The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-05-23
M | s C E L L A N Y
British Government in Ireland.
From O'Connell's speech, March IL, 1874, at
Coyent Garden lheater,

But is Ireland rch2 That she is not
conented is certain-has she rig hit to be
happy2 Allow me to vindicate myself by
telling you the zeal state Of Ireland. In
1884, 40 years after the establishment OF
the Union, the Commissioners on The
Poor Law inquiry reported that they
found 2,365,0OO in a state of deStitution
upon population of 100000, more than
one fourth of the whole population and
Captain Larkom has reported tina, 70 per
cent, of the rural population were living
in huts in one room on y-that 80 per
cent. OF the town population families were
living in one room, and in some instances
several families in that one room. (Hear,
hear.) Nothing shows greater misery
than decrease in the population An
increase in the population is favorable
sign, but the retrogression ola population
OF 10000 year is a most convincing
proof of misery, distress and wretchedness.
Now, just to show you that what | am
stating is correct, will read you the de-
scription of MIR Kohl, German, who has
been travelling all over Europe, who has
visited Ireland, and latel y published
book, in which is the following Statement:
~ remember when saw the poor Let.
les in Lvona, used to pity them for
having to live in huts built of the unhewn
logs OF trees, the crevices being stopped up
with moss pitied them on account of
their low doors and diminutive windows,
and gladly would | have arranged their
chimney for them in more suitable man
ner. knew not that should ever see a
people on whom Almighty God had i'm
posed yet heavier privalious. Now that
| have seen Ireland, il seems TO me that
the Leltes, the Esthonians, and the FIN
landers, lead life of comparative comfort,
and poor Paddy would feel like a king
with their houses, their habiliments, and
their daily fare. (Cheers.) A wooden
house, with moss to stop up lis crevlces,
would be palace in The wild regions OF
Ireland. Paddy's cabin is built of earth,
one shovelful over the other, with a few
stones mingled here and there till he wall
is high enough. But perhaps you will
say the roofs matched or covered with
bark. Ay, indeed A few sods of grass
Cut from a neighboring bog are his only
thatch. Well, but window or two at
least, if it be only pane of glass fixed in
the wall, or the bladder Of some animal,
or piece of tale, as may often be seen in
Wallachian hut? What idle luxury
were this There are thousands Of cab
ms in which not a trace Of "A window is 10
be seen. Nothing buta little square hole
in front, which doubles the duty of door,
window, and chimney,-light smoke, pigs
and children all must pass in and out Of
the same aperture. A French author,
Beaumont, who had seen the Irish peas
an. in his cabin, and the North American
Indian in his wigwam, has assured US
that the savage is better provided for than
the poor man in Iceland. Indeed, the
question may be raised, whether in the
whole world nation is to be found that is
subjected to such physical privatious as
the peasantry in some parts of Ireland
This fact cannot be placed in too strong a
light for, if it can once be shown that
the wretchedness of the Irish population
is without parallel example on the globe,
sure every friend of humanity will feel
himself called on 20 reflect whether means
may not be found for remedying an evil
of SO astounding magnitudeW