The Irish standard., 1908-08-08


fathers had been used to fly from the
Mahratta, and the palanquin Of the
English traveller was often carried
through silent villages and towns that
the report (only the report mind you
j. G. NJ Of his approach had made
desolate."
If leave my reader with a refer
ence only to the pages of Burke ard
Sheridan. it is because l am anxious
to maintain the spirit Of absolut:
fairness in these columns. In calling
attention to India and Ireland, in the
game of empire could gather per-
feet avalanche of evidence against
English misrule in both countries;
could gather it from the pages Of Eng
lands enemies. but am able to fl 4,
so much among the pages Of her
friends that leave the book Of Burke
Sheridan and others to those who
would know more, for reference.
Bad as India Jared under Give and
Hastings her subsequent history, even
with the Sepoy Rebellion, has many an
oasis such as one hunts for in vain
in the long, dark pages of 1reland's
story. India has had respite. Eng
lish law has helped to secure rights
to the detected rayots. India has haC
a splendid system of roads and rail-.
roads opened. Schools have helped to
lift her people into an attitude that
would lead to war in ireland. All the
signs say India is going to gain by
the huge waves sweeping Eastward
from the West. God grant it! Much
as would like to see Ireland emerge
from her chains, do not begrudge In
dia her progress. Luckily she is
thousands of miles away. Her hopes
may not be vain. Her destiny Is in
her own hands.
1reland's position, In close proximity
to England, is her curse. It is one
cause for England's cruelty, she is I'M
able to overcome. Only a large, more
enlightened and unself1sh system than
has dawned on the world will lead
England to more enlightened policies
in Ireland. In the meantime the black
pages Of her past are to be presented
here and elsewhere, in order to let in
little light on the game she is play
ing. '.s4.
The curse Of Ireland, in the past,
was the utter hopelessness that hung
like pail over !}he finest peasantr,
in the world" To improve the soil, a
cabin, cottage, a flock, herd or any
thing owned, If one may use the wor I
owned" in Ireland, was to lave one
self liable to extortion. Only the land
lord or his agent dared to hope for
better times in Ireland. The marvel
to me always is that the race did not
die out Or down: 4ong ago, SO horrible
have been its sufrerings. That it mas
survived for good cause can only be
concluded. In his Progress and Pow
erty'' Henry George refers eloquentl.'
to India: "These famines,' he says,
that have been and are now sweep
ing away their millions Tin 1ndia) are
due to causes not unlike those that led
to the widespread .desolation all over
the Carnatic, when Hyder Alfs horse
men burst upon and swept over it ii,
whirlwind Of destruction. The m:!-
lions of India have bowed their necks
beneath the Jokes of many conquer
ors, but worst Of all is the steady
grinding weight Of English domino
tion-a weight which is literally
crushing millions out of existence, ard
as shown by English writer's. is tend
ing too inevitably to a most frightful
and widespread catastrophe.
"Other conquerors have lived in the
land and though bad and tyrannous
in their rule, have understood and
been understood by the people: but
India now is like great estate owned
by an absentee and alien landlord. A
most expensive military and civil es-
Establishment is kept up, managed and
Differed by Engishmen, who regard
India as but place Of temporary ex-
lie: and an enormous sum, estimated
good times to work for one and h,
at twenty million pound sterling, at
nually, raised from population where
laborers are in many places glad in
to four pence day, is drained away
to England in the shape of remitt-
ances, pensions, home charges to the
government, etc.-a tribute for which
there issno return"
Do you wonder, then, that India is
In revolt? That she is. seeking way
to walk independently? o! the black
lie OF 1t all. this so-called Anglo Saxo l
superiority, this cruel travesty in jus
tice. But God is God. and He has His