Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1884-09-06
" SHE GOES WITHOUT

The arrant falsehood that Ireland's
distressed condition is due to the
British Free-trade policy is daily
reproduced in Protectionist organs
in this country in the evident belief
that it will gain credit by frequent
utterance. If there are any who re-
peat this assertion in good faith they
betray pitiful Ignorance, not only
of Ireland's political history, but OF
the Free-trade policy which they
denounce. The repeal of the Corn
Laws, which formed an important
part of this policy, was an act OF hu-
manity toward the people OF Ireland.
Ireland's manufactures were ruined
by the stupid and jealous policy OF
Protection, and under Free Trade
they have experienced a partial re-
vival.-Record.
Ireland's present condition Is due
to the fact that, instead of being al
lowed to develop its own resources,
it has been compelled BY the British
Government to buy what it wants OF
England. Ireland has iron and coal
resources of herown, but England has
never allowed her to develop them.
Moreover, she used to manufacture
cotton and wooden goods, hardware,
flannel blankets and silks, but, be-
ling new industries, the goods pro-
duced were neither as cheap nor as
good as the English.
Sir Edward Sullivan, who ought to
know more about this than the Re
cord, in a book published last year,
says: "s You shall not be such FOOLS
said English economists, las TO waste
your time aud money in manufacture
| ing those articles which we can pro-
duce so much more cheaply than you
can. Buy from us and by SO much
you will be the richer;' and they did
so, and now the Americans say to
them; Don't be such. fools as to
grow grain or pigs or cattle! We
can sell you all things cheaper than
you can produce them !; buy from as
and you will be so much the richer"
And so Ireland has, to consider.
able extent, given up growing food
also. .3tta W -
Well may Irishniep exclaim in
the words OF this patriotic writer:
" Ireland, with 100000. OF inhabi-
tants, with unequalled natural adj
vantages of climate. soil, rivers, har-
bors with coal, and iron, aud mex
haustible quantities ofpeat ; the finest
grazing and dairy country III the
world that once supported a popula-
ton of 100000, and exported grain
and cattle aud manufactured goods.
Look at her now |! Her land is not
one third cultivated; she has neither
domestic industries nor foreign
trade. Her millions of acres of
waste but cultivable land; her ruin.
ed commerce and manufactures;
her houses uninhabited; hervillages
deserted +; her cattle and sheep rap
IDLY diminishing discomfort, insubor-
dinatlon, insecurity, crime stalking
undisturbed through the country !
her people crying for work and
wages. but idle, ragged, pauper-
stricken; deriving wretched eyis-
tence from half-cultivated lands !;
flying from the country like Lot from
the cities of the Plain! She tolls
not, neither does she SOW, she neither
grows, nor works, nor buys--she
goes without
And this is what the Record calls
a "partial revival" in its industries
la decrease in population of 5000,
900 is indicative of partial revival !
Ruined industries, deserted villages,
pauperism, the general wretchedness
brought about by the policy OF Great
Britain, is all, to the judicial eye of
the Free.trade Record, indicative of
an industrial revival. 1t may be q
Free trade revival, but Protectionists
want no revival of this sort for the
| United States.-Press.
|