive in Dublin instead of a Lord-Lieutenant. The potentate is to be virtually a (: Suzerain with the nominal title of Xing," but while confirmed in his appointment by the Queen, he must also undergo a plebiscite, when he will possess a right to establish diplomatic relations with foreign powers, and will be entitled to confer " hereditary ranks and titles." When this rather maimed Mikado dies, his successor is to be elected by the people. vVe ourselves are to? inaugurate the reign of our Suzerain by paying an enormous tribute into his coffers. The lhree millions sterling levied under the provisions of Lord Castlereagh's Bribery or Place Bill, to bribe the members of the Irish Parliament to vote for the union with England, is to be demanded with compound interest." Here is another modest stipulation to be imposed on us: —" As the military defence of the empire will mainly devolve upon Ireland, one-fifth of the military and civil service appointments of India and the Colonies, &c, are to be placed by the Cabinet of England at the command of the Cabinet of Ireland." These are a few of the gems of political wisdom and foresight which are to be culled from the preface to the Faugh-a-Ballagh.