The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-01-29
AN INDUSTRIAL PRoRI.FM

president of the Irish Agricultural
Society, in which he attempts to
show that the Irish problem can
Dc solved on economic lines. The
writer is an Irish member of par,i..
ment who belongs to the Conservative
party and believes in the continuance of
tne accursed union which links ireland
TO Great Britain. In other words. he is
politically what is known as a Unionisi
though his grandfather in the Irish par
lament voted against the scheme of Pitt
and castlereagh, but afterwards took CT
hce from his country's opprcssors. Since
"rlllng the article for the Review Mr.
PlunkGtt has come to the United States.
and when passing through Chicago sub
mitted himself to an interview in which
ne sad: Il believe in fighting the battle
for lreland's emancipation between the
psow handles. Industrial develcpn,Prt
will do vastly more for Irish liberty
than oratoriral campaigns and pa.lia j.
mentary pyrotechnics.
''S 'i'''' .Nt,i ~ ulltlIfl SCEltlS, CT
which Mr.. PIunkett is president, was or
gaHizcd nine years ago and has an en-
rolment OF 10000 members throughout
the country. From it have sprung IN
cooperative dairy societies for the rs
tablishment of crcamcries in various sec
tons. In 1896 the total sales of butter
by these societies amounted to 81. $50 900
and MI Plunkett says that six cent )
mere Il pound was got for this butter
than for the regular product. So far as
the development of farm industries arc
concerned Mr. PIunkctt will find no rp-
position from lrishmen either at home or
abroad. He admits that ireland has prac-
tlcally but OnI Industry left-agriruI.
ture. and that ninc-tenths of tho DeoDln
depend solely upon it. But Mr. Plunlett
who is u privy cC'lnrilDr and a strong
Glr2nent Of Irish autonomy, appears to
have an Interior motive in advocating
this indus trial project for the amcliura-
ton CT lreland's material condition.
EUth Justin Mccarthy and John Dillon
have disconnteAanced the movement, and
they certainly would countenanrc il If it
WAS for the benefit of the country at
large 1t is only a sop thrown to Cerber,ls
and does not suffice as a complete rem
edy for Irish ills.
A contributor OF the Irish Worl!
under the initials of wv NJ c." in com
menting on Mr.. Plunkett's article i'm The
magazine. says with truth:
Any man-Irishman or Foreigner
who occupies the standpoint Of Mr..
Plunkett is practically a foe to- lreland's
peace and prosperity. And if he is in q
position of influence, where he can give
some effect to his opinions, he is opcn
to this charge of hostility. and his act
are witnesses for his conviction. Mr..
plunkctt says that "England does r.n
owe us home rule" But he knows that
England is not in the habit of paving
her debts, especially to Ireland. and
therefore it is no surprise to find him. ON
her behalf. rcpudiating them. he peo-
pie of Ireland have long since abandoned
the hope of getting England to fulfill
her engagements through the purs,lasion
or logic OF words. a great nation that
is dead to the sense OF honor and worm-
eaten with the sordd famine for other
peoples goods can repudiatc It's debts 10
a weaker nation with very light heart
"Thc lack of material prosperity in Ire
land is due to two old and coincident
causes: Alien misrulc and the interest,"
cd opposition of tho Protestant garrison
to every form OF autonomy. This latter
inimical Influence goes by the name of
Orangelsm. Although We are aware
that very few persons are actual NOM
hors Of the Orange Society, we hold that
the spirit of Orangcism dominates the
whole class that we have Indicated, and
it Influences Mr.. Plunkett himself. When
men who are connected by ancestral and
property ties to Ireland will cease 10
think of themselves as Turks encan,Dcll
In EuTorc-in it, but not OF ireland
thcn they will resume their proper in
tlucncc among Il friendly people in the
land where they dwell and work as hard
as any Nationalist for the removal Of tho
incubus of alien mlsrule as the chief
cause OF the economic misfortune OF Ire
land"
The manufactures OF Ireland receive
but slight attention from men of M.
Plunkctt's proclivities. Notwithstanding
his avowal that ninc-tentlls of the popu-
lation arc engaged in agricultural pur-
suits under the fconio,s system of land
lordism. Were Mr.. Plunkett actuatcd by
patriotic motives he would champion the
cause of tho tenant farmers from whom,
eXorbitant rents are taken by an idle
landocracy. He does nothing Of the
kind, and neither does he speak for a re.
vival of Irish factories. The more the
Irish farmers realize from improved
methods Of agriculture, the more certain
tho landlords would be OF receiving their
rents; While the more Irish goods are
manufactured for competition and sale,
the less British goods would be imported
into Ireland The more the land Is Gull
tivated and the longer the manufactures
remain extinct or languishinp the hetia or