But Ireland cannot be saved
without the help of the people who live in it. God endowed men,
there as elsewhere, with reason, will, and physical power; and it
is by patient industry only that they can open up a pathway to
the enduring prosperity of the country. There is no Eden in
nature. The earth might have continued a rude uncultivated
wilderness, but for human energy, power, and industry. These
enable man to subdue the wilderness, and develop the potency of
labour. "Possunt quia credunt posse." They must conquer who
will.
Belfast is a comparatively modern town. It has no ancient
history. About the beginning of the sixteenth century it was
little better than a fishing village. There was a castle, and a
ford to it across the Lagan. A chapel was built at the ford, at
which hurried prayers were offered up for those who were about to
cross the currents of Lagan Water. In 1575, Sir Henry Sydney
writes to the Lords of the Council: "I was offered skirmish by
MacNeill Bryan Ertaugh at my passage over the water at Belfast,
which I caused to be answered, and passed over without losse of
man or horse; yet by reason of the extraordinaire Retorne our
horses swamme and the Footmen in the passage waded very deep."
The country round about was forest land. It was so thickly
wooded that it was a common saying that one might walk to Lurgan
"on the tops of the trees.
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