The Greenville enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1870-1873, 1871-08-09
Tbs Present Condition of the Irish.

we CXtfact tile following from
letter to the Charleston Courier
by Geo. w. Williams, a promi-
hcnt merchant of that city, and a
native of Burke County, N. O.,
who is at present in Ireland on a
visit:
Talk about American slavery, I
hin sure that have seen noting
in the United States in the dark
est days of slavery that will COM
pare to the poverty and des'itu.
tion OF the slaves of Ireland. We
stopped at Mallow short time to
look at some of it's ruins, and un-
expectedly stumbled into Fenian
raid, which was telegraphcd to all
parts of the country, and doubtless
found its way over the cable 70
The Queen City. Driving quiet
ly through the streets, we saw con-
siderable excitement among the
women and juveniles. In short
time we came in sight of the mill.
tary. On overtaking them we
found they had quite a number
of Fenian prisoners, mostly BOYS
and young men. They were ar
rested for breaking into the bar.
racks and helping themselves to
arms aud ammunition. We saw
poor womcn on he n ,cs beseecn.
ing the officers for the release of
their SONS who, they alleged, were
ut their homes when the robbery
occurred, but these distressed crea.
lures were treated as rudely as if
they had been as many wild beasts;
although of the lower class, yet
they possessed the aching hearts
of anxious mothers was in
formed that many innocent per.
sons were arrested and thrust into
prison on suspician of sympathiz.
ing with the Fenians.
One of the first questions asked
me on landing upon Irish soil was
whether L had in my possession
any firearms. Two Of our Mime
sofa passengers had their pistols
taken from them. THIS indeed
looks like small business for a
great Government like England to
take from peaceable American
citizen, a cork screw, tooth pick
and pocket pistol.
ku kluXism viii vx:st in old Ire.
land just SO long as her people are
oppressed as they have been for
the past half century. They are
but obeying one OF the first laws
OF nature, which is seltprotection.
Our foretathers were called Ku-
kluxes or rebels for resisting op.
preston, and the scenes which are
almost daily occurring in down
trodden Ireland are but history re.
peating itself. The strong op.
pressing. Perhaps it is foolish for
a handful of ignorant Paddles, to
contend against the English Lion,
but they will be found running
their heads against the English
bayonets, and getting their bodies
into prisons, until they succeed in
securing something like justice.
am surprised to see the miserable
thatched novels the people live in
here. An English landlord would
not put his cat le in such novels
as their tenants are furnished with
l did not come to Ireland to find
fault, or to write an Uncle Toms
CABIN" but to see and to speak oi
things jnst as they are.
lexpect to appreciate that which
is lovely, and abhur everything
that tends to bring poverty, sor.
row and distress upon the peasant
ry, who live in mud hovel. Ian
no Fenian, and had never sympa
thized with them, but when | look
npon Ireland under the heel OF the
oppressor, ! am not surprised thai
her people should rebel against
the hardships they. endure. The
result Of the census returns, whicS
have just been published, shoulc
open the eyes of English states
men, and it might be we'll for oul
Washington legislators to stud,
the effects of oppressive legislation
We see the population of Ireland
which a few years ago was eigh
millions two hundred thousand, re
duced to five millions four hundred
thousand. This loss of nearly thre,
millions OF her population was no
by the emigration Of old men anc
women, but was the bone and sinev
OF The country. Why is it tha
whiie nearly every nation unde
the sun is increasing in wealth an,
population, Ireland is becomin,
DEF opulated2
InE pastor of the Baptis
caurch in Cambridge, No., baptiz
ed two young ladies the other day
and then married one of tbe,,