The Irish standard., 1900-11-17

uIAA formerly; IL mas cOmpletely sup
planted the linen of home making SO
commonly used in the homes Of the
peasantry In former ages. The hand
loom which gave employment to SO
many In former times, is nowhere to
be found; the small mills in which the
linen business was carried on have
likewise almost completely disap-
peared, and the entire industry is GEN.
tered in-or around Belfast which has
thus become a large manufacturing
center. 1t looks a great deal like one
of our manufacturing cities in Amerl-
ca, mills line the streets, mill chimneys
meet the eye on every side, almost, like
trees In forest. The city Is 80 much
larger than any of our manufacturing
cities in New England, such as Fail
River or Lowell, that though the above
description may appear to be an exag-
geration, still the visitor to Belfast
knows well that it is not.
The people encountered casually in
the streets do not impress one as fa-
yorably as do the inhabitants Of one
of our manufacturing cities in New
England. The mill hands on the way
to or from their work present an ap-
pearance much like the same class Of
help in America; but these same peo-
pie are by no means as neat, clean,
as well dressed, nor as intelligent or
contented looking as the people Of
our manufacturing cities when met on
the streets outside of the working
hours or when not attired in their
working clothes. The mill owners, su-
perintendents and cllief bosses in the
mills live in very comfortable-looking
homes in the most desirable parts of
the city, OH tho Antrim Road. or in the
section towards the Botanical Gar
dens. The lawns and gardens sur
rounding these, houses are attractive
looking and well cared for. The work.
ing people cannot enjoy the refresh
ing luxury Of lawns or gardens; they
live in long rows of houses, mostly two
stories high, built out to the street line.
and provided with back yards or gar
dens of any nentionable size.
Besides the linen industry, there are
extensive shipyards in and near Bel
fast which give employment to IL large
number of hands. The splendid ships
Of the White Star Line are all built in
De VOLTS shipynrd, as well rs many
other handsome and serviceAble ves-
sells. Belfast is a Protestant city, more
than two-thirds of it's Inhabitants be-
ing Protestant. The Catholics live
mostly in the southern part Of the city
they do so ut their own risk-as
they run great danger at every recur-
renee Of those fanatical outbreaks
which SO frequently disturb the peace
Of Belfast. Here in this northern city,
better than anywhere else, may the
spirit of Orange intolerance be stud
led. The Orangemen are more than
three to one. Availing themselves
of their numerical strength, every now
and then they swoop down on the
Catholics for no other reason than
that they are Catholics; insult them,
maltreat them, destroy their property,
trample on them morally and literally.
Catholics are not allowed to hold any
office OF trust or emolument, Jew.
atheist, pagan or Protestant, but not
Catholic. The present Lord Mayor
is n Jew, no Catholic dare aspire to
this or any other office in the gift of
the people. How different is this from
what takes place in Dublin! Dublin
is as Catholic as Belfast is Protestant;
yet the Catholics Of Dublin have en-
tered into an agreement whereby the
Lord Mayor Of the city may be a
Protestant every second term. This
same liberality charactcriZes the con-
duct of Catholics in their treatment
Of Protcstants, all over the country
wherever the Catholics are in the ma
jority. They live in social intercourse
with them, fraternize with them, treat
them equitably. Whereas wherever
the Protestants are in the majority, as
happens, especially in some places In
the north of Ireland, this condition Of
affairs is reversed, the Protestants are
most intolerant, spurn and condemn
their fellow Catholic citizens, abuse
them, and would deprive them Of pro-
curing livelihood, If they could. Or
angeism is an English stick literally
used in Ireland, to foment discomfort
and disunion. If Orangeism was left
to itself. that intolerant, illiberal spirit
for which it is noted, would gradually
give place to n more equitable, humane
and conservative policy, the Orange
men would live on terms of intimacy
and friendliness with their fellow.
Catholic citizens. But England wants
and uses Orangeism to govern Ireland:
whenever she wishes or whenever II
suits her purposes, she can stir VI
Orangeism to foment disorder and dis
t1nQntent, as in the recent outbreaks II
F0rtad0wn, so :ls to furnish her will,
an nvouoo fnr in+orvapfton ond ~