The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-08-04
pLuNDER1NG THE IRISH PEOPLE.

TIC Dill W present TWO lHlluOllS Oh
fund belonging to the Irish people to
the landlords passed the English House
of Commons on Monday night by ma
jority OF thirty-six, says the Dublin
Freeman's Journal OF July FL. 1t is the
latest development OF the policy Of con-
fscation in Ireland The fund from
which these two millions-or to be ac-
curate 100000 and $4,000 year-are
taken was the remnant of the vast prop
erty once set aside in Ireland by state
and by people for the support of the
church and the support of the poor.
The story OF that fund is one long story
of plumber. The landlords OF the TIT
doris day first ravaged it. Then it fell
under the not less disastrous ravagcs OF
clerical adventures from across the
channel, who came to convert the Irish
people. Though ultimately diverted to
the support OF Professionalism in Ireland.
the Irish Protestant parliament again
and again dipped its hands deeply into
it for the purpose of enriching the class
to which the members of parliament
mainly belonged. At the date of the
communication act the landlords received
another huge slice of the property from
the British parliament. When the
church act passed, terms were agreed on
between the landlords and MIR. Glad
stone by which the former, without any
increase in their annual payments, might
relieve themselves of all liability for
1.-THE. These terms were denounced by
the Tories of the day as a "sacrilegious
bride" to the landlords for asserting to
the disestabEshment of the church. But
the Tories OF today, including some Of
the loudcst critics OF the extravagant
generosity of Gladstones contract with
the landlords, have now discovered that
the terms of the bride are too onerous,
not for the public, which they alleged to
have been cheated, but for the landlords,
who they asserted were bought. No
justification whatever has been offered
for the plumber The sole reason for it
is the fact that the British treasury has
received all that it can claim, upwards
of nine millions plus thirty years in
tcrest, out OF the fund. AS long as the
treasury had claim no outsider need
apply. When f1oo,ooo was asked from
the fund for the evicted tenants it was
declared by Mr. Arthur Balfour and
Mr.. T. w. Russell that the fund could
not afford it, that it was practically
bankrupt and could not discharge its
obligations Now two millions are
found in this bankrupt fund to give away
to the landlords. The whole thing is a
monstrous fraud upon the Irish rate
payers. For the fund belongs to them.
The church surplus was set apart by
Mr.. Gladstone to meet demands arising
out OF an unavoidable calamity on the
Irish rates. One purpose especially
commended was the care of the insane.
The two millions now given to the land
lords would pay the debt OF nearly every
asylum board in the country to the
treasury. But so far no board has re-
ccived single sixpence. Let us hear
no more from the Conservative party
about "thc rights Of property, or about
dishonesty in public affairs. 1t has
legalized fraud and plumber; and Lord
Cadogan's reign i'll Ireland will be
memorable hereafter for one OF the big
gcst Steals OF public money ever Ell
iected under parliamentary government.