The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-11-24
renters every year. Three millions are

renters every year. Three millions are
extracted annually in over taxation
an over-taxation which is callously
levied despite the decisive verdict Of
an English Special commission: Col
onel Chamberlain commands an army
of military men, facetiously termed
policemen" who could be reduced to
five thousand without endangering
LAW and order" i'll any properly gov
erned country. In fact the burdens
on the nations industry which must be
removed are almost innumerable. And
strong, persistent, and determined
agitation for the redress of all these
grievances and for the restoration Of
our native Parliament would arouse
the interest of the young men, induce
them to band themselves together and
take their part in the battle as work
ing members of their local organiza-
tions and KEEP the struggle going, in
the confident hope of soon prospecting
as citizens of an Ireland governed by
it's people for their own benefit.
But, outside the purely political
question, there are other means of
keeping the workers of Ireland a,
home. The landlords and the govern
ment rob us. SO do the British manu-
facturers whose goods are bought by
Irishmen and Irish women every year
tothe eNtrntof millions Of pounds while
the Irish manufacturers who use Irish
materials and employ Irish labor are
forced to seek markets across the
seas in countries where every article
is heavily taxed. More than a century
and a half ago Dean Swift advised the
Irish people to 'burn everything that
comes from England except her
GOALS" Ordinary selfshness, as we'll
as the practical patriotism which ought
to sway all our actions, should induce
every Irish man and woman to prefer
Irish-manufactured goods of all kinds
to the inferior articles made to sell in
Ireland by English tradesmen. Every
shilling paid for cloth imported from
England helps to keep British work
er in prosperity. And millions of
pounds of money earned in Ireland an
nually find their way into the pockets
of the English manufacturers, the
English workmen, and the English
wholesale traders. while tens of thou
sands of the Irish toilers go to Amer
lea or Australia seeking for the EN-
ployment thus wilfully and ignorantly
denied them by their fathers and their
! mothers at home.
There are few things which the
ordinary Irish family require which
are not made in Ireland.
Yet there are few things which the
same Irish family buy every year
which are not made in England.
zone of the objects set forth in the
Constitution of the United Irish
League. is
"A National agreement for the use
of Irish manufactures, and Il prefer
ence for articles of Irish manufacture
in public contracts. so far as practic
able
If this were acted up to in the spirit
and in fact-if, for even six months
every Irish purchaser of goods insisted
upon getting homemade articles-Wt
should find ourselves on the eve of :
new era of prosperity. We trust the
branches of the United Irish League
will give immediate and practical at
tention to this item of the Nationa
programme A resolution embodyins
it should be passed at every meeting
throughout the country; and the care
less and ignorant who may be dis,
posed to go on in the old suicidal way
should be taught that wearing a suit
of clothes made of Brummagem shod
DIV while tens of thousands of Irisl
boys and girls are flying from the lant
|
for want of the employment which
might be theirs at home, is almost as
black a sin against the Irish Cause as
grabbing the farm of racllrente(
cvicted tenant. The organization is al
excellent medium for giving practical
effect to one of it's own leading prin
ciplcs, and we urge upon its leaders
the necessity of so utilizing it.
| While striving to fill the hearts OF
the people with hope and to revive tho
shrinking Industries of the country
let us preach continually against the
sin of emigration. The pulpits ant
affairs of the island, the columns OF
the newspaper press. the politica
platforms, and all the channels OF
public opinion that influence the PEG
pie, should be persistently used ii
persuading the young men and wome1
who look forward to life beyond tho
seas that their Own welfare and til.
highest interests of their country are
being sacrificed to this mania fol
Seeking their fortunes" abroad. Ru
ined towns, depopulated villages, un
titled fields, half-empty churches