The record-union., 1898-01-16

proportion to England. being over
taxed TO the extent of t., 900 per
annuln, has had a certain effect on the
Irish conservatives. and this year we
have seen the principal land owners
throughout the country, north as welt
as south, demanding in no unmeasuerd
terms fiscal reform, and we have the
unusual spectacle of Nationalist and
Conservative members OF Parliament
speaking from the same platform and
demanding that England should cease
10 rob Ireland.
AT q meeting at Cork early this year.
presided over by Lord Bandon, Lord
Castletown said that England would
have to grant reforms of taxation in
Ireland, or Europe would soon hear OF
an irish question as they hear to-day
of an Armenian question, and he went
on TO remind England that she had lost
America and that she might yet lose
Ireland
But the majority of these Irish land
lords have still much to learn of poIit-
zeal wisdom, national honesty aud
honor The financial relations agita-
ton was going along splendidly. and
the English Government was begin
ming TO be seriously preoccupied and
anxious over this united action taken
by the classes it had SO long succeed
ed III Playing Off against one another.
when suddenly, without any apparent
cause. the movement on the Conserva,-
tive side began TO flag and many of
the landlords ceased attending the
meetings. Then we learned that some
OF them We're contemplating as dis
graceful a piece Of treachery as could
be imagined. They We're endeavoring
TO make private terms for themselves
with the Government in the hope Of
being able to raise their rents. The
Land Commission inquiry just held in
Dublin was the result
NATIONAL SPIRIT GROWING
STRONGER
l believe, however, that the greater
part OF the Irish Conservatives con-
denim this treacherous action. and the
financial relations agitation is being
continued with vigor
am very hopeful Of the future The
national spirit throughout Ireland is
stronger and healthier than ever. There
is a great spiritual and literary move
ment growing up. The genius of the
past which once made Ireland the
great center of learning and art of the
world seems awakening in the Celtic
race.
Next year the century Of our great
struggle for freedom will give us a.
grand opportunity of asserting our ma
tional rights before the world and or
disproVing the calumnies and false
hoods which England is ever seeking
to spread abroad about us She as
sures the world that the Irish people
are incapable of lf-government ana
that they are really content With her
rule.
The delegations from all liberty-lov-
ing countries who will ocme next year
to take part with us in the great ma
tional pilgrimage which we are or
sanizinS to visit all the battlefields OF
1i9S, where the loyal Irish peasants.
armed only with their courage and
their love of our native land. fought
against the regular troops of England
and were not subdued until England
had concentrated 10000 soldiers I'm,
Ireland-these foreigners will see in the.
thousands and thousands of exiled
Irish Who will return to do honor to
the heroes and martyrs of liberty that
the irish race. no matter what the po-
htical dissensions of their leaders. are
united, and that the whole race is de-
termined to be free and are only waft-
ing favorable opportunity of becom--
ing SO in fact.-New York Herald.