The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-09-12

The English people profess great pride
in the watchful care which their govern
ment exercifes concerning the welfare of
its subjects. They never tire of Boosting
that into whatever remote quarter OF the
globe they may wander that government
will see to it that their rights shall not be
wantonly outraged or interferred with.
And it must he admitted that on very
slight provocation OF that kind from q
foreign government Great Britain is not
apt to be refniss. 1t requires bus little
bloodsned or destruction of property to set
her army and navy in motion.
But the condition and the rights OF the
Irish people seem to form a-rare exception
to Great Britain's eensi.iveness about the
welfare of British subjects. Just now there
IL widespread suffering in Ireland. The
potato crop is an almost total failure, and
men, women and children by the
thousands and the tens OF thousands are
suffering for the necessaries of life. and
many of them are actually dying of
starvation.
And this almost within gunshot and ear
q .union" exists. from which land syndi-
Gates representing hundreds of millions of
capital are securing the earth in search OF
objects OF investment, buying up railroads.
Touring mills, breweries and all manner OF
lucrative properties. In large part this
capital is derived from rental of Irish
estates. And this Irish distress and star
vaiion Is endured in the very midst of
plenty. There are few sections of the
earth OF equal area which is more prolific
OF food products.
OF breadstnffs. dairy products, poultry.
meats, fish and an infinite variety OF eata-
bles, Ireland is constantly exporting
enough TO feed far more than the entire
home population. That country produces
far more than is necessary TO maintain all
of its inhabitants in comfort. But the
bulk of the product goes for the payment
OF rent to absentee landlords, mostly in
England, and large fraction OF the people
are suffering, many OF them dying of star
walton.
And now comes Lord Balfour, the repre-
sentative in Ireland OF the watchful Brit
ish government. and from the depths OF an
overlooking, sympathetic heart advises
those suffering AMI starving people to bet
ter their condition by-emigrationl The
United States, Canada, the Argentine Re-
public. or the newly opened districts OF
Africa offer fields where industry equal to
that which they have displayed at home
would at least avert starvation. And the
kind-hearted Baliour, in behalf of gov
ernment whose people are gorged with
riches, benevolently suggests emigration.
There Is no other animal besides man,
nor any of the human family except those
who are the beneticiares of the highest
civilization, the most perfect system of
laws, and the most stable of governments,
who in the midst OF plenty. chiefly of their
own production. would suffer and starye
for want OF the things themselves pro-
duced. But this is the condition of the
Irish people, and Ii they do not like it, and
cannot stand it. they are told by the agent
of the Just government that claims their
allegiance. that they can emigrate. As to
the how OF their getting away from there
he does not coacern himself. Ii was q
cruel commentary on their condition.