, 1876-02-26
| R E L A N D.
From the Tlmes.)

The review ofIrelaud's material progress
for the past year given by our Dublin
Correspondent is an annual duty, and
should this year be a very pleasant one.
Considering what is generally understood
by prosperity, and that prosperity, as thus
understood, is the only practical test Of
ordinary legislation, it should be q matter of
congratulation that Ireland has her full
share OF the general well-doiDg, andin some
points even more than her share. No doubt
there is in that country a rising public
opinion which is content to take the same
rational view of sublunary affairs and of the
possibilities of legislation that we have
here. 1t will receive our Correspondents
gratifying survey in its simple sense and be
thankful. For the sake, then, of all,
whether here or there, who are prepared to
submit Legislation to the material test, we
Will report that, upon tho whole, and with
the exception Of some localities, Irish land
lords and tenants are getting on very much
better. The agitators for Home Rule find
fewer openings for mischieVous intrusion.
Tenant Right " finds the ground cut
from under its feet. The pastures and the
barns too were all filled. Prices, especially
OF cattle and provisions, the chief items Of
Irish produce, are high. Notwithstand-
ing the difficulties caused by the cat
tie diseases, the exports of cattle,
sheep, and lambs from the port Of Dublin
have largely increased. The linen trade
has revived. Credit is good. Bankrupt
cles are few, compared with ours. 1t is
even lamented that the banks have on de-
post a good deal of money that the farmers
might employ better at home. Railways
show a great increase of receipts, and, what
is o very hopeful sign for the future, some
voluntary a-malgamations. Our London
and North Western expects soon to run a
new line OF fast passenger steamers between
North Wall and Holyhead, thereby great
ly expedltlng the communication with
Dublin and Cork. Even the Irish Fishe-
rles are better than would appear On the
hrst look OF the returns. Pauperism has
diminished, though improvement in the
scale OF relief and in sanitary matters keeps
up the cost. The Public Health Act and
Local Government Acts put it very mach
into the power ofIrish cities to govern
themselves, If they can only agree among
themselves ; but they have to find out
what they want, and to care enough
about it. We have, however, to remem-
Der how slow we were in this isle to
come to a proper appreciation of the objects
on which local government is chiefly en-
ployed. and how recently it would have
been found impossible to obtain agreement
or to raise the requisite funds. Meanwhile
Dirt reigns and Stays its thousands in Dub
lin and elsewhere, while factions are quar-
relling over the best way to deal with it.
In the capital rents are rising, and many
improvements of the more snowy charac-
ter are Immediately contemplated. The
traffic 10 the streets increases. The por-
ter and whisky trade. is rapidly assuming
enormous dimensions, both the export
and the home consumption. Intoxication
increases, and is justly regarded as q draw
back to the general prosperity. We should
trust that there is no school of political
economy that would look with compIacen-
cy or Indifference on an Exchequer kept
full, If that, indeed, were possible, by a
population of d~runkards. A sort of plsbi-
scae has been obtained in Dublin and