New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-11-25
TIE value OF iRELAND.

Mr. Birrell's latest proposal may well ar hrst
sight cause CONSERVATION TO the British tax
paver Long ago all hope was abandoned OF
ever getting rid of that income tax which was
described by Mr. Gladstone himself. It's CHIEF
champion as a highly offensive burden the per
manent imposition of which would be Intoler-
able. Year by year has seen the tax levy IN
creased for some purpose. There has recently
been enacted an old age pensions measure,
which has already involved the treasury IN
many millions of new expense and which seems
certain in the near future TO cal for yearly
outlay of many millions more. And now the
Chief Secretary for Ireland. in his best obiter
dictd manner, proposes to increase the British
financing Of Irish land transactions TO the
tremendous total Of 5000, 900 600, or. say. $3.50
a head, for every man, woman and child IN
that most distressful country" No wonder
that Mr.. Birrell's predecessor. himself distin-
gushed for the Hberslity of his policy toward
Ireland. describes the scheme as fabulous,
and that one of the foremost and most exacting
of the Irish Home Rule leaders declares that
the proposal almost satisfies him"
There is. however. much 10 be said in favor
of the plan This enormous sum of money is
not altogether an outright gift 10 Ireland. In
great part il is loan secured by Irish land
titles and 10 be repaid TO the imperial treasury.
The actual cost 10 Great Britain which will
never be repaid in money will be comparatively
small, though actually considerable. But if il
should amount to- say. S100-O00.O00, as it easily
may even so it might not he too high price
10 pay for the object which ii is hoped will
thus be attained. That object is, Of course the
paci6cation and the prosperity Of Ireland. We
have only 10 recall the industrial and grarian
distress which has prevailed in that country in
these last thirty years. to go no further back;
the crimes and hideous brutalities which have
ragged there and the great cost in time, labor.
money and life 10 which Great Britain has been
subjected in dealing with the Irish problem"
10 realize what it would be worth to the king
dom and 10 the empire 10 have enduring pros
perity and peace assured. The end would be
worth the means proposed. and more. The
serious question, concerning which there is
legitimate room for doubt, is whether even
these apparently ample means would indeed Sc
that end.
Mr. Dillon. as we have already noted, IS "al-
most satisfied: almost, but not quite. II Is
proba BILE that Mr. Redmond, Mr.. O'Brien and
all the other separatist leaders are in accord
with him. They are satisfied with the pecuni-
airy part of the proposal. But there is not the
slightest intimation that they one bit nearer
being satisfied with the political aspect Of the
case than they were twenty-five years ago. At
that time their positive and reiterated declara-
ton that all concessions, bounties, loans,
reforms and what not which Great Britain
might grant were to be considered as nothing
more than stepping stones toward the end in
view. that they would never be satisfied nor
cease their labors until that end was attained.
and that that end was the breaking Of the last
tie which bound them to Great Britain and to
the British Crown. II they CT that mind
still, and it is not an unreasonable assumption
that they are, then Mr.. Birrels ia buous" pro-
posal may be in vain. IT may almost" satisfy
the Irish Nationalists, but not quite; and the
margin Of dissatisfaction which will be left will
contain the crux Of the whole situation And
we may be quite certain that the more Great
Britain spends on Ireland the more resolute
she viii be not TO let Ireland secede
Mr.. Brreil's proposal. We have said. may be
in vain: and yet II may not be, despite the dis
satisfaction or actual hostility Of political lead
ers For this vast financial and agrarian relief
must surely have profound effect upon the
Irish people. Prosperity should certainly in.
duce peace and II would be surprising Il in time