The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-03-16
A HOME POLICY ron IRlsHnEs.

The miseries ofIreland have been fruitful
theme for many generations, and the causes
of their troubles are so multiform, the dis
ease Of which the people are dying, is such .
complication Of chronic ailments, that the
real seat Of the malady has never been
reached. The remedies have been applied
simply to allsy the occasional exscerbations
of the ever variable and oft recurring symp-
toms; and hitherto, the remedies resorted to-
whether by the Government or by the Irish
leaders, have operated only as temporary
emollients, or have aggravated the disease,
and tended still further, TO deplete and de-
moralize the exhausted patient.
Aside from the Political and Church ques-
tons, which have been managed by the British
Aristocracy for centuries, with such manifest
and heartless injustice and oppression as
tends to embittsr and ruin the people
the Legislation of the English has oil been
directed to destroy the manufactures of
Ireland, and to prevent the development Of
the resources of the country. The Mines of
Ireland are unworked the water-power IN.
used, and the manufactures broken down.
Agriculture has no market for its products
but England, to which the grain is all shipped,
while the Irish are forced by
their poverty TO live on potatoes
or starve. The lands are held in large guam
titles, by wealthy mobiles, residing in Eng
land, or by Irish holders, with English hearts,
and the people find no remunerative employ
ment at home, and are forced TO seek chance
to work in England or in America.
If Ireland had an independent Govern
ment to- day, which had notpatriotism enough,
or sense enough. to protect its own industry,
and its own manufactures, against the Free
Trade competition of British capital and la
Dor, the masses of the Irish people would be
no better off, than they are now. Ruined by
British Free Trade at home, and deprived Of
even the opportunity to labor for living, the
Irish come to America, and With q folly next
to insanity, join the party of British Free
Trade, and vote uniformly TO extend its bles-
sings to the land of their adoption, after hsv-
ing suffered and witnessed the ruin that it
has wrought in their native land. They seem
to glory in their privilege, as free American
citizens, by their influence and their votes, to
promote the interests Of British capitalists
and manufacturers, who have ruined thair
beloved Ireland; and to help the British Gov.
eminent, by the extension Of its policy across
be ocean, to ruin the United States also.
What is the use of Independence in Ireland,
or in our own country, for that matter, if we
are to be subordinated BY our own Govern
ment, and our own legislation to British
Policy.
The watchword of Fenisnism, at home and
abroad, should not be independence simply Of
governmental authority of Great Britain, but
independence likewise Of tina, accused Brit
ish Policy and System, which has ruined the
Industrial interests Of Ireland, and now seeks
the subjugation Of America to the promotion
of the policy and the prosperity of her land
monopolizing Aristocracy, and her wealthy
capitalists.
What the British want of the Irish in Amer
lea, above all things,s their votes, in favor Of
British Policy. And, strange as ii may SEEM
the most Jealous of all Americans to carry
out the wishes Of the British, are these same
Irish Americans. The blow that would tel
hardest, which would be planted right be.
tween the eyes Of British domination, would
be that which should, through protection &c
American manufactures, deprive her Of the
American market, by which her prince
ly manufacturers are Increasing the wealth
and the power of Great Britain at our ex.
pense.