Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-01-23
THE IRISH.
INTERVIEW WITH 4 TRAVELLED
FRESHMAN.
Condition of the People-What n
Thoughtful, Observant Man
Thinks of Ireland.

John J. Roe, native of Dublin, came
out from Ireland recently in the interest of
the charities Of the deaf and dumb asv-
lums Of that island. He has been visiting
Sacramento several days, departing only
to-day. We have found him to be a
gentle-mannered, intelligent. thoughtful
observer of broad experience and much
travel. In an interview with Mr.. Roe in
the editorial rooms of the REcoRD- MON
the following questions were asked and
answered, among others:
Question-With what work are Won now
connected, Mr..Roe?
Answer-The work of training and edu-
eating the deaf and dumb in Ireland. which
has been neglected by the English Govern
ment, and is thrown upon charitablv dis
posed people. The work is now carried on
by committee formed under the Arch
bishops and Bishops of Ireland, | have
been at the work for twenty-five years NV
particular labor is TO gather in the unfor-
Inmates and 10 solicit means for their main
tenance.
Q.-You ought then to be familiar with
the social and political condition of Ire
land?
Ayes, sir. l think / am widely
known. | travel over every part of the
country, and in all parts of England.
Q.-l desire TO ask you what you think
are the chances for home rule in Ireland ?
Al think eventually it must come
not this year, but in time.
Q.-On what do you base that belief?
A.-The necessity for it, first This is ad-
united by every statesman, no matter to
what party he belongs. Second. the forti-
tieatipr of hot H., r.,
Again, the English people. in calm re-
view, will realize that it will be of as much
benefit TO them as to the Irish. But, from
my conversation with them, ind English
men misconceive the subject They do
not look at il as do Irish thinkers. They
seem TO think that we want separation. But
the people do not ask this. We want
simply to manage our internal affairs We
know the evils that exist under the Grand
Juries and other official bodies in Ireland.
Taxation needs to be very considerably
lowered. 1t is not long since when read
Mitchell Henry's consideration of this
last subject. He Is man of broad COM
mercial connection, and has been repre-
sentative in Parliament. He showed, con-
clusively, that the Irish people pay a
heavier per capita in all taxes than the
English. do not recall the exact figures.
Under home rule reforms would be best
brought about.
Q.-But do not the Parnellites demand
absolute dissolution of the union-that is.
such home rule as will practically amount
10 that by giving ireland control of her
commercial affairs?
Al do not think they desire separa-
ton. Nor do think that what YOU state
would amount to dissolution. What the
Irish ask is, control of internal affairs so
as to enable them to restore industries
wrested from them-broken down and
gone to ruin-under unjust English laws.
Q.-tOr the American mind please
specify one such instance?
A.-Well, the wooden manufacture of
Ireland was very extensive branch of in
dustry until England passed laws prohibit
ing expectation of the goods from Ireland,
That course struck home at the manu-.
facture, and while that law does not pre-.
vail now, the effect remains and can only
be removed by paternal home govern.
ment. And, l believe. our Industries will
revive under home-rule encouragement
without protective tariff, or interference
With Englands trade.
Q.-What is the social condition of Ire
land to-day compared TO that of say
twenty years ago?
A.-Vastly improved. In education
mode of living and style of dress. greatly
improved. OF course, lowness of wage s
excess of taxation, high rent of land. etc.
keep the people down. Land went Up to a
fictitious value about twelve years ago
There was high price for beef and mutton
before Americans began to export So cat.
tiemen, landlords and graziers made much
money, and the small farmer had nc
chance in competition with them. and moi
infrequently land rentals and sales went
up tentold. The landlords now see. from
the existing state of things. that the tenant
farmers cannot possibly pay the rentals
Tor produce market is difficult to obtain.
and when found the price for produce is
comparatively insignificant. So the land
lords. III many cases. came forward and
reduced rentals 20 and 30 per cent. and
more than that.
Q.-What brought about the reduced
prices for produce?
Al think American importations As
TO cattle, the small farmers used to raise
the store cattle"-young cattle that arc
lean. for the large grazier. But these farm
ers have been so largely driven out tina;
the SraZiers cannot get sufficient supplv ot
store cattle" And this is due To the
action OF the landlords and the graziers
hold that where a population is reduced
50 iearfGily, as in Ireland, it must i'm.
poverish the country For population
develops resources. Take tract occupied
by ten farmers, and then when it has bu,
one. In the first case there is actually more
taken out OF the land, no matter how skill
ful the one occupant Then the traders
and merchants are benefited by the larger
number of consumers.
Q.-But was not Ireland over-populated
A.-lreland is not thorough cultivated
There are large tracts that are dormant
II there was full cultivation there would
be support for double the populaiion we
now have. Our food supply, with even rs
small margin of profit as there is. is still
largely shipped away / am safe 10 saw
that fifty vessels day leave Irish norris
carrying Irish produce to English markets.
from Dublin alone, every day about six
steamers leave, and so Wexford, Water
Iofu' CORK, Limerick, Galway, Sligo.
Drogheda. Dundalk, Newrv. Greenore
Belfast, Londonderry = these are ali
ports from which oar produce is
shipped every day. In the Liyerpool
Manchester, Glasgow and all like markets
You constantly find beef cattle, sheen. MICS
eggs, butter, etc, sent from Ireland. AT
the best of times, in the west of ireland
the people are in very poor condition. If
you'd see the land they pay rent for. and
wrest living from, you here would call il
brutal TO force rental for such spots. |
dont like to make much of it. but often in
bad years have | seen there poor peo,ple
suffer grievously.
Q.-But it is said the people don't want
to pay their rents?
A.-That is unjust They are as intelli-
gent as the tenants of many other nation
alities. The landlord party tries to make
them out dishonest, but it is unjust. They
know as well as you that they cannot oe-
cupy land and not pay for its use All they
want is to be able to pay the rent and keen
a roof over their little ones.
Q.-But it is common TO hear it said the
irish are incapable of selfgovernment: :
that political, clan and religious preiudices
will disunite them that they are Quarrel
some and unwilling to recognize or submit
TO any civil authority, and that home rule
must result in home disorder?
"A proof against this is to take the
irish here or in Australia Wherever thew
have taken part in the legislation of the
country, in holding office, etc, they have
proven their capacity. Our Irish officials
at home have proved cenclusively that they
are efficient, and have administrative abii-
ify second to none. The Irish are great
lovers OF justice-it is a characteristic of
their nature. There is not that Quarrel
some spirit among ogr people that is rep
resented. They are yivaeious and all that.
IN years gone by, when fhev nero Earf y,