The Irish standard., 1902-02-01

: SAeeoSS5s
s'to the security Of Ireland for the
erformance of the conditions of the
7nion by saying: No security is
.ecessary; the liberality, the justice,
he honor Of the people of Great Brit.
lin have never yet been found de-
icient.' loud laughter.)
"Well, when the unjust quota, the
'rightful war debt, and the charge
vrongfully put OH Ireland in the ac-
cunts, had done their work, the ex-
hequers were consolidated. But, m
his connection again, Liverpool prom
sed that every care should be taken,
n regulating the taxation, to pay due
'egard to local circumstances. And
yesey Fitzgerald referred to the pow
RS of exemrtion and abatement, ex-
oressly contained in the act, as pro-
Getting Ireland from the danger of the
entire weight Of taxation which the
wealth and resources of England
would enable her to support. We claim
then the recognition of the principle Of
comparative national capacity as just
and as agreed. What has happened?
Indiscriminate taxation, not ventured
atfirst, was by degrees imposed. Though
the general propositions as to individ-
uals have in the general system re-
ceived very limited recognition, no
substantial relic of the national claim
now remains. While the circumstances
Of the two countries continue so to diff.
fer that system suitable, and defects
tolerable for Britain, mar equality and
prosperity for Ireland. Justice ana
bargain are alike violated. What is
the sad history?
"For over one hundred years Ireland
has, under mock forms of freedom,
been governed, legislated for, admin
istered and taxed by Britain in a
manner contrary to the will and in
their judgment opposed to the inter.
ests and prejudicial to the prosperity
of subject nation. (Cheers.) Britain
has managed her own concerns, Irish
concerns, the joint concerns of all ac-
cording to her own views up to dan
ger point. (Cheers.)
Contrast the results, Ireland had
half as many people as Britain, she
has now one-eighth. In fifty years
she has lost, besides all her natu-
raj increase, four millions, - or near
one-half, while Britain has increased
by three fourths, or over fifteen mil
lion of souls. The Irish in large
proportions have lived in chronic
state of misery and destitution which
in Britain would have produced a rev.
olution. (Hear, hear.) The poor law
valuation of all Ireland was, in 1897,
under f3, about equal to the valuation
of the poorest East London Union.
(Hear, hear) Irish paupers were, 1864,
50 per 1000, in Britain 49-about
equal. In 1895 they were for Ireland
95-nearly doubled-and for Britain 26
about half. Emigration has sapped
the youth and vigor Of the nation; the
old and the very young remain. The
marrying age has gone up too high;
the rate of excessive births over deaths
is> less than half the English rate,
whilst the proportion of deaf mutes
is one-third larger, Of blind two-ffths,
and Of lunatics one-third. Irish man.
ufactures have largely declined. There
is a greater proportion than ever de-
pendent on the land. Thus she has
felt more acutely the depression Of
values in agriculture. These condi-
tions are all reversed for Britain.
(Hear, hear.) Ireland has hardly any
foreign commerce or investments, and
a large part of her yearly income is
drained away by absentee landlords
an. mortgages. Britain, though her
place is challenged now, is still the
great manufacturer, trader, carrier
and lender of the world, whose wealth
she drains.
1.-The capital of Ireland has been re.
duced by one-third to four hundred
millions, while that Of Great Britain
has increased seven-fold, to ten thou
sand millions. Ireland has gone down