The Irish standard., 1901-05-18
A Disastrous and Unwilling Partnership
Between Great Britain and
The Green Isle.
Taxing the Poorest Country on Earth to
Place the Yoke of Slavery
Upon the Beers.

The following able address of John
e. Redmond, chairman of the Irish
parliamentary party, was delivered in
the British House of Commons on
April 1S in reply to the budget speech
of Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, chancel-
ilor Of the exchequer:
II have reason to take brief share
in the discussion of this matter to-
night, because feel it is important
that the voice Of Ireland should be
heard, and heard clearly and distinct
ly, with regard to the extraordinary,
disastrous, and I will say, disgraceful
financial situation which was set be-
fore the country in the speech Of the
chancellor Of the exchequer tonight
Nrish cheers). In the first instance,
allow me with very great respect to
offer to the chancellor of the ex-
chequer the need of my sincere ad-
lniration for his speech. have sell
dom listened to any speech which i'm
pressed me more with a sense Of it's
honesty. The thought that was in my
mind all through that speech from be-
ginning to end, as listened from half
hour to half hour to the disastrous
tale unfolded, was what misfortune
it was for my country to be tied up in
a partnership with Great Britain
0rish cheers).
"It is one Of the chief commonplaces
of the controversy on this Irish ques-
ton that forsooth it is an advantage
to a poor country like Ireland to be
in partnership with rich and prosper
GUS country like Great Britain. Why,
sir, the exact opposite is the result
(hear, hear. What interest has Ire
land in this enterprise, which neces-
states an expenditure Of nearly 200,.
100000 in one financial year? I say
she has absolutely none (Irish cheers).
And 1 say it is absolutely disastrous
for Ireland to be in partnership with
rich country like England when
she is forced to pay share, and too
large share, venture to say, for
these enterprises taken up solely for
the benefit Of the richer partner.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer
has pointed out that the de-
felt with which he had to deal was
not a deficit entirely due to the war,
but is due also to the growth of or
dinary expenditure (cheers).
"1 ask what consolation is that to
Ireland? Irish cheers and what is
the nature Of this bloated ordinary
expenditure which is necessitating a
large increase in your financial liza
bilities year after year? The chief
increase in your expenditure has aris-
en- in connection with your army and
navy. If were a British member
would agree with the chancellor Of the
exchequer when he said that the popu-
lar feeling was that there should be q
strong navy. Yes; but I ask the men,
bers candidly to address their minds
to the question as to what benefit Ire
land, as separate entity, gets from
your navy? (hear, hear). The object
Of the navy is not to protect Ireland
: from invasion. The value Of the navy
to your country is that it is the great
insurance for your commerce (hear,
hear). But Ireland has no commerce
on the seas, and so far as the navy is
concerned this increased expenditure,
which may commend itself to the pop
ular mind in Great Britain cannot
commend itself to our minds (Irish
cheers.
"We say it is absolute extravaganza.
The same is true of the expenditure on
the army. And when it is pointed out
to us that this enormous deficit is due
not only to the war, but to the in
crease Of ordinary expenditures neces-
STATED by the raising of your army
and navy votes to sixty millions a
year, I say that it is no consolation
to Ireland, for she is forced against
her will and against her interests to
pay more than her share to this ex.
penditure. (Cheers) Some one said
in the course Of the debate, think it
was the chancellor Of the excheQuer,
that he knew no party in this House