The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-05-06
A BUDGET OF NEWS FROM IRELAND

Chairman of the County and Urban
Councils, and was elected to these
positions by electors ninety-eight per
cent of whom are Catholics More
over, he hastens to show that his is
not lonely instance, but gives cases
OF Protestants who have been elected
again and again to responsible and
lucrative posts by their Catholic fellow
townsmen which absolutely knock on
the head the assertion that no Protes-
tant is ever allowed to hold office
where there is a Catholic majority
among the ratepayers.. He even goes
on to add that the Objectionable prose-
lytising work of street preachers is
never interfered with so far as regards
their open air utterances. The Saliva
tion Army and other, itinerants have
been seen holding meetings-with no
audience be it added-in the middle of
the roadway, and no one has disturbed
them, though on market days they are
Mr.. Grubb ends his interesting letters
thus: Il have personally no fear that
whatever legislative changes may take
place in the government of Ireland
there will be anything to prevent
Roman Catholics and Protestants from
living harmoniously together in the
land of their BIRTH" So much for the
gun running fraud of Ulster, which
was to be supported and financed by
some of the half-penny rags of Eng
land, who would cover themselves
with lasting shame by attempting to
bolster up a piece of bravado until
it ended in civil war, and who are
forever trying to plunge their own
country into a war with Germany.
The Financial Situation.
The one great obstacle which has
yet to be overcome in Ireland's self
government, is not prejudice which
has gradually worn away, but finance.
The finances of ireland are very COM
plicated She is perhaps one of the
richest countries in the world for her
size,. in mineral and agricultural
wealth, but she has never had her
chance till now and the mischief be-
gun by Cromwell cannot be undones
in decade. Still she is making great
strides, but the fear that keeps Eng
land back from granting full autonomy
is that her own goods will be immedi-
ately taxed. Ireland could by pro-
lection raise very good revenue, but
the products of the sister isle could be
no exception to the system, and this is
the thing that England breads. With
out protection, the country must mud
die along for some time longer, as
sisted by loans from the British Gov
ernment, and until she is free from
debt she cannot really be said to be
out of England's hands, for no obliga-
ton is so tight as the money one.
Of course, as you know, the British
Government has just appointed COM
mission to inquire into Irish finance
for it's own satisfaction. Despite the
semi-private aim of this Commission
Ireland naturally considers that repre-
sentative men who know something,
not merely of finance, but of Irish con-
ditions should be chosen to represent
her upon it. The Government has done
itself the honor of inviting DR.. Kelly,
the Catholic Bishop of Ross, who has
long been known for his active and
valuable public services, to sit upon
the Commission and his Lordship has
accepted, but he is the only Irishman
of the seven Commissioners and this
is causing great dissatisfaction.
Appeal of United Irish League.
The United Irish League has just
issued a stirring circular to Irishmen
in Great Britain, asking for unflagging
interest, in work and money, at the
present time when the goal seems so
near. That the faithful sons of Erin
rally to her the wide world over when
they have the means is evidenced by
the letter and contribution just re-
ceived by the leader of the party from
the Irish in Pretoria, South Africa, who
though few in numbers are generous
in heart and offer their support to the
cause.