St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-12-21
THE DIFFICULTY FINANCIAL.
A Noted Irishman Says Fiscal Mat
ters Must be Settled First.

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Special to the Globe.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20.-Thomas Burke
Grant, editor Of the Irish Farmer Of Dub.
lin, has been in Washington for several
days past. Mr.. Grant has been travelling
in this country since last August, collecting
information about the resources of the
United States. which he had published in q
series of letters in his paper in Dublin.
Mr.. Grants journal is non-political pub
LEGATION, and, although the gentleman has
taken no part in politics in Ireland, he is
well known there as a public valuer OF
courts. When asked by a representa-
tive Of the GLOBE for his views
representing the proposed establish
ment of an Irish parliament Mr.. Grant
said that no parliament would satisfy tho
Irish people that did not readjust the fiscal
burdens which the measure of union had
imposed on Ireland. England for mora
than eighty years has distracted from Ire-
land more than fair proportion Of revenue,
which, from the limited resources of Ire.
land, she was able to contribute to the MAJ
tional exehequas. Ireland has all along, he
says, been overtaxed IN the interest of q
British connection, which, like an unfair
partnership, was
PROFITABLE ONLY 70 ONE PARTNER
in the imperial concern, Land in Ireland
has also been notorionsly over-Tented in the
interest of snail body Of pFeprietors. who
were loyal to England because the
great power of the latter was
always freely to Of sustain stain
renting. English parties in Ireland he said
have been watered like forced plants by the
legislation Of 800 years, and notwithstand-
ing this, they have never prospered and are
Ireland las the mummies Of Egypt are to
the periodic swellings of the Nile" They
have lived in Ireland, but never felt that
they were 1rishmen. always looking to En-
glish parties and clamoring for protection
of some kind. Their complaints have at
last became burdensome and intoleFahle to
their friends. Even now the prin-
cipal inpediment to home rnfe
will be furnishing what is termed
adequate guarantees to protect
the rights of the minority" but MI. Par.
nell will have no difficulty, MI. Grant
thinks in furnishing the required guaran-
tees, particularly as to the rights Of the
minority which are like the unknown
quantity in mathematics. which has never
yet been defined and never can"
A MINORITY
like that existing in Ireland has norights''
apart from those Of the general masses Of
the majority of the people. In taking this
Irish question in hand England must cease
to regard the rights and privileges
hitherto possessed by Irish min0ri-
ties, and which ought to have
no existence in healthy and
well-governed community of people. An
Irish parliament, Mr.. Grant thinks, should
have powers to deal with all Irish legisla-
ton. 1t should regulate the internal affairs
of Ireland, foster industries and manu-
features, control Irish rents, which annu-
ally impoverish ireland, and in word, adj
Just the entire relations of owners and oc-
cupiers of land. These should be some OF
the functions Of the new parliament, which
also duly acknowledges its rela-
lions to the crown to the sama
extent as the English people
now permit interferences with the DEGREES
of the house of commons. Practically the
power exercised by the crown has since the
days of George Ii. dwindled to nothing.
The present queen is the most believed and
amiable member of the house Of Guelph
that has ever sat on the throne. Yet she
never interferes with the decisions of her
ministers, as does the house of lords. The
queen, he concluded, will doubtless extend
the same liberation to Ireland, so no diff
Guilty need be anticipated on this head.