The Irish standard., 1892-09-10
IRISH HOME RULE.
An Eloquent Presentation of the
Subject Before a Scotch Audi
ence by Lady Aberdeen.
TELLING FIGURES
SOM E
Which Prove That Irish Catholics
are Absolutely Free from
Religious Intolerance.

At q largely attended meeting of la
dies held under the auspices of the Ber-
wickshire Woman's Liberal Association,
the Countess of Aberdeen delivered an
admirable address in favor of Irish Home
Rule. She was listened to with rapt at
tention and enthusiasm by the vast as
semblage, which included many of the
most prominent ladies and gentlemen of
the country. A portion of Lady Aber~
deems address is herewith given:
But let us inquire little more closely
into the real state of affairs in this Uls~
ter, for whose sake we are to turn deaf
ear to the rest of Ireland. a most care
full little pamphlet on the subject has
been compiled by the Dumbartonshire
Liberal Association, bringing up to date
as far as possible, figures published in
1886 by the Irish press agency, and [
hope our literature committee will adopt
it, and may spread it through the cons1i-
tuencies, far and wide, as q weapon
wherewith to pierce the armor of these
would-be Ulster defenders [Cheers. ]
Ulster is generally represented as the
weal5hiest, the most thriving, the most
educated, aud the province having the
most manufactures in Ireland. On ac-
count of these it is supposed to have a
right to be heard before any other parts
Of Ireland. But let us betake ourselves to
the dry figures Of official returns and see
if they bear out this supposition. And
first, Ulster is not the wealthiest prev
ince, though it has the largest popula-
tion. This is proved by returns concern
ing the income tax assessment, and also
by returns giving the valuation Of rat
able property in every county and bor-
ough constituency, province by province.
Both of these returns give Leinster the
first place, Munster the second and Uls~
ter the third. Do you want to see how
Ulster stands concerning her manufac-
lures? You will find in these returns
that the profits arising from all kinds of
business, not agricultural. place I1ein-
| ster first, Ulster second, even when the
government establishments in Dublin
are deducted as being exceptional to that
province. Then take a few other statis-
tics. If we inquire which province has
the largest number Of holdings paying
! under e6 rental it is Ulster-U]ster, 207, =
1888: Connaught, 128,2l4; Munster, 1885,
427, and Leinster $4,000. Ulster has
more than Leinster and Munster put to-
gether. Which province has most Of the
lowest class Of dwellings rated at se1 and
under? Again it is Ulster-Ulster, 152 :
400; Connaught, 1o5,008; Munster, 49,
632; and Leineter, S5.040; thereby allot-
ing to Ulster one-third of the worst
houses in Ireland And which has most
of the best class of houses rated at over
912? Ulster is completely distanced by
Leinster-Leinster, 1915; Ulster, H.
$50, Munster, s, ,698; and Counaught 2,452.
Is Ulster the most educated province?
| Again it is mo-" according to the 1881
census -Leinster, 38.5 per cent. litter
ates; Ulster, 534; Munster, 53.2; and Con
naught, 415. The claim OF Ulster to be
so far ahead Of the other provinces falls
to the ground. It can easily be proved
that from advantages Of geographical
position the whole Of the east of ireland
is in advance of the west. But how
would it be possible for an Irish Parlia-
meDt, with the figures have given you,
to pereecute Ulster by imposing taxes
on her which would not affect other
parts of Ireland as much or more? We
must remember, too, that Ulster could
not claim separate voice even on the
plea that she was predominantly Protest
ant-what is termed Loyalist. That can
only be said of the northeast corner of
Ulster, including three counties or rather
more. In the rest, or three-quarters of
Ulster, the Roman Catholics are two to
one. As we know out of 33 members
| Ulster sends II Nationalists to Parlia-
ment. It is then this quarter of Ulster
that in Lord Salisbury's words "dreads
being put under the feet Of their heredi-
! tary irreconcilable enemies" Is there
shred of argument to be found to sup
port such phrase in the experiences OF
the half million or SO Of Protestants who
are scattered over the rest of Ireland, for
the most part small communities, ,hemmed
in by large Catholic population? Have
they any reason Of complaint? Do they
speak Of being tyrannized over or terror
lied? Have Roman Catholic constitu-
encies shown themselves backward in