New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-07
THE NEEDS OF IRELAND.

Mr.. G.. W. Stevens, well known rs shrewd
observer and accurate and iluminative reporter.
has been making n tour through the so-called
famine stricken region OF Ireland and printing
in 1.-The London Daily Mail'' the results of his
invests cations. He went ''In search Of fam
ine" but, as he bluntly puts II, he didn't find
IT," and that was because, as he Is convinced
and rs the people themselves testify, none ex-
lists. He did find, however, great suffering and
need among the people, such MS might readily be
allevated If only the task were properly under
taken.
The fundamental factor In the problem Is the
Irish peasant hmself-"the most adorable and
the most impossible person IN the world" He
is not skilled in agriculture. He Is not cncr-
getic nor thrifty. He has much Of tho sim
plicity OF childhood In his makeup. and he re-
quires to be treated ir "A measure ms child
That is, he should be taught md helped and
led You cannot drive him. and II you try, the
attempt will prove disastrous. You cannot al
together trust him 10 do the best for himself
even when You have put into his hands the
means OF doing well. lie needs guardian who
understands and sympathizes with him and
who Is neither stern and arbitrary. rs the aver
age Englishman would be. nor softly indulgen'.
as fellow Irishman would be- Such n
guardian would teach him TO grow more crops
than one TO eradicate the potato disease. to be
Industrious and TO he thrifty. Such Is Mr..
Stcevens's view Of the case, and II Is we'll COM
mended TO common-sense.
But where Is the guardian 10 be foundl The
question IL not easily to be answered. MT
Stevens does not answer II. But he intimates
pretty clearly what the answer should be, or
perhaps should have been in advance OF the
present sore necessity. Il think" he says, "a
Landlord who draws rent from the land and
makes II no return, In the shape OF residence
land intelligent supervision OF his tenants, Is
little better than a robber." That Is a hard
saying, but one hesitates to dispute It's Justice
But that is not all. II think" continues Mr.
Stevens. that n political leader who dlscour
'ages his followers from sclf-help or from max
ling an honest living Is little better than n
traitor to them" That too, is a hard saying
but it would be difficult to deny successfully It's
entire pertnence And finally. IL think n
peasant who whines for charity with his
hands In his pockets and pipe In his mouth
is little better thnn criminal"
There you have the whole case, without fear
or favor The peasant Is, no doubt, most
blamed. If he were not Wnat ne ~ neither inc
landlords selfish neglect nor the politicians
selfish seductions would be one-half as malefc
as they are But the peasant Is not Justly TO
be blamed 40 much because he Is what no is by
virtue Of heredty and OF centuries OF mingled
neglect and abuse. What he might have been
under happier auspices we may not say. But
we are justified in reckoning that he Is what he
is largely because he has been made so by those
who might have made him something else and
something better The politician is severely TO
be blamed, and he well deserves 1t. He has,
for his own selfish profit and advancement dis
couraged the peasant from bettering his condl-
ton. But back Of al lies the absentee land
lords fault, for II he had done his duty there
would have been no opportunity for the poll
t,cian 10 get in his wicked work.
The need now Is not charity, but assistance
10 self help and guidance therein. The Irish do
not want to become q nation of paupers. They
have rich country, sufficient to maintain them
all in high prosperity. They need an opening
OF the way to get from that country all that
nature designed It to give. That Is not nm easy
need to supply. II would be easier TO give them
aims. But Il Is need that must be supplied II
Ireland is ever to be prosperous and contented
and II the Empire Of which It Ia part Is over
to have rest from agitation.