The Northwestern standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1885-1886, 1886-03-27
stasiyticgl Reasons for Granting Home Rule
to Ireland "A Valuable Con
tribution.
RESOURCES OF THE SECTIONS.
Ulster ons-:r 7 ventieth Part Of The Unitse
Kingdom, Pays one-Tenth Of
the Taxes.

p,.al for q dissolution OF Legislative
partnersfip precisely as he would
proposal for union with state Willcs
was SEEKING to enter into a similar part
nership. Setting aside all political and lls
moral considerations, he discusses tflf
present economic value OF Ireland &C
England and the business loss or gam
which will result from Encouragement
OF existing conditions OF government.
This is a method which naturally com
mends itself to the practical instincts Ct
Of English character.
Mr.Giffen begins with the changes OF
population since l845, whereby Ireland ia q 9
relatively has lost ground 50 rapidly as
to reduce the proportion Of the dlsaf-
fected district to the United Kingdom
from one-third to One-tWelfth. lie
shows that the increase of population
every ten years outside the island \. is
equal to it's entire disaffected pnpu1ala-
tion to-day, and that in 9 few genera eE
tions Ireland must become relatlv veiy TO
Great Britain little more than some
what larger Isle Of Man This argu.
nent tends to lessen the Importance, 80
far as business is concerned, OF letting
Ireland become separate State. The
resources of the two sections IN IN IA
coms and capital are next compared,
and the proportionof disafIected Ire
land to the United Kingdom is shown
to have declined from one-tenthl Il 70 e
one-f -fortieth; and commerce With tflo
island is pronounced insignificant N
comparison with trade With other de-
pendencies which do not impose dl-
rect charge for government. After de-
nlonstrating that the econ nomlc lnapor-
tanee OF Ireland is grossly exaggerated
III England, he passes to the account OF
current receipts and expenses. Then
follows the curious discovery that
while the island (including Ulster)
constitutes only a twentieth part OF the
United Kingdom in resources, i pays
nearly tenth Of the imperial taxes;
and yet, owing to the en- ormous ex-
pense of governing and garrMisoning M u,
ireland is a source OF loss instead OF
gain to the exchequer in spite OF pay
inr $50, COO, ,O0o, 600 when its relative
resources only call for SIT 500 GOO. The
exchequer loses SIS GOO annually IN
governing the island while taxing II
Sl5. 600, 600 more thanit ought to be taxed
As the extra u. 600 or eco troops IN
the island are lost for imperial pur-
noses, this excess of expenditure Is
sheer waste. The conclusion y that
England has nothing to lose in dissolv-
Ing partnership, as the island costs
more than 1t yields in revenue; and as
for commerce there would be slight loss
even with complete separation. and
more sc all with home rule.
On the other hand, Ireland would
have. under home rule, $50, GOO. .OOO Of
revenuo 10 DISPOSE Of which now goes
into the Imperial Exchequer, and with
economical administration could pay
its share of interest on the imperial
debt, and have more money to use in
internal improvements than is now ex-'
pended. In an economic sense Ireland
as we'll az England would gain BY the
change Of system, provided legislative
independence were not followed BY
Scommercial isolation and q war for abb
soluts separation. The snrplns Of tax
alton, which is not . source Of profit TO
England with the expenses wiping IT
ont, would be used under home rule
Tor the benefit of the Irish people in
stead Of wasted on military garrisons
that are needed elsewhere. That the
people need the benefits iscvident from
Nj. Csitfen's startling statement that.
with an income of $75, ,0Oo, 600 they act
ually pay for imperial and local taxes
$50 600, 600 generalization which
ought to convince the most stubborn
Englishman that there is something
radically wrong in the present system
of government. Mr., Giffen adyocates
the purchase Of the land dlords' 8 estates
from. the Imperial Exchequer as the
most practical way Of disentangling
Irish and imperial finance. This
scheme would give the Irish anthOri-
ties revenue which they could collect
and administer themselves, and which
would Be the eQulyalent of ~ contri-
bntions to the Imperial Exchquer the
island could continue "a ~ under
-