The Irish standard., 1900-10-27
Like dead sea fruit,
Which turns to ashes on the lips.

Like dead sea fruit,
Which turns to ashes on the lips.
The new world Of their experience
is not the new world of their imagina-
ton. Handicapped rs they are, they
find the struggle for existence in the
land of the west almost as great as in
the old country. Sad and weary, they
walk the streets day after day, their
few dollars slowly melting away, the
sadness of despair in their hearts as
they think of the old country they
have left behind them, a country
which may be aptly termed mot their
mother, but their grave" a country
where poverty is their portion, the bit
ter cup Of misery their Inheritance, a
country of signs and groans, where
there is no resting place but ''the dark
and narrow house." Poor souls! God
alone knows how many of them disap-
pear in the sad and bitter struggle to
obtain a livelihood. Far better for
them to stay at home and pine and die
on the bogs of their native land. The
irony of it. To think that the people
of Ireland are left to starve and die
within few hours journey of the
richest country in the world, country
which can spend close on hundred
millions in war, and glory in the spend
ing of it, a country which can shout
itself hoarse with aGod Save the
Queen" Rule Britannia" and SOL
diers of the Queen" but nevcr..a word
about God Save Ireland"
One of the greatest curses of Ire
land is, undoubtedly, absentee land
lordism. In no country in the world
does absenteeism exist to such an ex-
tent as in this unhappy country. In
other countries the most of the money
raised is spent in the country itself,
giving employment to the people, and,
wherever an opportunity occurs, de-
veloping new industries In Ireland,
however the reverse is the case. The
most of the money finds it's way to
London. the glittering attraction Of
smart society proving too much for
the landlords, and one of the results
of this pernicious system is that the
landlords themselves are in many
cases brought to the verge of ruin.
They move heaven and earth to gain
admittance into select circle, and
once they get there they have to enter
into competition with people of far
greater wealth. This means an extra
drain on their resources, and to meet
it they must rack-rent and oppress
their unfortunate tenants, and extort
from them every farthing they can.
The condition of the working classes
in England and Scotland has in recent
years been greatly improved. In Ire
land they are battling for the bare
necessities of life, and in many cases
they cannot even get these. 1t is, how
ever, to the agricultural laborer wish
to draw attention. A very exhaustive
report has been drawn up by Mr.. Will
son Fox on behalf of the Board of
Trade. 1t gives a statement Of the
earnings of the various classes of agri-
cultural laborers in each county Of the
three kingdoms during the year 1898.
In England the wages average 16s.
1Od.; Scotland, 1Ss Id; but in Ireland
what contrast-10s. Id. find that
in eighteen counties the wages are
less than los. week, the lowest aver
Mayo (8s. 7d.). Is it any wonder that
the people are dying Of starvation, en-
igrating and filling the warehouses;
when they are in receipt Of the NUM-
ficent sum of Ss. I'd. to support q fam
lily, pay rent, fire, clothing and school
ing? Ask yourself how you would like
to try the experiment? Is 1t any won
der that the people are crying out in
their misery? If such q state Of mat
ters existed in any country, cry Of
horror would go up from the whole. Of
Great Britain, but as it is only Ire
land she is treated with contempt
The Government of Great Britain
have lately been busily engaged in the
pleasant occupation Of painting little
more of the map British red" When
they have finished with this, it is to
be hoped that they will turn their at
tention to the affairs of Ireland. The
salvation of the country demands it..
The blighting influence Of landlordism,
excessive and unjust taxation, and
centuries of oppression have brought
the country to the verge of ruin. Let
us hope that she will yet become what
she was two centuries ago-one Of the
most peaceful and enlightened nations
in the world-what Daniel O'Connell
so earnestly wished for her:
Great, glorious and free,
| First star Of the earth, and first
gem of the sea.
Judge, your Honor" said the pris-
oner, "beore 1 enter my plea I'd like
to ask few questions" "You have
the Courts permission" "1f I go to
trial, will I have to sit here and listen