Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-10-31
THE WOE OF IRELAND.

Ing characteristics than the ownership
of their own homes and lands,
Nearly 100 years ago when Andrew
Young, n keen and accurate observer,
travelled through Scotland, he described
the large majority Of the people as
siliftiess and Unfortunately lazy" In
shose days the Scottish peasantry lived
on farms rented from absentee land
lords. Today it would make almost
anyone laugh TO hear Scotchmcn char
acterized as lazy or shiftless.
1t is the same with ireland, n land
that has produced many of the most
distinguished men of modern times. in
Guiding many noted Irlsl-Amerlcans.
At home the masses Of the people are
oppressed by poverty that Is not re-
licved by the hope of ownership OF the
lands they cultivate or of the houses
In which they live. The result is in
eFitablc.
Recent issues of the, Irish nationalist
paper Sim Fcin. disclose the fact that
the old grievance OF Ireland against
British rule has bear somewhat intensi-
fed lii recent years, chiefly on account
of the depopuation of the interior agri-
cultural lands.
That paper points with renewed em-
&rhnsls to the fact that cattle now
Craze over extensive areas Of Irish
land that once bore a thriving popula-
ton, but Is now practically bereft OF in
ha;,itants in the nclGhbUrhood OF
Cork, the traveller of today Will pass
Miles of land without a habitation,
while large spaces are covered only
With gorse and heather, "interspersed
with fields never reclaimed from the
primitive rocks and boulders that stud
them as thickly1n MS do blackberrics the
roadside hedges This, together with
long areas or bogland. of prehistoric.
date, make dishcartenins picture. The
Il traveller ceases To wonder why succes-
sfvc generations of peasantry have
Y turned away from working bone and
tissue into land for the Improvement OF
which it's owners viii do nothing.
A recent survey Indicates that much
Of the best land lies idle within the
interior Of Cork, Glare. Waterford, Linn
crlck, Meath, and otlierscountles. his
Il land seems to be entirely in the hands
Of cattle-grazcrs, rentlng it from the
landlords. who thus secure u revenue
independent of tenant farmers
III Ireland. writes Mary TWombly, a
recent visitor to that land. you soc
people who are able to control their
own dcstlnles, and within a stones
throw Of these may be found people OF
he same lineage so stepped In the hope
lessnass Of accepted poverty that they
have ceased to regard themselves as
entitled to. any rights as individuals
and who arc apparently unaware Of
the squa lor In which they exist,
& The poverty which this lady describes
s Is confined however, mainly to the
sl,Ins and the cities. In the country
districts, the people are more com
portable and hopeful: and their UNIFORM
+ declaration Is to the effect that the
country is not only in much better
condition than it has ever been before,
nut that It is constantly improving.
During the last twenty years the land
has been coming into the hands of the
pccupicrs of It, as Il result, chiefly, OF
the land purchase enactment of many
years ago. In the south and southwest
ern parts more especially, wherever
the land is of least value the landlords
are selling it, while In the interior o1
the country, where the richest land hes
1t is in the hands of grazlers.
This turning of agricultural into graz
ing lands is II condition that seems
greatly 10 dishearten the irish peas
antry. They regard tho situation IN
the light of placing cattle above men
while the land itself is being emptied CT
its people.
The writer just quoted declares tina
the pressure being brought to bear up
on the people to keep them from emil
grating is great. The priests seem t
be doing all possible to dissuade the
people from leaving home and at ever!
turn the present industrial conditions
in America are discussed and the num-
Der of working people returning t
Europe commented upon The SIM
Fein party, which has q large follow
ing among the younger people, take
the curious stand that the consumptio,
of tea, tho most highly taxed import
Is responsible for Il great deal of tn
increasing burden OF indirect taxation
and argues in addition that tea srnin
ing the health of many people. VIII
make 1t almost their sole beverage
and who depend largely upon Its falls
stimulus, instead of proper food.
S The Sim Fem paper shows that Swe
den. which supports court, maintain
mn army and navy, a ministerial corps
and an educational system of it's ow
choosing, does ALL this at a cost o
5000, coo per arnum less than Irelane
penmarks present taxation is but Ga
100000: Ireland,s latest is es62l,oo
Norwny's is smallest of all--nearl
esOcO,o0 less than that Of. Ireland.
The prospect of an increase in Iris
taxes. which We're raised .slsl,0oo la
year and threaten an increase Of $40
600 more this year Is particularly cd
Gus to Sim Fem. the radical nature
whose utterances may be Judged fro
the following extract:
I'VE pay for l2,00o alleged poiiceme
In ireland tax of c1.5O0,oQ0 While "a
educating 100000 boys and girls we pa
Gl0o.ooo less We are compelled 10 pa
more TO maintain one constabulary ma
80 to bludseon us than We are permitte
to spend on educating fifty boys an