The Irish standard., 1905-09-09

priated E5,ooo,ooo sterling for that
purpose AS result $4,000 farms
were reclaimed, the land was improv-
ed, there was all increase OF prosperity
so great that at the end of five years
a second appropriation was made, with
the same results in its district. But
the most significant feature OF it all
| was that OF all the 10000 farmers so
helped there were no defaulters, show
| ing that the Irish tiler OF the soil was
honest. The payments were made to
the government i'll every case, and this
by men vino, under the land tenure
rule, had refused to pay unjust and in
iquitous demands.
AS result Ireland can point today
to farms valued at hundred million
dollars, purchased and transferred to
the tillers of the soil under the pro-
visions OF the land act. And so the
men OF the Irish national party in par
lament have reason to think that gen
erations yet unborn will open their
eyes on an Ireland freed from the
| curse OF an alien landlord and an
alien rule.
1t has been said that Ireland has
| made no industrial efforts, yet no rea-
sonablc man familiar with the condi-
| tions of land tenure can be surprised
| at industrial conditions in Ireland.
Her people, harassed with the per-
| petual struggle for rent, had yet no
security in their holdings. The more
they worked the more they had to pay.
Their best earnings as their least we're
taken by an alien landlord, who knew
| nothing of their condition and cared
less. Yet we have reason to think that
with this struggle ended we shall see
industries for which our land is fitted,
springing tip, and renewed energy, re-
| newed hope and renewed enterprise on
every hand. You in this great land of
liberty must know that no matter how
happily your people may be situated in
your great fields of industry, no Irish
man can be SO happy anywhere as in
the green isle which God has given
him for home, and not for province
Of the British crown.
The huts in which the common peo-
pie once lived have been replaced with
decent homes, and where ten years
ago even ireland had no voice in the
election OF her representatives, today
every district has its representation,
and by the conduct of those represen-
tatives Ireland has proved her capacity
for government. In every land where
she has been given the right to enter
politics, Ireland has shown that
capacity.
These reforms of which l have
spoken are important, but there is one
great wrong which overshadows Ire
and still, and that is the lack OF the
power conferred by self-government.
Why is it that i'll every country where
an Irislman has been given the right
to show loyalty he has been distin-
guished for his great qualities OF head
and heart, while in Ireland alone he is
known for disloyalty and dissatisfac-
ton. 1t is because everywhere he finds
freedom except in Ireland. He feels
that there he has no voice in the gov
eminent OF his country. He has no
control over the laws which govern his
land nor the appointment Of those who
administer its laws.
1t has been said by our adversaries
that home rule is only an effort to es-
tablish religious ascerfdancy and the
supremacy Of Rome. l deny this
charge 1t is not visible in the County
Wexford, my native place, that spot
Of Ireland drencfed with the blood of
patriots. Today l represent the strong
est Catholic constituency in all Ire
land, the County Clare, the county that
sent the great O'Connell to parlia-
ment. l can say for those people that
mans patriotism in Clare is not
measured by the creed he processes,
nor the church he belongs to. Many
of the leaders of the Irish national
party today are of the faith opposed
to the religious belief OF the large ma
jority OF the Irish people. 1t is not a
question OF the supremacy of the Cath
Ole faith, but OF the continuance of the
attempt to make Irishmen Englishmen
in semblance at least. The Irish peo-
pie have say in the election OF their
representatives. but they have nothing
to say as to the appointment Of their
rulers. OF the judges who handle the
affairs of Ireland not one in four is OF
!; them. The whole body is alien in faith,
alien i'll sympathy and in feeling with
the body Of the people, and they are
chosen by the ruling power because Of
this quality. How can a country dc
vclop under such a government? She
is taxed shilling for shilling as Eng
land is taxed, though the resources arc
not in proportion. With her indus
tries languishing, her people despoiled,
she is yet compelled to stand i'll the
matter OF taxes shoulder to shoulder
with country whose industries are at
their best And over the disposal of
all these taxes Ireland has no control.
And in asking for home rule we are
sE;nu nothing new One hundred