New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-09
TRELAND AND TIE TARIFF.

We were discussing the other day, in connec-
ton with a letter from an occasional contrib
utor, the probable attitude Of the Irish party in
the United Kingdom toward Mr.. Chamberans
scheme of tariff reform. The suggestion has
been made that Mr. Chamberlain may have 10
purchase the Irish support which he needs by
promising 10 Ireland measure of home rule,
and some have been paraphrasing Mr.. Red
mond's proverbial saying into the form, Cham
berlain's necessity is Ireland's opportunity" 1t
is inconceivable that Mr.. Chamberlain would
in any circumstances offer to Ireland the home
rule which he so strongly and effectively OPP
posed when Gladstone proposed it many years
ago. 1t is decidedly doubtful that he would IN
dertake any bargain whatever with the Irish
party, for it would be difficult 10 arrange such
a compact in a way that would be honorable
to either side Bribery is bribery, whether paid
in cash or in legislation.
There is 10 our mind, no convincing evidence
that there viii be need of any such suasion Of
The Irish Parliamentary party or of the Irish
people behind It. 1t has, we know, long been
a truism that the Irlshman settling in America
usually votes against the interests of his native
land and for the interests Of those whom he re-
CARDS as its saxon oppressoTs.' But the Irish
man who remains at home is more shrewd and
practical He does not so fear the Greeks
bearing gifts as 10 neglect TO gain every ad-
vantage he can from British legislation. Note,
for example Mr.. Wyndham's new Land bill,
which went into effect last week. Irishmen
are taking advantage of its provisions TO pur-
chase on easy terms and with British help
millions Of dollars worth of land which has
hitherto been held by alien and often absentee
landlords, but which will henceforth be owned
by peasant proprietors. 1t seems reasonable TO
suppose that Irishmen will similarly support
Mr. Chamberlans scheme, for its own sake and
independently Of any extraneous inducements.
the moment they see that its adoption will be
TO their advantage.
That 1t would be TO their great advantage we
may confidently believe, unless Irish history
Is misleading and Irish historians have been
falsi1ers. For time out of mind one of the chief
Irish grievances against Great Britain has been
that the latter's free trade policy has proved
the industrial ruin Of Ireland. II is since the
establishment Of free trade that Irish Industries
have declined almost 10 the vanishing point
that Irish agriculture has fallen into decay.
that the worst evils of landlordism have been
suffered and that emigration has greatly re-
duced the population. Since the adoption Of
free trade more than four million Irish people
have emigrated. and nearly as many have been
evicted from their farms. The area planted
with cereals has declined by more than mill
ion acres. The irish people have been trans
formed from an agricultural into pastoral
people, and under the stress Of foreign COM
petition the raising of floeks and herds has now
become improbable. British free trade has
been one Of the chief contributors TO the pauper-
izaton Of Ireland.
Note, on the other hand. the effect of a pro-
tectiYe tariff. We quote from Mr. Lecky. the