Daily Republican., 1881-12-20
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, ssl.
The Irish Question.

The Irish Question.
There Is no question which more
thoroughly agitates the civi|izsd world
at the present time than the Irish ques-
ton, and the tremendous audience
which packed the Opera House last
night to hear the veteran priest, Father
Sheehy, was indicative OF the interest
manifested in that question by the peo-
pie of Wilmington. Why is it that
our citizens are so deeply interested "
There must be some cause. Is it not
because the Irish people are looked
upon AZ a nation struggling for those
liberties which we as Americans enjoy,
and which have been denied them The
pulsation that beats in unison with
the weak and down trolden every
where, must be touched with sympa-
thetic feeling for the Irish in their pres
ent struggle. But still there are many
who do not comprehend the situation,
and look upon the Irish race As big
oted, turbulent people, who deserve all
the rigors of disciplinary law that can
be heaped upon them. Many of these
people have never studied the question
in its present aspect, and hence judge
hastily and harsh How stands the
question to-day? In as limited space
rs brief editorial will permit, We
would glance over the question and
view it as it strikes us.
England and Ireland are members of
the British Empire and are supposed to
enjoy alike the same benefits under the
British Constitution. Despite this pre-
sumed political equality, England is
the richest aud Ireland the poorest
country in the Empire. EnSlands
population has increased, lrelaDd's di.
minished. Englishmen prefer to live
in their native land and so do Irish
men, yet there are four times as many
of the latter in foreign countrie, as there
are in Ireland, and with them elnigra-
ton has been chronic necessity
There must be a reason for this. What
is it?
England buns with vast manifold
industries, while the water power of
Ireland, capable Of turning the machin-
cry of the world, is silent. England's
wharves are forests of masts while Ire,
lands beautiful harbors are empty e1-
cept as English ships bear away her
produce to add to English incomes. in
England famine is unknown, althoU gh
she has to import food; in Ireland
gaunt famines frequently stalk over the
land and yet she exports food. At the
present time Americans are consuming
potatoes raised on Irish soil. England,
the richest country, is the lightest
taxed; Ireland, the poorest, is the most
heavily taxed. In England, there is
more crime in proportion to population
than in Ireland, and yet the suspension
of the habsas corpus is unknown in
that country, while in Ireland in eighty
years, fifty nine coercion laws including
the suspension Of the habeas corpus,
have been inflicted. Whyis it thus?
The Irish are supposed to enjoy the
benefits OF the same Constitution, w..
In England the proportion of vcters to
the male population is one in 4, while in
Ireland 1t Is one in a, Scotland is
al.. a part 9fthe British Enr,re. oat !
BeotchnrD only shape imperial legis,s. !
tion for tina, country, and only Scotch |
men are appointed to Office In Scotland. |
1t is the same in Wales. Irish repre-
sentatives are never consul ted about
legislation for their country, and the
offices are filed with Englishmen aud
Scotchmen. England appears to gov
ern Scotland by her own sons and in
kindness, bnt she governs ireland in
hatred and 5y her enemies. To all her
|<1ependeBcies, except Ireland, she has
given the right to IN ke their own laws,
but she has abolished the Irish Parlia-
ment against the wish Of tho people,
and has ever since denied Ireland home
rule. In England there is liberty of
conscience and education, but in Ire
land, here fOnr-ffths of the people are
Of one faith, a charter to an institution
in which degrees could be obtained has
been refused
A great many Americans are under
the impression that there is actual po-
litical equality between England and
Ireland and that the discomfort of the
Irish people is inspired by turbulent
agitators The contrary view appears
to be the truth. The two countries are
not political equals, and for this cause
alone Ireland would have sufficient
cause for agitation. Peace cannot long
exist in nation where there is politi-
cal inequality. Here in the United
States there was no peace until the
slaves were freed and enfranchised,
and though it may seem like departing
from a subject, yet we would take occa'
sion to say that unless there is mort
politica! equality here in little Della
ware there will be trouble sometime
perhaps in the near future. 1t was IL
1900 that the Irish p: riament was