The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-04-04
Her Dastardly Policy Towards Ire
land Impartially Re-
viewed.
Robbed by Taxation For the Sup
port of English Wars and
English Blunders.
Alarming Decrease in the Popuia-
tion and the Country Towns
in Ruins.

English den. ocraCy, in long article OF
British rule in ireland, says:
"A question connected with Ireland
which must arise almost immediately
probably IN tie next budgets that O.
its financial relation to Great Britain. 1
has taken six years for the Irish Roya
Commission to Investigate this matter
scandalous instance of government in
optitude, or perhaps duplicity, to hide
the injustice done to Ireland in this re-
spect. Since the paper union the taxa
ton OF Ireland per head has increased at
startling rate, without any adequate
corresponding advantages. She has, III
fact, been financially 'sweated' for the
benefit Of England. Before the union the
taxes in Ireland never, as the evidence
before the relay commission conclusively
proves. exceeded 9s per head; now it is
as high as E2 9s, and this, with a fall
ing population and decaying or extinct
industries In Great Britain, on the con-
trary, imperial taxation has decreased
since the beginning of the century.
Prior to ireland being incorporated in
the union the burden of England's for
eiFn policy fell on England alone. For
many years after the union had been
effected Ireland was still Indifferent to
England S imperial march, more especial
ly as she derived no share of the bene-
fiH. Notwithstanding this, however, she
was made 20 pay q very large additional
contribution to meet the expense of this
policy. even although the millions spent
on the manufacture of the munitions of
war and of naval shipbuilding were en-
tirely confined to England, a grievance
from which Ireland still suffers. The in
creased duties passed on such things as
tobacco and snuff has effectually killed
the manufacture of those articles in Ire
land, as at a previous period the prohi-
bition by English acts of parliament OF
the Irish shipping and woolen industries
wiped out these sources of industry and
income. But no class in Ireland was to
escape. In 1853 the middle people-rela-
tiyely much poorer in Ireland than in
England-were called upon for propor-
ton out Of their incomes in taxation.
Again any taxes renritted were those
chiefly affected English industries; those
Affecting Irish remained.
LAS if it were not enough, England
in her treatment of Ireland has refused
to allow her to remedy the maladmini-
stration OF her local rates. England has
q system of representative county gov
popular election of all her poor law
guardians: Ireland has not. England has
q democratic municipal franchise; Ire
land has not The local affairs of Ire
land are governed by and for the bene-
fit of the landlords, many of whom are
absentees, who thus drain from the coun-
try as effectually as if it were direct
tax several millions annually for the BEN
eft of England. Ireland, again, unlike
our colonies, or even India, is in the un-
happy position of being forced to pay
a share of the great war debt contracted
by England long before the period of the
union. -.+.
ITO the Irish account are charged an
army Of 10000 soldiers and some 10000
armed consiabulary, costing f3,500,000
annually. This is the price paid as an
alternative to self-government. The To-
cal government board. the board Of
works, the law charges are nearly as
great in Ireland as in England-facts af"
fording a stern condemnation of the in
competence of English disagreement
in Ireland and Of the injustice done to
her INDECENT population.
~ GAS three-fourths Of the taxation Of
Ireland falls upon the agricultural class
es. and as Ireland depends for her exist
ence upon agricultude, it is obvious that
relief of agricultural depression Ireland
must be first considered. The poverty of
her farmers prevents them acquiring the
machinery necessary to keep pace with
the competition of Denmark Normandy
and other European countries in dairy
rroduce. For similar reason they can
not take advantage of improved methods
Of culture or OF cattle breeding. Conse-
uuently not only is the farmer worsted in
the international contest, but the capital
value of the land is steadily falling, and
! the landlords share, therefore, is rap
idly diminishing. To the shame of
wealthy England be it said that she ex-
tracts from Ireland third of her tax
able income, while imposing on Great
4 Britain only one-sixth of hers. And what
Z cut-throat policy it is. Ireland's poverty
is England's misfortune. In the one art
icle OF tea, the lessened consumption in
Ireland owing to the migrati ton of its
q population to other countries within half
{ q acentury, represents a loss to the Eng
y 1Jsh merchants of Fl .OO0. 600 yearly. And
/ tie consumption Of all other English
manufactures in ireland has fallen pro-
I portionately. Similarly, sEngland's pol
q ICY toward Ireland has driven couple
of millions Of Irish people to compete in
,sss5 the labor markets Of Great Britain peo-
& DIE who would have much preferred TO
D Sfa III home had there been q chance OF
sa living for them in llail native
81 III inai the Irish
D iea rs,.Ysng lst