New-York tribune., 1900-04-22
THE IRISH CAPITAL.
s7-NS OF INCREASED PROSPERITY AND
CoNTFNTMENT-T SUBTLE
ATTERY-AN AMERICAN COM
PITMENT THAT WILL BE
DESERVED.
Dublin. Anril G.

Nationalist
benches Of Parliament is the unhappiest OF
.,--,es impoverished. discontented and hope
les one q the most prominent members of the
parliamentary group informed ne not long ago
-, be did not ike 70 cross the Irish Sea to the
.,o,s because the riseries Of the people sad
- hin and overwhelmed him with feel
..r ~ gloom hope that I am not lacking in
..-sffritv hut the island does not make any
,sf-s-r appeal 10 my sympathies as Erin sad
and forsaken-' speak not as an enemy, but
= friend for my own scrapbooks contain
,,,s-e5e Il articles written IN support OF Mr
f-is5s-one's Home Rule policy. and not one IN
s.-1ra-heric sentence respecting the Nationalist
,.,,ee There IS a new ireland. with many un-
ss-,led questions. and with a narrow range of
,-sls--tsI activities. but it is more hopeful more
r-7sperous. more peaceable and less resentful
..sr The ireland 0f the last decade
TIE Nationalist members VIII not admit that
~ IRISH question has been settled except local
o,var---ert am not disputatious and am
zfr,-g 70 accept their inventory OF the work
.rs- remains unfinished. II includes the na-
.io-sI question. which they are convinced can
not be settled without Home Rule Parliament
- College Green. There IS the land question.
vbirh as they contend. requires the abolition of
tsr5lo~disrn and the dual system Of landholding.
There Is also tho evfcted tenant question. for
H''l---h'A-
tIler q the soil 10 the land Of which he has
been dispossessad. There is a religious ques-
-,o- which leads UP 70 the endowment Of
E7o-ar Catholic university. and the next Parlia-
--e-r is Vel nigh certain 70 take II up. There
Is also e labor question. which calls for a cot
taee and an acre Of ground for every agri-
cultural lab0rer and town artisan. and this
comes fully within the province Of the new
local councils. f they can discover ways and
means q carving out q scheme OF collectivism,
which English and Scotch local bodies are ten
tativelv considering. An endless vista Of agita-
ton and unrest opens before the eyes Of spec
tators who listen 10 the Nationalist list Of
ouestiors 10 be settled before the ever faithful
island can De happy, contented and prosperous;
bu- when they come 10 ireland they find at
onee evidence Of a substantial Improvement in
the condition q the people. The pathos Of pow
erty IS here. as II is also TO be found in Eng
ush and Scotch cities and rural districts; but
there are also signs that ireland has had its
share II The IarCess Of the marvellous pros
perity Of the United Kingdom during a decade
Of good times.
Ny own conviction, based upon the impress
sions Of previous journey il ireland and upon
careful study Of its economic history as related
by NJ Lecky. Is that the 1aisfortUnes Of the isl
and are largely due 10 the lack Of urban indus
profitable agriculture. That is a point which
Irishuen have never been willing 20 consider
When they have been naturaItzed in America
and have steadily voted for low tariffs and free
trade II their share in the Industrial prosperity
Of the United Kingdom be smaller than il ought
70 be- Il is mainly because they have been forced
back upon the land when agriculture has been
ruined BY free trade. and because they have
lacked a large and effective range Of manufact-
Ures. I do not perceive that the Nationalist
inventory Of grievances needing 10 be redressed
Includes this important entry Of diversIication
o. industries and empIoyments, without which
the Island whether with or without 4 Parlia-
nent on College Green, viii be shut out from
the fun enjoyment Of a proporuonate share IN
British prosperity.
L Is evident however that with the subsid-
ence of political and agrarian agitation such
manufacturing Industries as there are have been
extended and that certain branches Of agri-
culture notably stock raising and dairy farm
ing. have become more profitable The purchas-
ing power u the island has been increased, as
IS shown by the revenue returns. and the saw
ings - an classes, in town and country alike,
have been multiplied. as the postof5ce statistics
bear record. The war in South Africa, against
which Irish politicians have inveighed has been
particE ar5y helpful 70 the island on account OF
fhe immense shipments OF horses, forage and
agricultural supplies al high prices II Dublin
to-day is a wideawake. enterprising and thrifty
boxing city in place Of the faded desolate cap
fla vhich strangers expect 10 see. il IS because
he island back of il has come out OF the Slough
o. Despan5 and is blessed with increased pros
Deriry
i Is clear that the Queens visit has been well
tined in several respects The island is not
only more prosperous than II has been but It
IS also well pleased with the results Of the new
system = local government. The tenant farm
ers. .ab9rers and artisans have accepted re-
sponsihllity FOR local administration, and the
act has proved 10 be- a substantial and practical
Measure n reform. The functions OF the thirty
three new councils are restricted and economy
and ret-enchment are enforced by the lack Of
financial resources. but local questions have
been taken up with practical intelligence. and
ihere has been no abuse Of administrative power.
II every lab0rer and tenant farmer has been
converted into politician and a wirepuIer. no
harin has been done, for the councils have
power % tax the masses alone. and the details
q local administration are now understood IN
every village. The operation of the new act has
D7en satisfactory and ha~ tended 70 increase
Pubic contentment. i has also offered 4 strik-
hg proof ~ the capacity Of the Irish people for
sef-gav-rument.
TIE services - Irish soldiers have also been
rendered conspicuous al d time when Imperial
interests have fascinated the Intelligence Of the
eolon-es and intensified British loyalty through
our The world The Queen in coming to Dublin
1lr!n2 The storm and stress Of war has paid the
greatest compliment to the island which she
cou-e oestow. She has said not IN word bat
n oeec, How could nay great Empire be de-
i-aoed without Irish generals and irish SOL