Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1890-11-06
Bishop Richard Phelan. of Pittshu.o
Returns from His Journey to
the Green Isle.
Peasantry Confronting the proSnoo,
of a Dire Famine in the
Emerald Isle.
Balfour's Plan Of Relief Not Like 10
Result Well-Gladstone's Pop.
ularity.

New 1oRK:-Bishop Richard Pbelar ot
the Roman Catholic diocese of Pittshnro,
returned from his visit to Ireland on ~
Arizona. Owing to his wide acuuaintanoo
with the Irish race and with the sentiment
that underlies the agitation on which b;e
country is so largely interested, Bisbnn
Phelan's return from the country of b;Ss
birth has been looked forward to with
more than ordinary interest, parficnlarIu
in view Of the added fact that his mr.,
pose in V'e.ing Ireland was ostensiblv r.
make personal in vestiga6ion Of ifo
needs.
The clergy of Ireland" he said TO
reporter, must necessarily interest them.
selves in the troubles that come to tba;r
people. Without the mature Indictment
and the more sober calculations Of tbs
clergy. collisions would be f~eouent and
bloodshed rife. The Irish clergy are taken
from the people-there is no caste in tba
Roman Catholic church. Conseouently
they know their Pensioners and can live
in the closest bonds of sympathy with
their troubles. Without them the neonln
would go too far for it can not be denied
that the passions incident to Sheir miser
able condition are difficult to control.
This much by way of explanation
The last of my visits to Ireland was
confined to the county Kikenney, whichis
in the southwestern section. The potato
crop in that part of Ireland is bad. but il
is not total failure There is poverty
and distress enough, but not nearly so
much as there is in other sections, such as
Galway, Donegal and Kenmare. where the
crop is utterly lost and where the people
are In great need of assistance In these
ncighborhoods the outlook for the winter
is most dreadful. Balfour S absurd idea of
railway relief does not offer much hope to
the sufferers, nor had anything of a definite
nature resulted from the prospect up to
the date of my departure. There is a
general impression that the scheme was
suggested merely to appease the
excitement resulting from the ut
terances of Mr.. Gladstone and Mr..
Morley, rather than from an honest de-
sire on Bafours part to afford the needed
relief. | do not doubt that if these rail
roads were started at once and pushed
with something like American energy,
they would afford relief and avert the
awful distress of the famine in certain
districts, although many of the stricken
districts would not be reached by them at
all. As have said, however, these rail
ways had not been begun when left
Ireland.
Personally, rather admire Bafour,
as the brightest man in his party. BY
this do not mean the most successful
man, for he has never yet achieved sue
cess in any Of his undertakings We all
thought it good joke that Dillon and
O 'Brien gave him the slip so handsomely
1t showed pretty conclusivey that he was
not quite as smart a man as he and his
adherents thought. However, there can be
no denying his ability as politician, as is
shown by his visit to Ireland, of which |
have learned since we came inside the
Hook. Whether this trip is in the nature
of an invest CATION or not am unable to
say, but | promise you the results, If
obtained from an investigation standpoint
will be small indeed He has taken pains
| to surround himself with the men who are
responsible for his theories as to the
absence of Irish distress and the absurdity
of unusual famine, and these men will see
to it that his views are not suffered to
change.
How striking the contrast between
Gladstone and Balfour when looked at
through Irish eyes! Of Gladstone me l'eo-
pie speak only with enthusiasm; OF BaltV1r
with disgust and anger. To my mind the
outcome is plain. if Gladstone lives two
or three years longer he will have every
thing his own way, and Balfour will be
force. to introduce a land purchase bill by
which the tenant may purchase his land on
the installment plan. And yet can not
help thinking, as | look back upon the
tenant troubles of forty years ago, when
left Ireland, that they are not as bad now
as then. | was forcibly reminded of this
when visited my brother, who is the
canon Of parish in the county of All
kenny. | was sitting with him one day
when Lord Ormonde was announced. Inc
visitor said that he had come to talk Win
my brother, as priest of the parish, con-
corning the condition of the tenantry.
There had been some sli ght dissatisfaction
and he desired to straighten it out ann anne
ably through the priests influence Inc
two talked it over for hours, and by the
time the interview came to an end | had
but one thought, which expressed to my
brother when said Times have chang
ed. Forty years ago he'd have thrown
'em out without word and without d
heart in his body"