The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1911-03-25
Ireland Enjoying More Prosperity
Today Than it Has Seen
For Many Years.
Parties Are Agreed That Home
Rule is Coming no Later
Than 1912.
All Willing to Give Irish Party a
Fair Chance to Redeem
it's Pledges.

turned from Ireland whittier he Went
last fall for an extended visit after
an absence of several years, has writ
ten the following interesting article
on the conditions in Ireland as be per
sonally observed them. Mr.. eastman
was born and raised in Ireland and
has closely watched the trend OF
events from the vantage point of one
familiar both with the political lead
ers and the attitude of the people to-
ward them. His opinions are espe-
cially valuable as based on first hand
knowledge. Mr.. Cashman's article
follows:
Although Ireland is still waiting for
the golden era of Home Rule. and the
eyes of her people are turned towards
Westminster, and their hopes are cen
tered on the Parliamentary Party at
st. Stephens, it is doubtful if the
country ever enjoyed more prosper
ity than it does at the present time.
Money circulates in the Emerald Isle
today as it never did before, with a
plentifulnesB that the most optimistic
Irishman would hardly have thought
possible a decade ago. All classes are
experiencing the magic Of this tide
OF prosperity, and merchants, farm
ers and even laborers are better OFT
now than ever they were in the his
tory of the country. 1t is true there
are no millionalres in Ireland, If the
two alien brewers who have given
their name to Guinness porter are ex-
cepted, but the wealth Of the cOun-
try is evenly dstributed--that is com
paratively so-and the people are
happier and more contented than if
The spectre Of bloated wealth stalked
through the land.
What is of equal importance to
economic prosperity, as a factor i'll
promoting the industry of the coun-
Try, is the absence of factionism and
The bitter party strife which has
played so important part in mould
ing the destiny of Ireland. With the
exception of Cork county and city
and some isolated places throughout
the country, Ireland is strong for
the parliamentary party. 1t is not
that they all believe in John Red
mond and the wisdom of his policy,
but a belief amounting almost to
conviction seems to have taken hold
Of all parties that Home Rule in some
shape or form is bound to come in
1912, and all seem willing to give the
Parliamentarlans chance to redeem
the pledges they have made to the
people. But if satisfactory measure
of Home Rule is not obtained next
John Redmond and his party
will fall never to rise again. as surely
as leaves wither and fade before the
fatal winds of autumn.
Cork is prominently the strong
hold of William OBrien. He controls
the city council; the Lord Mayor is
his nominee, and his followers repre-
sent the rebel" county in the I'M
perial Parliament with the exception
of the eastern division. The magnet
ism of O'Briens personality and his
past services to the country, are his
most powerful assets in attracting
IN Iii s,t0 Io,,r
icy of conciliating England does not
meet with general approval. Joseph
Biggar, Parnell's famous lieutenant,
was fond Of saying that it is a mis-.
take to rub the English down." His
doctrine was to rub them up" and
in like manner many Irishmen today
believe that O'Brien is making a mis-
take in appealing to the moral sense
Of England for the redress Of the Ills
of Ireland. But because they are of
opinion that John Redmond has low
cred the Home Rule standard, and
thrown national dignity to the winds
they prefer to throw in their lot with
Mr.. O'Brien. Still, that the oppor-
tunity for attaining Home Rule, which
is thought to be at hand. may be
made the most of, they are prepared
to keep neutral. and await the mil
lennium which Mr.. Redmond has pro.
claimed from the house-tops is due
to arrive next year.
5 The same feeling seems to have
taken hold OF the Sim Feiners. the
avowed enemies of parliamentary agi-
tation. Leading members of that body,
and its chief press organ in Dublin,
while protesting to have no faith in
John Redmond and his policy, have
advised their followers throughout
the country to place no obstacles in
the way of the parliamentary party
until it is given a full opportunity to
redeem the pledges it has made to
bring Home Rule to Ireland in 1912,