The San Francisco call., 1909-10-11


experienced municipal corporations"
Economy and efficiency. therefore.
mark the administration OF these
elected bodies. But now about the pre-
dicted oppression of the minority in
the large number of districts where
nationaIists far outnumber unionists?
How has the minority Jared under home
rule as applied to local affairs? To
what extent have religious differences
operated against the opponents Of
nationaHsnn, who said that those Diff
ferences would cause discrimination
and persecution?
Figures are at hand showing the
status of the elected bodies two years
ago, since which there has been little
change At that time the county coun-
ellis had the political complexion Of the
inhabitants of the various districts. 1t
is dificuit to see how 1T could be other
wise. Where nine-tenths Of the people
are nationalists il is not surprising 70
find the same proportion of ratiOnalists
on the county council Where there is
a heavy preponderance of uniOnists.
most of the councillors naturally are OF
that party.
Each council, moreover, appoints sew
eraI score of public officers. Here there
is abundant opportunity for playing
politics" and for the exercise Of dis
crinination upon political and religious
grounds.
Yet the record completely refutes the
assertion that home rule in local af-
fairs means the exclusion OF the minor
ity from public life. On the contrary.
strongly uniOnist councils make some
nationalist appointments and strongly
nationalist councils select many union
lists for paid Offices
1t will be understood that political
divisions virtually parallel religious
divisions Hence the terms nationalist
and unionist are about synonymous
with Catholic and Protestant. although
there are many Protestant nationalists
and Catholic unionists- This explana-
tion is made in order that the reader
may observe that under home rule, in
local affairs, both political and religious
differences are being submerged in the
desire for good and equitable admins
tration.
Taking a few counties at random.
we find that Armagh, where 56 per cent
of the people are unionists. the county
council consists OF eight nationalists
three of the so salaried officers en-
ployed are nationalists- With a little
more than half of the population. the
unfonists take "a per cent OF the ap-
pointments.
Antrim, having a population Of so
per cent unionist. elects 26 unionists
among the 20 councillors and the cOun-
ell appoints so unionists and ave
nationalists to salaried Offices. With
so per cent OF the popular vote the
unionists claim 90 per cent Of the
jobs.
TyroneFs population is 55 per ceHN
nationalists, yet the council consists Ofg
16 unionists to Is natiOnaIIsts. In the
matter of appointments the unionist
majority makes full use OF its power.
naming no fewer than 47 out of the 90
officers.
On the other hand. Cork. which is 90
per cent nationalist. elects a council
composed exclusively of natiOnalists.
yet 40 Of the 191 appOintments-mOre
than 20 per eent-are given TO union
lists. Cavan likewise elects a wholly
nationalist council. yet IS OF the 56
appointments-46s per cent-of the sal
aried Offices go to uniOnists.
AS the opposition to local home rule
has come wholly from uniOnists. and
wholly on the ground that invites op-
preston OF unfonist citizens. these fig-
ures are Illuminating They show un-
mistakably that the nationalist dis
tricts treat the minority much more
fairly and generously than unionist dis
tricts.
Those who have thought that the
democratic system would lead to dis
elimination again uniOnists are invited
to study the accompanying table. The
first column gives the percentage of
the dominant party IN the population:
the second column gives the political
third column the salaried officers an
pointed. with their politics: