The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-07-03


Act Of Union (cheers). 1 have before
now quoted. and ! will not now re-
fer at any length to-. some OF the
speeches on the faith of which the Act
of Union was accepted by the Irish
Parliament Mr.. Pitt said-"The AT
of Union was not sought from pc
cuniary motive cob. no" cheers): 1t
must iafuse large portion Of wealth
into Ireland. and supply it's want OF
industry; and capital. There was no
ground for the apprehension that Britt
tain would tax ireland more heavily,
or that Ireland would be subject to
an increase of the taxes. or to load
Of debt. The. contribution to be. i'm
posed on Ireland would not be greater
than her own present necessary ex-
penses. Ireland would continue to con-
tribute in its accustomed proportion.
and one of: the objects of the act was
to ensure that Ireland Should never
be taxed out of proportion as we tax
ourselves" And Lord Castlereagh said
in the Irish Parliament. ireland could
never be taxed under the Union be-
yond the measure of her comparative
ability, and that the ratio of her con-
wealth and prosperity" And when
some great Englishman in this house,
opposing the Union and criticising the
action of Pitt and others, asked what
guarantee Ireland would have that this.
country would keep faith with her.
what did Mr.. Pitt reply? But it has
been said what security can you give
Ireland for the performance of the con-
ditions? If l were asked what security
were necessary. without hesitation,
would answer None" The lberality
the justice. the honor of the people
of Great Britain have never been found
deficient Gronical Irish cheers. and
some Liberal cheers). do not want
to take any notice of those cheers by
hon. gentlemen opposite. but will pro-
coed with my argument, which is, that
knowingly. or unknowingly. England
has been guilty of violation Of the
spirit Of this Act of Union. All these
pledges have been violated right
through the century Urish cheers).
They are violated in this Budget. Ar
ticle of the Act Of Union is dead
letter. What attachments and exemp-
tions have you given to Ireland? Some
opponents of ours say we were get
ting 1t in abatement Of dog licences
(laughter), and so on. Why. 1 don't
believe all these would amount to
6 1000, and we are talking Of the rob-
berry of. hundreds Of millions (cheers).
During all the centuries ireland has
received mo exemptions and abate-
ments. but has been paying a charge
far beyond what her taxable capacity
would variant Therefore. the condi-
tons upon which the Union was car
ried have been violated Surely we
have some right to expect that this
question would be Dealt with in a Diff
ferent way by this government
(cheers). Members Of this govern
ment, and the bulk of this parliament,
with few exceptions. accepted the re-
port Of the financial relation commits
sion. which sat in 1s94-5, and i'm
mediately after the report came out
| Trfc ~ oil to- 7, L.
house brought the question forward
We moved a resolution endorsing the
report Of that commission. The MEM
bers of the present government, then
In Parliament. supported 1t. The pres
ent Prime Minister made speech,
which I have quoted more than once.
in which he used the phrase that so
far as he knew there was no one who
could deny the truth of the finding of
the commission that Ireland was over
| taxed two and half or three millions
I (cheers). And every time that we
raised it practically the whole Liberal
party and members Of the present
government supported IL. Wnat was
the report of that commission? What
was the commission itself? 1t may
seem ancient history. but allow me
to refresh your memories on the sub
: Bect. Sir Edward CLARKE. with no
predictions in favor of. Ireland, ir
a remarkable speech. said, as to, the
| character Of the commissions: "Mr
| Chnders had filled the office Of chair.
: man Of the commission. and, amongst
others, there sat with him on the com.
mission Lord F'arrer, who is wei
known and well trusted as an inquire,
into statistical facts; Lord welby, wht
has long been associated with the ad
ministration Of the treasury: MIR. Der.
tram Currie. who died the other da,
and was well-experienced and well.
trusted financial authority. The mem
bers Of the commission had befor,