National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-01-05
THE IRISH IN AMERICA.
Tariff Gor Protection and the Irish Lane
League

Tariff fOr Protection and the Irish Land
League
To the Editor of The National Republican:
As the tariff question promises to be great per
haps the greatest ISSUE politically well as eco
nomically, in the near future of this country, de-
sire to call your attention to the probable status OF
class of our citizens upon that question: class
of such great numerical strength that its vote will
in all probability prove decisive in favor of a
strongly protective tariff, should policy of that
kind become an Issue between political parties 1
refer to our citizens of Irish birth and of immedi-
ate Irish descent
Every intelligent Irshman who has made him.
self familiar with the history of English rule in
Ireland knows that Ireland has been governed for
the past three centuries upon the most rigorous
principles of prohbitory tarif-so rigorous, indeed
that all manufac turing industries then, save one
only (linen), were prohibited; and when tariffs
failed to prohibit Irish manufacturing skill and in
dustTy from reaping their proper rewards i'm Ire
land penal laws were passed for their extrpation
These laws were from time to time enacted by
Irish parliamentS, composed of landowners and
others of the ruling class, aliens TO the people un-
English cabinets, in order that the English manu-
facturers might be protected from Irish competi-
tion." That was the unblushing plea. a special
exception to this policy was made in favor of the
English and Scotch coloniStS planted in Ulster by
James /. The soil and climate of Ireland were
peculiarly favorable to the cultivation of fax
IL,
voted all her attention to the manufacture of wool
Hence the English manufacturers allowed the ex-
ceptiOn III favor of the kinsmen of the Ulster
colony, supplied them with seed and paid a
bounty on linen. They did this all the more will
ingly as the rest of the island was to be devoted
TO the Irish for raising supply of wool-then,
as now, the finest in the world-for English looms
They obtained laws which made the export of
Irish wool to a foreign country and the manufac-
ture of wool in Ireland high crimes punishable
as felonies, and they thereby secured Irish wool
at their own prices.
And as if this was not protection enough for Eng
lish looms, and fearing that the Irish would aban
don sheepraising, leSsees of farms were prohibited
by covenants in their leases from plowng or cult
waiting more than five per cent. of the lands let
and this prohibition remained in force almost
into the century.
Under this high protective policy unrelentiupIy
pursued for three centuries, the English manufac-
turers built up their trade to its present colossal
proportions If we are to judge the results from
the causes, England has furnished to the world the
cearest proof OF the wisdom of high-tarff policy
in the effects of laws protective upon her OWL in
dustries She adopted the policy of protecting two
thirds of her subject population from the fair COM
petition of the other third; enriched the former
beyond estimate and impoverished the latter;
made England wealthy and Ireland q pauper
She adopted this policy the moment that manufac-
lures began to develop into importance in Eng
land, and indeed in Europe, and pursued It
through centuries thereafter until the aecumu-
lated wealth and capital the establishment of
connections OF trade and commerce, and the local
iZation OF an enormous industrial skilled popula-
ton around her factories and other hives of pro-
duction enabled her to command the markets of
Not until then was the rigorous policy of pro-
hibition relaxed or the words " free trade" heard
of in English statesmanship.
The English manufacturers were looking out for