Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-03
NOT YET SATISFIED
Irish Will Keep Up Fight for
Home Rule.
MARKED ADVANCE MADE
Land Question Has Been Practically
Settled.
AID FURNISHED TO THE PEOPLE
Peasants Helped in Building Their
Homes-Money Loaned for Pur-
chase of Farms.
MARKED ADVANCE MADE
AID FURNISHED TO THE PEOPLE
BY WILLIAM F.. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM r. CURTIS.
special Correspondence Of The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald.
DUBLIN, June u 1905
Timothy Harrington, member of par
lament from Dublin. and for three con-
secutive terms lord mayor of this city,
was enumerating yesterday what has
been accomplished by the Irish national
party in parliament during the few last
years-since the death of Parnell.
There has been a great change in Ire
land said Mr.. Harrington; there has
been a great advance in every direction;
a great improvement in the material con-
dition of our people and in the removal
of their political restrictions. In Par
nelPs time we demanded national self
government. and we have had it prom
ised to us constantly We have secured
a great deal in that direction but par
lament has been throwing it TO us bit
at a time. There have been great changes
In the executive departments Nearly
every person employed in the admins
tration of the government is of Irish
birth. but unfortunately many of them
are British sympathiZers, and the power
OF their appointment and the control of
their actions still rest in London, and
that is what we would change. However.
since the passage Of the local govern
ment act of 1898 the English franchise
system has been extended to Ireland.
and this country now enjoys home rule
in all internal affairs quite much as
Canada or the United States. All county
and municipal offices are filled by popu-
lar vote, and the working ella SseS as a
rule are in the majority. But they are
limited in the control of the finances and
can spend only the local rates.
Land Question Practically Settled.
The land question has been practically
settled by various legislative acts, lit
tie at time. until finally what is known
as the Wyndham act of 1903 removes the
differences that have caused so much dis
tress and difficulty and turns the soil of
Ireland over to the people who till It,
This act was a compromise and was the
result of conference between the land
Mayo. Col. Poe and Col Everard and
the people represented by John Redmond
William O'Brien. 7. w. Russell and my
self The act is generally satisfactory:
It has been carried out in good faith.
but If the whole recommendations of the
conference had been adopted by parlia
ment everything would be settled at this
time. Unfortunately the sale of the great
estates to their tenants in small parcels
as contemplated by the act has been ar
rested when it was half way completed
BY lack of funds. This is annoying, but
temporary. and those who are responsible
1emma.
THE congested districts land act is also
being enforced with satisfaction and grad
ually the poor families who are starving
on the stony soil of the western counties
Of Ireland will be removed to more hos
pitable localities where they can make d
living. This is a question of time how
ever. and involves many difficulties that
have no bearing on the general question
and no political significance. The great
dimculties are that the poor creatures do
not want to leave their wretched homes
and the communities to which they are
sent are not willing to receive them.
Evicted Tenants Return.
Nearly all the farmers that have been
evicted from their homes within the last
twenty-five years have been restored TO
them and now own the land from which
they were driven by the extortions of
their landlords. That is the most sig
nifcant and important event that has
occurred in the history OF Ireland for
many generations. and for that We are
most thankful. The men who suffered
martyrdom are now enjoying a triumph.
The political history of the world ac-
cords no greater victory. We established
the principle of dual rights 10 the land
by the man who owns and the man who
cultivates it, but that principle is useless
now and soon will be obsolete because in
Ireland the men who work the soil will
own it.
Formerly when d tenant fell into ar
rears Of rent from one year he was turn
ed out of his home. but now he is in
perpetual possession and has the benefit
of all his labor
We have obtained an agricultural de-
partment to look after the interests of
the farmers and 10 provide technical
education. We have secured financial
aid for the fishermen and other indus
tries. The congested districts board is
carrying on internal improvements where
they are most needed and giving employ
ment 10 the poor people who need the
wages by building roads and bridges and
wharfs in the harbors the west coast.
We have also what is known as the
laborers act TO assist poor working men
In the erection of homes by pecuniary adj
vances from the government. and that
Is going to produce a decided improve
ment In the housing of the poor. When
body of laborers choose to do so they
can get together and apply 10 the guard
lans of the poor for assistance in build
ing cottages to live in. The site is Sc
lected jointly and If the owner is I'M
willing to sell he is compelled to do so by
legal proceeding unless there is some
good reason TO the contrary. The guard
ians then advance sufficient money to
purchase the land and build comfortable
cottages. from the old Irish church fund,
while the occupant pays interest at the
rate of , per cent per annum in lieu of
rent.
Freedom of Worship.
Thus you will see that the people of
Ireland we'll situated in a material
sense. and We could not ask much more
from the government There is no trouble
about religious questions. There are no
more religious dssensions. Every man is
free TO worship according TO his own con-
science. Our schools are all supported by
the government, except those of the Chris
"a IN W l.
ance from official sources, and a few nun
neries. The university bill, now pending