New-York tribune., 1886-05-18
PLAIN FACTS ABOUT IRELAND.
Ex-MINIsTER A. NJ. KELLEY REPLIES TO NR. WALTER
OF TIE LONDON TINES.

Ex-MINIsTER A. NJ. KELLEY REPLIES TO NR. WALTER,
OF TIE LONDON TINES.
To the EditOr OF Ths Trtbune.
SIR: There is no more untrustwOrthy testi-
mony respecting events OF hfy years past than human
memory, and even without iDpeaching Mr.. John Wal
ters veracity or impartiality we may challenge tho
accuracy OF his story OF Ireands improvement during
the past half century as narrated In todays TRIBUNE.
Ihaye not at hand the statistics OF 1896 mako
comparison bur inasmuch as the gst OF Mr.
Walters statement defence OF the existing legsla
union between Great Britain and Ireland the whole
period Of unon beginning with 1901 Is tue faires.
field for the comparison.
For that comparison the material Is abundant and IL
that this legislative union been In its
economic less than in what might be called It's sent
mental results enormous and unmIxed EVIL TO lrelani
Measure 1t by any OF the standards which human ex'
perence has erected tests OF the value OF govern
and its condemnation Is assured Let mo instance
few:
Popuiation-Ireand had than 5000. 900 Of peo.
pie In 1901 has less 5000 900 now after eighty
years Of union. Bad this Is 1t tells but small part
Of the story comparison with the condition OF Great
Britain makes the probability a demonstration Great
Britain had 10000 900 OF people in lcO n 1856 1t has
80 100000. In other words, Ireland had one-third
Of the people OF the United kingdom in 1901 IL has but
one-seventh, after eighty years OF union Even within
the exact of Mr. Walters inquiry this test may be
applied. In 1881 Ireland held 81 cent OF the people
of the United Kingdom now she holds less than per
cent.
Tropertn The taxable Of Ireland in 1901
were one tenth OF those OF the United ncdom now
they are less than oneBfeth, after eighty years OK
union The taxable income OF Great Britain Is estimated
to 900 annum than It was in 1901;
that OF Ireland to De not Que pound more
Debt-The national debt OF Ireland In 1875 was esti-
mated at sl0,O0OOo0. By the Act OF Union her share
OF the burden general debt put At twoseven
eenth II that proportion should be exacef now Ire.
LANDS debt, e1cluStrey or any t"dted"a udeoted"eSs
Is S9O,0OO.OOO.
7rdde-The period OF the Grattan Parliament which
closed century Of great activity Ia trade
Almost all the handsome quays and custom houses OK
Ireland date from time. one fact may We some
in Scotland. with a population OF 10000 people n.
ported from NewYork goods double the value OF ali that
the whole of Ireland imported from the same city.
the famine year. lsl7 Ireland was, accord'
Lord George Bentinck the largest food exporting
country the world, larger IN III the Unite states OF
Russia Last year the total food export OF Ireland ant
NAL and vegetable Gl6000 900; the breadstuf ex
portation alone OF the United states was more than
double this.
Public Order-One of the infallible results OF good
government public order. During the hty years of
Mr. WalIers memory, from 1885 to ls-J, Ireland has
been governed by law during Out three years-lSi2
lsl6 and lS64-a the been years Of Coercion
bills The Standing army untaining the peace OF Ire.
land consists of 25,00o English soldiers aud l0,OOD
armed pocemen-an English military force OF $1,000
90 per than the whole military force OF
the United States prosperous people need no such
an establishment A. NJ. KELLEY
NsJr- York Ia