The Irish standard., 1897-05-29

In the hands Of the creatures Of the
government. There are twice too many
judges in Ireland, and the Irish lord
chancellor, with his $4,000 a year, is
paid more than the whole fifteen judges
Of Belgium. The useless lord lieutenant
swallows 100000, and other unneces-
sary officials in proportion.
What we suggest is that the taxes of
Ireland should not be decreased, but
that forthwith an annual subsidy Of
e2,0o0, 900 should be paid to develop it's
resources. There is a host of ways in
which this could be done. Light rail-
ways are needed in many districts; the
drainage and reclamation Of vast tracts
of Ireland from the bog has long been
deemed necessary; there is the vital
question of the reafforestation of the
country; of the encouragement of its
fisheries; of the improvement of edu-
cation; of helping the tenantry to- be-
come peasant proprietors. 1t will be
found that these reforms will swallow
up the greater part of the two millions
which we propose should be spent on
Ireland as slight return of the thieves
booty, and as means of pacifying and
remedying long-standing grievance.
We are sincerely sorry that the lead
ers of Irish parties, with the exception,
perhaps, of Mr.. Redmond. do not ex-
hibit more practical spirit. The Irish
question is primarily a bread-and
question. It is a question of "put
money in thy purse" Fine speeches
'"full Of sound and fury, signifying
nothing" will not effect this end. The
world is sick of speeches. There is
nothing it abhors more than these OPT
ate-draughts of words. Action, not
verbiage, is wanted. And more partic-
ularly as the chancellor of the exche
quer, Sir M. Hicks-Beach, has declared
that England means to continue the role
of imperial pickpocket; that pauper Ire
land is to be stripped of her last rag;
that her people will be denied all rem
edy except that last and most cruel one
leaving their native country to find a
new home among strangers.
This, then, is the outcome Of Victorian
legislation. Ireland, certainly, can take
no part in the Diamond Jubilee, for the
sixty years of the queens reign has been
one long record of starvation and mis-
cry in Ireland. The queen, it is we'll
known, has rooted dislike to Ireland,
and she has shown it by leaving that
portion of her dominions severely alone.
She can run of to foreign countries,
but she never visits Ireland. Did she
not even offend the "loyalists" Of the
North by recording in her published
diary that the women there are exces-
sively ugly, while those in the South are
pretty?
Ireland sits at England's side, sullen
and discontented. England is sur
rounded by enemies; yet her own house,
hold is at war. And the whole cause Of
this misgovernment and this perpetual
worry is that this country is governed
by the classes-money lords and land
lords-whose incessant occupation is
scheming new plans of monopoly and
swindling.
The French had short way with
such gentry. They cut of their heads.
So also had the English in the time of
the republic. Cromwell did not hesitate
to lop aristocratic heads when it became
necessary for the veal of the commons
At no time have we been so much in the
power of the aristocracy as at present.
They have woven a fine, subtle web in
which the democracy are enmeshed.
The poor man who votes for member
of the classes is himself a greater crimf-
nal than our thieving governors. The
locusts are devouring the land, and our
people are asleep.