Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-11-15

AN IRISH APosTATE ON THE WRONGS
OF IRELAND.-At the Halloween enter
tainment, given by the Caledonia Society
Of Montreal, Thomas Darcy MCGEE,
the Irish apostate, uttered the following
sentiment:
He referred to some facts of Scottish
history, deducing therefrom a moral of
interest to another kingdom of the three
which, combined, form our fatherand.
He said that when the Scottish people
In three generations after the union of
England, after several abortive cOnspira-
Cies and two unsuccessful instructions.
found that they could not forcibly re-
store their lost political nationality,
they resolved to make the best of inevi-
table facts, transferred their ambition to
new objects, and successfully sought to
make place for themselves In the en-
pre as distinguished and honorable as
any they could ever hope to achieve by
instruction and isolation. He did not
believe that the starting point of Ireland
to day was as unenCumbeTed or as favor
able to progress as that of Scotland a
century ago. There are no penal laws
in Ireland now, but there were the dire
effect Of such laws long continued, and
only recently repealed. If he had the
ear OF any imperial statesman powerful
to solve such problems as the case of
Ireland, he would dig into his ear inCes
sanity in relation to that unhappy cOun-
try word more familiar to this than
the other side of the Atlantic-the heal
ing, comprehensive, practical word ere
construction" He would remind him
by what g stroke of genius Lord Chat
ham had disarmed Scottish dissatisfac-
ton a century ago, when, as he said, he
drew by a generous policy new defenders
OF the house of Hanover from the noun
tains Of the north. Ga the other hand,
If he had the ear of the Irish people he
would say, consider the past career and
the position Of Scotland, as she now
stands.
You complain of being over. taxed.
but Scotland with her 100000, paws
$500 900 sterling more in taxes to. day
than Ireland with her 100000, and she
can afford to pay it, Consider the ex-
ample of SCotland-cease to pursue the
impossible and to cherish the impractic-
able. You have known failures long
enough; try, if only by way of novelty,
something that contains the elements of
success. This would be his language
language not at first easy of reception,
not at all agreeable to the dwarfed dema-
gogues who traded upon the credulity of
too generous people, but language
sincere and sensible, sure to make its
way to the general conviction in the
long run, and certain to lead to the per.
manent relief of Ireland. That the
primary impediments 70 Irish recon-
struction and progress existed in the
remnants and results Of an old system of
laws and administration and not in any
defect in the character of the people
themselves, he was persuaded. There
was no lack of industry, thrift or serv-
ing, but there was a sad want OF native
opportunities for profitable investment.
When we had from official sources the
fact that in Ireland in 1868, there were
about 5 100000 of acres under tillase to
10 000,00 under pasturage, while the
importation of foreign grain to feed the
vastly decreased population averaged
annually at the present time 1000 600 of
powDds sterling, when we learned that
the small farmers of the country had
above Gl7 100000 lodged in the banks
drawing from three to five per cent. in
terest instead of having it invested in
the best of all banks, the bank of the
earth, which always paid a dividend, We
Gould not but feel that there was a great
work of reconstruction for statesmen to
do In Ireland before she could cease to
be reproach and a danger to the empire.