The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-10-15
heir hands still tighter in their exactions of

toll.
A notable indication of popular discOn.
tent is the present position of what is known
as the Irish Land Question. Not that the
Irish land question is very different from
the land question in any country. for the
Irish are not sinned against more than
others--more indeed. than the English and
the Welsh. The Irish laborer finds that he
cannot possibly get living out of the land
of Ireland in the way in which he is obliged
to manage and work it; and. with plenty
all around him. he starves because he has
absolutely nothing to buy food with. That
is what makes the Irish land question, and
that is what is destined to keep it Ques-
ton until it Is settled in such way that
Pat and Bridget can get living Oft the
land. No tempOriZing measure can settle
this question. Not even good harveStS can
settle it for long. for people living on the
frightful edge of starvation cannot possibly
be quiet. particularly if they live out Of
doors. Mr.. Henry George has prescrip
tion for this evil, but it is quite too radical
for this generation, and it is doubtful
whether the world will ever be ready for
it. namely. the relegation of all landlord
rights to the state. and making Ireland and
all lands public property. with the absolute
destruction OF all private property in land.
His pamphlet on 1.-THE Irish Question" is
worth any mans reading. One thing is
certain: this question will never be settled
until it is settled right 1t may take many
years for the British government to find out
what the right mode of settlement is but it
may be certain that there is constant trouble
before it until the right mode shall be found.
Co operation is another indication of the
popular discomfort. This indication is one
of an encouraging, rather than menacing
character. In Great Britain. CO, operation
in production and commerce has made great
headway, and is now recognized as an inn
pOrtant feature of the national life. The
people saw the manufacturers and mer-
chants became rich on the profits of goods
sold to them. while they remained poor and
helpless. So they set their brains to work
to secure for themselves the fruit of their
own labor, and the co operative stores and
factories are the healthful and fruitful re
suit. The day for the exercise of irrespOn
sible power over the souls. bodies. and ma
teraI interests of men has passed by. The
body of the dead Car bears witness to this.
and the protests that come to us from the
various movements to which have called
attention are warning to governments and
monopolles that henceforward the people
are to be considered; that universal human
right to the products of the soil must be rec
fair chance to win for himself and his family
a competent portion of the worlds goods.
We believe the winning of wealth to be
perfectly legitimate pursuit. Wealth has
great and benefcent uses. and the world
would 20 very slowly if money could not be
accumulated in wise and enterprising hands;
but wealth may be used to make all men
near it prosperous and happy. or it may be
used to make them poor and miserable.
When rich man is only excited by his
wealth with the desire to be richer, and goes
on to exact larger profits and to grind the
faces of the poor, in order that he may be
superfuOusly rich, he becomes inhuman and
unchristian. The Christian use of wealth
Is what we need in this country and in all
countries. 1t is not that wealth does not
give in charity. 1t is not that wealth is not
sufficiently taxed for the support of those
who are wrecked in health or fortune, but
it is that wealth does not give the people a
chance to escape from poverty; that it does
not share its chances with the poor, and
point the pathway for the poor toward
prosperity. AS a rule, wealth is only broth
erly toward wealth. and the poor man feels
himself cut off from sympathy with those
who have the power of winning money.
We may rest assured of one thing, namely,
that the poor in the future will insist on be-
ing recognized. If they are not recognized
If they are ignored in the mad greed for
wealth at any cost to them-they will make
the future a troubled and terrible one ''fOr
our children and our children's children"
RAMEOUS.
Open to Remark.