Evening journal., 1888-07-06
IRELAND AND PROTECTION.

harbors in the world. The Irish, at c
very early date, devoted their attention
TO the raising OF cattle for English
markets. In the 18th century it be-
came a very lucrative business and the
great source OF Irish wealth. But
Parliament, in obedience to the de.
mand Of English landlords, passed q
law prohibiting the importation from
ireland Of all cattle, sheep and swine
Of beef, pork, becon, mutton, butter
and cheese. This source OF Irish in
dusiry having been destroyed, the
Irish, having a few ships, built others,
and betook themselves to commerce. es
tablishing a large and flourishing trade
with the East and West Indies and the
Continent. But again England inter-
fered, and Parliament, to please Eng
lish shipbuiiders and traders, passed
the celebrated navigation laws, pro-
hibiting the Irish from carrying on
trade with colonies, and thus Ireland'e
flourishing colonial trade was cut off
and forever destroyed.
Ireland was now completely at Eng
lands mercy. Forbidden to raise cat
tie for English markets, forbidden to
build up merchants marine, forbidden
to trade with other nations they were
still determined to live on the bounti-
full soil God had given them. Though
crushed in spirit and discouraged they
still had the indomitable pluck 80 char
acteristic of the Irish race. and they
turned their attention to the raising of
sheep and manufacturing wool, and it
soon became a flourishing industry.
"Irish WOOL" says Froude, twas the
finest in Europe, and Irish cloth was
eagerly sought after. All were for a
time prosperous, but England became
alarmed and jealous at Ireland's pros
perity and Parliament again crippled
them by prohibitory laws. The Irish
wool industry was wiped out and the
ruin was absolute and complete. At the
time Of the destruction OF the wooden
industry it afforded employment to
tifty thousand families. They were
thrown upon the land: rents rose to
a ruinous state; thousands had no EN-
ploy ment, and those who had work
earned only their board. Many emf
grated to America.
What did the Irish do next? They
developed their fisheries, but as soon
as this industry became profitable they
we're once again pounced upon by
England, and the poor Irish fisherman,
blessed with an abundance of fish in
his own waters, was by stature com
PEELED to fish in English ships manned
by English sailors. No wonder the
spirit Of the people was for a time
broken;-their commerce swept from
the seas, their manufactures closed,
their operatives perishing from want
and famine, or fleeing to other lands
to find a home.
But soon after a few leaders came to
Ireland's rescue. Grattan, Flood,
Charlemont and others worked for this
down trodden people. The Irish Vol
unteers with Grattan, supported by
Flood, made demands of England
which were granted, and once more
Ireland was free. One Of the first acts
of the newly enfranchised legislature
was TO introduce measures for the pro-
lection of Irish industries by placing
heavy duties on all imported goods.
Then sprung up wonderful spirit of
enterprise, and soon Ireland's industry
and prosperity was the greatest she
had ever known. The island was
dotted with busy hives aud marts Of
industry. Her ports were alive with
commerce, her ships visited every sea,
her flag fioated in every port, her peo
pie were peaceful, contented and
happy; landlord aud tenant were alike
satisfied. There was = ready home
market for produce, and continually
increasing demand for the wares of the
manufacturer; the laborer had steady
employment at high wages, they were
well fed, comfortably housed and
decently clothed. This was Ireland
under Protection. But alasl it could
not last long. English monopolists
and landlords could not brook such
growing prosperity. Pitt came upon
the scene, and by one Of the foulest
acts known 70 history. ireland was
joined to England and English free
trade was forced upon her. Thus
again was Ireland robbed Of her pros
perity. English manufacturers glutted
the Irish market, undersold them.
crushed them. Five million Of opera
tives were thrown out of work.
Almost all manufacturers closed
their doors, and sought elsewhere a
living. According to the Government
reports, in 1922, the first year of Eng
lish free. trade under the Act of the
Union, there was in Ireland popula-
tion of 5000. 900; employed, 1900. 600:
unemployed, 5000, 600. Those without
work had to seek it somewhere, and
many, as in 1899, went upon the land.
Rents rose from Que pound to ten.
There being no home consumption,
the price of produce fell almost to
nothing. The tenants could not pay
the rent; the landlords were bankrupt;
the whole island was in gloom and de-
spair. Then came the famine with all
its horrors-whole families laid down
and died. Over 2OO0,O 900 perished by
famine and 100000 more came to
America. And SO it has continued to
this day.
Ireland Il a doUn.trodden countv,,