The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-13
THE TRUTH
ABOUT IRELAND

w OF the Philadelphia North American is
= now touring Ireland and writing the
record of his observations in series of articles,
the first of which will be published in The Call
tomorrow.
MIR. Sutherland visited Ireland seven years
ago on a mission identical with his present one
TO learn the truth about Ireland and to tell it
to the American people. Without exception, rep
resentative leaders of the Irish cause declared
that he was the first writer to give to the United
States true and Illuminating picture of cOndi-
tons in Ireland.
On his present tour Mr.. Sutherland is COW
ering practically the same ground that he did
on his previous visit, and he will describe cOndi-
tons exactly as they are. This, so far from
making his letters identical with those OF seven
years ago, will make them strikingly different.
For since then there has been a remarkable
change in ireland.
AT that time conditions were being bitterly
denounced by the leaders of the Irish people at
home and delegates sent here from Ireland.
Mr.. Sutherland found that the worst pictures
of political, social and economic wrongs were
warranted by existing and widely prevalent facts.
His letters were received here with extraordinary
interest. Many Irish organizations throughout
the country, including the entire number in some
OF the states, passed resolutions commenting
his clear presentation OF the situation.
John E. Redmond, William Redmond, Michael
Davitt, William O'Brien and other Irish leaders
wrote letters of appreciation IRON the house of
commons.
To the Irish people and their active sympa.
thizers the letters which Mr.. Sutherland will
write on his tour will be of as great Importance
as those of his former visit, as they will give an
, accurate and impartial story of the really mar
Velous Improvement in ireland in seven years.
And to the vast public not intimately con.
nected with the Irish cause the letters will be
of interest as truly important as to the irish
themselves. For at this time OF grave economic
questions in every land, and particularly in our
own, ireland is making what is probably the
greatest economic advances ever made by any
people in the same length of time in all the his
tory of civilization. Every American should
know just exactly how this great change is be.
ing wrought.
The first step in this industrial revolution
was when public sentiment forced the British
government TO adopt two land acts, designed To
restore the ownership of the land of Ireland to
the people who had titled it for centuries. Hum
dreds of millions OF dollars were appropriated
by the government to aid the tenant farmers to
buy their farms on easy terms.
The consequent regeneration of agricuI-
tnral Ireland was followed by an industrial re-
yival which will eventually restore the cOuntry's
manufacturing activities that had been DELHI
erately thrOtted for hundred years.
Moreover, the making of so many thOu-
sand helpless dependents into free owners of
the soil has put new spirit in the people, and
their determination to obtain political freedom
is now greater than ever. Home rule may now
be said to be an absolute certainty.
MIR. Sutherland, through his cordial reIa-
tons with the Irish leaders, will obtain the in
side facts of the political movement in Ireland.
which, it is believed, is now converging to-
ward g plan that in a few months will engage
the active attention OF every person interested
ia the extension of popular government.