The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-09-05
Ghe l)irniria State Sournal.
FRIDAY EVENG, SEP. 5, 1873.
The Trouble with Ireland. E

The London Daily Telegraph prints an
article upon Ireland and her industries,
from which we quote the following. There
are some parts of the South that furnish a
parallel experience
A good deal has been said about the
wants, the poverty, and the varied natural
resources of Ireland, the need OF capital to
develop her productions, and the benefits
which would accrue from Judici0us distri-
button Of government grants to help her
struggling industries. 1t has, however,
frequently been puzzle that private capt.
tai did not spontaneously flow in with
greater abundance. Leaving out Ulster,
we can find no specimen of an industry other
than purely agricultural. with any evidences
of growth and vitality. Yet capital might do
wonders in Ireland if it only had fair play
A circumstance which has Just occurred
in one of the midland counties lets in some
light on the point, and shows what sort
of encouragement is given to stranger cap
italists. 1t appears that since coal has
risen in price company has been estab-
lished for putting Irish boys to some use
and procuring a large supply of peat. The
directors started works in the county Of
w anu UpGIublOuS
provided work for large number of men,
distributing at this one place about gl00 a
week in wages. Here was a fresh indus
try fairly started, with almost boundless
opportunities of expansion, constituting,
so far, clear addition to the country's
wealth. But mark what followed. The
company's manager, Mr.. Bennett, chad
rendered himself obnoxious by dismiss
sing some of the idle and inefficient
hands" in other words, had done his duty
to his employers by taking steps to make
the work a success. AT once the system
of terrorism which has been the curse OF
the island was brought into play. The
secretary, architect, and superintendent OF
the company were waylaid one night a
week ago by three armed men, who, en-
forcing their threats by the presentation OF
loaded revolvers, compelled these officials
to swear that they would Immediately dis
charge their dilgent and faithful mana
ger. The sequel may be anticipated.
No industry could be carried on under such
conditions. On Saturday last, one of the
directors of the company, with the mana
ger and the secretary, went to the works
under the protection of an escort of police,
and paid off all the men, the director telling
them that 1t was q melancholy thing to
have the exertions of liberal employers
paralysed and their capital wasted. The
men, it appears, repudiated all knowledge
Of the perpetrators of the assault on the
three officials and this is, perhaps, the
most melancholy features in the case II
is precisely because all sorts of outrages
have been committed with impunity on
employers and landlords that capital has
either been kept out of Ireland or has been
driven out after it had effected an entrance
If the servants of the Irish peat fuel com.
pany want To do themselves and their coun.
try substantial good, they should associate
to discover the three armed men who
have succeeded in crushing q promising
little industry, and driving away reve'
nue. Of Gl00 q week from poverty.
stricken district. The first result of the
outrage will be that the operations o
capitalists who want to utilize boys will be
transferred TO Scotland, where the people
have a sufficient acquaintance with th,
rudiments of politica! economy to know
that new industries cannot be got to pros.
per If able and efficient managers are
bullied out of performance Of theil
. duty. Until Irish laborers have learned
that elementary truth, capital will flee
their shores, and seek some safer as well as
more profitable resting place.