The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-02-09
4 STRANGE SrrUArIoN.

A STRANGE SITUATION.
The prevailing situation in Ireland is
most remarkable one in many respects.
1t is some two years since Mr.. Cham
berlains local government bill went into
operation, and localities in Ireland have
since been invested with the power of
selecting their own officials by what is
practically popular vote. The iniquities
of the land system have been materially
lessened in recent years in that country
and popular education and intelligence
have been steadily advancing.
Now this situation has been attended
by many varying declarations on the part
of the public characters, who on one side
or the other have been called upon to
deal with it. Michael Davitt, the best
known to Americans of the Irish Ma
tional politicians, has within that time
to the country was the continued and
increasing emigration Of it's young
people. Mr.. PIunkett, recently defeated
as a candidate for parliament, a we'll
meaning man apparently, who devoted
himself to endeavoring to promote the
material interests of the people, has
declared that the most serious wrong
involved to the country in existing con-
ditions is the absence of productive in
dustries. Mr.. Russell, Northern
Unionist, member of parliament, and ap-
parently a public-spirited man, recently
placed himself in opposition to the gov
eminent in Ireland by insisting upon
the principle of land purchase, and with
in day or two a candidate In the
County of Down, representing his plat
form, was elected over the government
candidate.
Now in the face of all these clear ex-
pressions of public sentiment the most
pear to have to offer to the people Of
Ireland is the prospective policy OF re-
ducing their representation in the
British parliament combined with a re-
fusal to take any additional steps IA
cilitating the purchase Of the land by the
people from the landlords. Mr.. Cham
berlain, the real head of the British
government, in all his public utterances
of late has assailed and threatened the
Irish people through their parliamentary
representatives. Lord Salisbury, the
nominal ana sentimental head Of the
government, has given himself over to
contemptuous and abusive references to
the Irish in all his public utterances,
including that delivered within a. few
days. There is nowhere on the part of
a government official proposal Of any
kind for the pacification or the better.
ment of the condition of the masses Of
the Irish people in Ireland.
And yet when England was confronted
by a tremendous crisis in South Africa,
following upon the defeat and destruction
of her forces by the Transvaal farmers,
politicians and press alike in England
We'd with each other in extolling the
bravery and devotion Of the Irish people
and gave to the Irish soldiers in the
Transvaal the larger measure of the
credit for the heroism displayed by her
majestys troops. The late queen, In
recognition of the services of the Irish
soldier, visited ireland after a lapse of
fifty years.
To an American these remarkable con-
ditions practically admit Of no expIana-
ton. They are what Is termed IAN un-
armed rebellion prevailing among the
Irish people in Ireland, and there is an
absurd controversy existing between the
members Of the Irish parliamentary party
and the chief secretary for ireland as to
the extent and Importance of the politi-
cal movement represented by that "un-
armed rebellion
What do the Irish want2 They want
more secure foothold in their own land
and the ownership Of the soil of the Island
which has been wrested from them and
invested in comparatively few repre-.
sentatives of British ascendency. They
want to see the people made self-support-
ing. not only through the soil but through
internal industries. What little has been
done for them in present years has pro-
duced excellent results. Yet to all Of
these demands Lord Salisbury and SEQ.
retary ChamberIain's only response Is
that If the people do not behave then-
selves their representation in parliament
viii be cut off, ana If they do not desist
from their political agitation and their