Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-29

! to sit twice a year In Dublin and to form
a de factO Irish parliament. Associated
and sitting with this body would be the
Irish members Of the house Of commons
and their successors. representing the
constituencies as at present defined Be
| fore taking this step, however. 1t Is pro-
| posed that the Irish members OF the
! house of commons should make a dra-
| matte demonstration in parliament to
emphasize the significance Of their retire
ment. They are to rise in their seats and
formally decline to confer on the affairs
| Of Ireland any longer with foreigners IN
! a foreign city.
| Among other things it Is proposed this
| Irish legislature shall levy an assessment
| tax Of one penny to the pound-that is'
2 cents for every Son all property with
acquire fund Ito serve and strengthen
| the country In bringing about the tri-
umph Of the Sim Fem policy" This fund
would be used in the payment Of bounties
| to develop Irish industries. to establish
libraries Of Irish literature and museums
Of arts and antiquities to establish gym
| nasums for the physical training of the
young people. and schools for their moral
| training, discipline and instruction In
| Irish history.
Character Of Proposed Laws.
The first laws to be passed by the legis-
lature would exclude all goods of English
manufacture from Ireland; prohibit the
use Of foreign articles by the govern
ment: forbid the appointment of any but
natives of Ireland to public positions
withhold support from newspapers which
publish emigration advertisements; re-
qure the study Of the Celtic language in
all the schools for certain hours. and
prepare text books so that no other Ian
| guage would be necessary in instruc-
ton: raise the standard Of wages among
workingmen; increase their proficiency By
sources and industries OF the country: ex-
tend the area Of titled soil and provide
for the planting of forests.
After having accomplished these OBJ
jects, the Irish legislature, according to
the program of the Sim Fem, should es-
| tablish a national university. open free
to the poor as well as to the rich, with
| none but Irish instructors and the Celtic
language substituted for the English.
Commercial Measures to Be Adopted.
Next q union Of manufacturers and
farmers for cooperation, both pledging
themselves to use none but Irish goods
and products so far as possible In cases
where an Irish manufacturer cannot
produce an article as cheaply as It is
produced in England or other countries,
he is to be paid bounty or protected by
tariff similar to that which has ad-
vanced the prosperity Of the mechanical
The next step Is to establish an Irish
mercantile marine similar to that of
Scotland and Norway. Ireland has no
steamers: Scotland has many. and &C
cording to the Sim Feiners there is no
reason why there should not be as large
a fleet sailing from this country.
Irish Consular Service.
1t is proposed to establish an independ-
ent consular service Of Irishmen in the
principal capitals and commercial centers
OF the world where q market may be
found for Irish produce. These consuls
are to act independently of the regular
representatives Of Great Britain and de-
vote themselves entirely to Irish interests
mediate steps to plant trees all over the
island. which, 1t is asserted, will result
In raising the mean temperature at least
degrees and thus render the soil doubly
fruitful. The tree planting is to be done
under the direction Of the poor law
boards. which are to employ the inmates
of the poor houses. SO far as their physi-
cal condition will permit. in planting,
watering and looking after the young
trees.
National Law, Courts.
The parliament is to establish national
courts Of law entirely independent of the
present courts. which are to be entirely
boycotted by the people. 1t is declared
to be the duty OF every Irishman to sub
NIT all disputes to the arbitration of his
neighbors. who are to serve without pay.
National courts are to be composed of the
justices OF the peace, already elected by
the people, who shall sit outside the regu-
lar legal hours and terms Of court so as
to avoid complications.
A national stock exchange is to be es-
tablished which shall deal only in Irish
NJ he loo
which shall limit their dealings to natives
of Ireland and encourage the transfer Of
the 100000 Of Irish money alleged
TO be deposited In the English banks now
and invested In English securities to Irish
banks and Irish securities and encourage
Its investment in active industries and
public works to develop the resources of
ireland and give employment to Irish
labor.
TO Boycott British Army and Navy.
One of the principal planks in the Sim
Fem platform is to boycott the British
army and navy. It is asserted that Ire
land supplies more fighting men for the
British empire than England: that 354
men In Ireland out Of every 10000 OF its
population are British soldiers: While only
276 out Of every 10000 in England 20
into the army. 1t is contended that If the
irish would refuse to enlist it would para
lyze the military service of the British
empire and deal a serious blow to British
prosperity by forcing large number of
the employees Of the English shops and
factories into the army and navy
Another form of boycott recommended
is Tor all 1rishmen to refuse appoint
ments In the British civil service and
the constabulary on the theory that every
lrishman who accepts employment from
the British government takes I'D arms
against Ireland and becomes the active
enemy of his country. being employed to
keep hostile country up, and to keen
his own country down.
To Coax Irish Capital From America.
A plank in the platform in which we
are directly interested. advocates an in
vitation TO the natives OF Ireland in
America TO invest their money In the de-
velopment of Irish Industries and re-
sources. 1t says: There are in the
United States today thirty Irishmen. or
men of Irish blood. whose names on a
check would be good for 100000 600
Few Of these men take any part In pub
he affairs. but all of them profess a de-
sire In private to help Ireland. We in
vite them as men of business to under
take work which will be mutually prof
liable to themselves and to Ireland
Does Not Appeal to Practical Men.
These propositions are embodied in a
manifesto which has been printed and
widely circulated throughout Ireland to
explain the purpose of the Slim Fein
movement and they have attracted a
large number Of active adherents to the
cause and many silent sympathizers. But,