The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-03-27
Present Land Measure, Says
Judge 0'Gorrnan, Sure Remedy.
MEANS MUCH FOR The FUTURE.
Irish Would Be Content Under Government
Like That Of Australia or
Canada.

New York. March FIN this land
measure" said Judge James A o'Gorman
OF the Supreme court, when seen at the
Democratic club last night. II see the
beginning or the end or seven centuries
OF strife and some little reparation for
unparalleled atrocities 70 which the Brit
ish government has subjected the Irish
people.
1T : the one sensible step taken by
the British government to overcome the
hostility OF the Irish peple IL
means much for the future OF Ireland
and means just as much for the future
OF England
For the last one hundred years tho de-
msnd OF great majority or the Irish
people has been for local parliament.
Under a wise and benefcent imperial
government the Irish people would be
content with the same measure of home
rule that the people OF Australia and
Canada have had for many years.
THE only excuse offered by England
for not giving Ireland this measure OF
local government. has been an unfounded
fear and mistrust OF the Irish people.
Nothing tends to make a people more
contented and conservative than their
own possession of the land OF their coun-
try. While the Irish people owners OF
the soil Of Ireland. the fear OF the Eng
lish people should certainly disappear,
and / am quite confident that this bene-
ficent land measure is but the precursor
OF a policy which will result in the res
toration Of the Irish parliament of which
the Irish people were despolled in 1875.
through the most corrupt methods known
In the history OF free governments ~~"
1T has been well known for years that
the present British Parliament has been
wholly incapable OF doing more than car
ing for imperial questions and In oonse-
quence II has entirely neglected all gov
ernmental questions of purely local char
acter affecting Ireland, Scotland, England
and Wales.
1T is believed by many that the present
necessities of the kingdom require In each
OF the four countries named local legis-
lature, occupying toward the imperial
Parliament the same position that our
state legislatures bear toward our federal
congress.
NEW DAY FOR IRELAND.
'T hail this land measure as the dawn
of new day for Ireland and as the har-
binger Of prosperity and tranquility
which the Irish people have never known
since the invader first put foot on Irish
soil 700 years ago.
Heretofore the British government has
pursued consistently unwise as we'll as
cruel policy. which tended at all times
to ALLEVIATE the Irish people II has rarely
occurred To British statesmen that the
strength OF the kingdom might be in
creased and its glory extended by adopt
ing policy which could win the love and
attachment. and even loyalty, OF the Irish
people by giving them fair and humane
treatment.
Their industries were prohibited and
rt.l..
commercial activities OF Englishmen
Their institutions were degraded and their
liberties destroyed. In their own land
they were victims Of a tyranny worse
than any ever known, the record Of
which forms the darkest page in the his
tory OF Great Britain
The land was ,depopulated. and today
ireland has less than half as many people
as II had In 1896. To foreign lands her
eXiled children have carried In their
hearts a hatred of English government
which has created an influence bitterly
hostile TO British projects In every part
OF the globe.
Fortunately. the indications now are
that the imbecility and cruelty which
have marked England's past treatment of
the Irish Will give way to a wise ana
progressive policy which may atone for
the wrongs OF the past"
A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
The land question Is one of the great
questions OF ireland" said Judge James
Fitzgerald of the supreme court. when
seen I'm his home No it0 East seventy
eighth street, last night, "and this pres-
ent proposed legisla ton is "a step in the
right direction. IL IL long step toward
an end that manifestly must be reached.
and that end is home rule.
This movement has been in progress
for long time, and the landlords are
becoming more and more reconciled TO
the meNitable. The small ones gave way
first. because they could not hold out
against an outraged people, and now the
big ones are accepting the situation that
VIII tend 70 harmonize them and the ten
ants.
The everlasting land question has been
the great cause OF trouble. and with it
settled there viii be harmony between
Landlords and tenants. The tenants do
not object 10 the personnel OF the land
lords. but have objected 10 their methods.
WITH tha land In ;he hands OF the people
the landlords will be welcomed and ac-
cepted as desirable neighbors
1T has been hard struggle but the
end Is coming. OF course. tho peop,e
have no money 10 pay for the lands. but
with the government stepping in 10 Sc
cure the landlords in their payments
there need be no trouble, and long step
Is taken In the direction OF the progress
that belongs 10 this century.
THE fact IL that this land question
has been the cause of nearly all the
trouble I'm Ireland. and the reason for
maintaining largo conStabulary. with
al OF it's attending evils. The Irish
people are as rule law abiding and
I'm all matters not touched by the land
controversy DO not often come into con
tact with the officers Of the law. but
the regulations and practices In relation
90 the land have exasperated them. and
often leads them into violations of the
law. which has been the reason for main.
tainins so large and expensive con-
stabulary. that is an actual burden. for
itS members can be retired on n pension
after only twenty years OF service
This bill offered by Mr.. wydnham
chief secretary for ireland. meets with
my approval. because Il is n move in the
direction ef Isstieey- Justice -that-haA-
long been waited for. but which II GER
tain Co come 90 the Irish people