The Irish republic. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1867-18??, 1867-10-26
THE DECAY OF IRELAND.
Foreign Correspondence of the Boston Journal.

DECAY OF IRELAND.
I Foreign Correspondence of the Boston Journal.
BELFAST, IRELAND, September a. 1867-A large number
OF the leading of Ireland have been at the Social
Congress during the week it has been privileged make
the acquaintance of from the Protestant North and the
Catholic Southrom heagrcutura and manufacturing and
trading acknowledgements minister's Church of
Church of Scotland Roman Catholics Unitarians, and
Quakers Professors Queens College and Dublin University
manufacturers traders andholders and gentlemen of leisure
From personal interviews with such DIR. McCosh,
Lord Dufern Dr. McNaughton Rev. Mr. Simpson, who has
visited wentynine of the American States, Mr. Houghton
one OF the great railway proprieors of the United Kingdom
Prof. Goodwin Smith, and many Others have endeavored to
obtain such information would enable to give just
estimate of the present condition of the country which is
emptying itself rapidly into the United States
This forming just estimate of Irelands grievances from
the opinions of the above loyal and pous pensioners and
sounding the heartbeat of the Irish people by such Eng
h line is like going to the wolf to find out the character
and grievances of the lamb He should have gone Arch
bishop McHae Father Vaughan and moved with these
gentlemen through the people, and that for all their
misery the only andoe Irish Independence Still many of
readers will CLEAN interesting facts from the letter.
THEIR HOMES PEOPLE?
To the Irshman there land under the sun as arac-
tive the United States. Always towards the setting
his face turned and when has disappeared beneath the
horizon he thinks of it shining the land of liberty and
plenty To him it is the land of Beuah Ireland is his
birthplace uoud be the best of all lands could he but it,
haze voice IN governing IT. have his way in matters
of religious faith but it is, he is erIe IN has
landam exile at home He is treated alien by the
laws of England and also by the Government by the clergy
of the English Church, and the landed proprietors There
many who look with satisfaction upon the loss by
emigration of more than $4,000 people per There
others who deplore this depetionthe taking away of
the working Some startling facts brought before
the Congress- The cultivated lands decreasing the rate
of about 900 per annm The horned cattle are de-
creasng; also horses and live Stock with the exception of
sheep; these have increased Dwelling houses disap
pearng. Throughout the South and West of Ireland there
thousands Of deserted cottages and cabins Those who
inhabited them in their homes beyond the Atlantic
Lands which have been titled for centuries growing up
rze and brambles. Landlords find it difficult their
estates Revenues falling off, Only cities through
the kingdom show any increase in population from year
year-Beast and Dublin Everywhere else the decay
going with rapdity unknown hitherto in the history of
this people, not that Ireland incapable of supporting
the population it is not that Irishmen do not have love
for their native it that rsmen are ntractabe
and mduly pugnacous-but because the Government of
England has been oppressive from the Conquest the present
time Without going into history to show how the island
was conquered how the landed estates given to
avortes may sufficient for this universal dis
content under the Government of the present time The
Irish question will claim the attention of the Reformed Par
lament There are some questions which must be settled
they will settle themselves
THE island is divided into four politi-
cal divisions or districts which are subdyided into rv
two counties and eight small jurisdictions The head of the
Government is the Lord Lieutenant English
peer appointed by the Crown He has Privy Council to
aid him. indefinite number of lords also appointed by the
Crown. 1t is therefore close corporation wholly in the
interest of the Crown This body legislative but
tive enforcing laws not always in the interests of the people,
mot always in the interest of the people Not always
Hear that We millions OF outraged exes driven with whips
of fire and famine from your country. Surely this is
severe the great Christian nation that rules over our pros
porous Ireland)
Ireland is represented in the House Lords in the British
Parliament by four spiritual peers and twenyeght temporal
peers the great andhoders of the island To the House of
Commons hundred and five representatives elected
less than onesxth of the whole number of legislators
prising body Sxyur of them elected by countless
twenty from the boroughs twelve from the cities and
two from Dublin University The borough electors number
about 000 the county electors numerous Thus
the whole body of Commoners from Ireland united one
purpose they could make Roadway without aid from two
hundred Commoners from England and Scotland
Unhappy for their interests the Irish Representatives
are divided into several parties Catholic the Established
Church. and the Presbyterian. The lines of denomination
aism drawn very straight The wall is perpendicular
as that between the Gulf stream and the cold water of the