The Indianapolis journal., 1885-12-29

head Of the movement, and Of Eve Protestants
among his new parliamentary followers ought
in itself to make this clear No doubt there is
great deal of intolerance in Ireland, but has the
Orangeman any title to COMPLAIN of superior
bigotry in the Papistf Could not Archbishop
Walsh tell a story about Protestant persecution,
which, via the heemarks of Sir George Erring-
ton. which would reach into Downing street it
self9 Fortunately, Mgr Walsh is a broad mind
ed generous tolerant statesman, with no idea of
repayiug in kind his own grievances. inere
will be some friction until the minority learns
that the old days, when it had big brother to
back it in throwing bricks at the majority, have
passed away. Then there will be peace.
The land question is the rub. Ireland wants
the loan of enough money to buy the landlords
out Granting that, the remaining question is of
valuation. But the British taxpayer, whose
money is being advanced on the security of the
land, will have as keen an interest IN seeing that
his security is solid as che Irish tenant purchaser
will in keeping prices down. This conemon con-
cern IN justice ought to be safe ground upon
which to build settlement 1t ought to secure
a valuation Of the land on strictly commercial
liues-the absence of which in the past has been
an unspeakable curse to Ireland. 1t is no
secret surely that tens of thousands of
Irish tenants think themselves fortunate
if they can get bare living out Of their hold
ings, and do not dream of paying the rent from
the proceeds as we'll That must come from
harvesting in England or from relatives in
America The new valuation must include both
living and rent, or its equivalent in installments
and interest on the loan The fact that any
other system was ruinors and criminal has not
mattered much in the past because only the
Irish suffered by it. But when the British tax
payer finds his f10 loaned on the security of
land which cannot decenty feed its occupers,
let alone yield los for interest and moletv of
the debt, it will matter great deal. The only
danger lies in false valuation through favorit
ism. The only guard lies in making England
and Scotland responsible in pocket for such a
result
This subject suggests 50 much that there must
be no attempt whatever at discussion here, else
your pages would be swamped One thing, how
ever, should be said: A perfectly fair valuation,
based upon the productive worth of the land.
would force the usUrers who have been bleeding
Ireland worse than Egypt vas ever bled to
terms of composition. Perhaps these could be
arranged by private treaty; so that the landlords
whom the money-leEders hold in their talons
might escape utter ruin. Perhaps the amount
owed is too great, for this accursed system per
meates all Irish finance, from the London bank
which loans the Cabinet Minister money at 20
per cent. to build his castle, down to the gom
been man who loans to the tenant at 25O per
cent for the purchase of seed. If the case is too
bad for ordinary remedies, then no ideas about
the rights of property ought to stand in the way
of heroic and extraordinary remedy any more
than they avaled to prevent our freeing the
slaves twenty three years ago.
All this may De the nrsC pracCcal step To-
ward federation of the British empire. Ireland,
worn, exhausted sick at the heart over her own
desolation, has now no external ambition. En-
glishmen think of semi independent Ireland as
plotting rebellion, fomenting foreign troubles
The one consuming idea of the men whom Ire
land trusts-the Parnells. O'Connors, Healys,
Sections and OBrens-is to take this wretched,
sovenly. woe begone Ireland out of the mire, as
one might take founding off the streets. and
clean. clothe. teach and nourish her into self
respect thrift and dignity. Ireland is the vast
ed waif and stray of nations; they aspire to
store her to health and strength. Ten years of
this new life, by inculcating self-reance, by in
stilling self-pride by softening the race bitter
ness that has been elaring acros the Irish sea
for centuries, would do much to render the Irish
ready for a real federation which might not
be so potent for good as it's present advocates
think, but would certainly be q vast improve
ment upon the present cat-and dog relations be-
tween England and her conquered but unsub
dued sister island.