The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1894-04-28
MINNEAPOLIS PAUL, SATURDAY, APRIL

The petition of the House of Lords tc
the King represented that "the growing
manufacture of cloth in Ireland, by the
cheapness Of all sort OF necessaries OF
life, and the goodness of materials for
making all manner Of cloth, doth invite
your subjects of England, with thei1
families and servants, to leave their hab-
itations and settle here, TO the increase
of the woollen manufacture. in Ireland
which makes your loyal subjects in this
kingdom very spprehensive' that the
further growth of it may greatly pre-
jud1ce the old manufacture here" The
King yielded. Here is his reply to the
petitions: II shall do eli that in me lies
to discourage the woollen trade in Ire
land, and to encourage the linen manu-
facture there, and to promote the trade
of England" So the Irish Parliament
was applied to complete the infamous
work which the English Parliament had
begun.
One may we'll wonder, in these days,
when we are crying out FOR a Parliament
of our own, how it is that an Irish House
of Commons in those days could have
been willing to lend hand in the work
of destroying the prosperity OF their
country. Well, in the first place, the
members who constituted the House
we're servile, traitorous band; and in
the second place if they had independ'
ence or patriotism, they burst not bulge
against the ukase of William. Poyn-
ing's act hampered and trammelled
them, and for all practical purposes
there might as well have been no Irish
Parliament at all.
The linen trade received no encourage
ment whatever until 1705-six years
after the final blow had been giving to
the woollen trade, and no bountles came
until l743, when, AS the same writer tells
us, s'the country had sunk into a con-
dition of appalling wretchedness." AS
for the hempen manufacture it was 40
solutely discouraged.
The first result Of the law affecting wool
was contraband trade with France.
The Irish coast was eminently suited to
the carrying on Of such trade with
comparative impunity. The law COM
PEELED the Irish to sell their wool to the
English at their own price or to keep it
at home, Thus England had at once a
virtual mon nopoly Of the woollen trade,
and the opportunity of purchasing the
best wool in the world at the lowest pos
sible price. Naturally enough the Irish
revolted at the idea Of disposing Of their
goods in such market. So the SNUG
Cling began. From every bay or the
Irish coast the prescribed article contin-
ued to be shipped from day to day, and
the influx of Irish wool gave distinct
impetus to the woollen trade in France
in fact, raised it to the dignity Of riv-
airy with that of England. In Ireland
fleece wool cost shilling g pound; in
France it was sold for half crown; in
Ireland combed wool costs shilling; in
France it fetched 4 8. 6 i. Moreover,
French wool mixed with Irish produced
most excellent cloth, and one sack of
Irish wool was enough to work up three
of French. A unique system ct snug
Cling was carried on between the two
countries. Over to France went the
wool, and back, in return, came cargoes
of brandy, wines snd silks. This con-
traband trade had downright legitim-
ate favor about 1t. 1t won the sym.
pathy of almost everybody in Ireland,
and there were few, indeed, who did not
profit by it., It f1ourished for years, and
proved q pretty thorn in the side of
England. The efforts to stop it were
long fruitless. It was impossible to cope
with the lnnumerable sloops that glided
over from day to day to Brest and
Rochelle. On land and sea the govern
ment were alike powerless. If a snug
gler were actually captured, it was
found impossible to secure a conviction,
It the grand jury did not do their duty
that is to say, throw out the bill-the
petty jury came to the rescue and ac-
quilted the prisoner. They had unit
ed Ireland then. Protestant and Catho-
lie joined hand in hand to resist that in
famous law. But, alas, this did little to
atone for the blow that England had
struck. The best blood in the land was
drained away in that dreadful time.
Two forces were at work; on the one hand
the Legislative battery which had opened
fire on the woollen trade; on the other,
q peetilent set who strained every nerve
to convert every available strip Of tillage
into pasture. The grazier, with whom
we have had to grapple so sternly in re-
cent years, went to work with will;
thousands Of families were turned out OF
their homes; thousand Of houses were
leyelled, and the smiling cornfielde be-
came pastures In which cattle took the
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