The Irish standard., 1912-08-03
REASON WHY IRELAND
IS NOT PROSPEROUS
Joseph Devlin Attributes Present
Day Poverty to Wretched and
Costly Government
Under its Native Parliament the
Country had Splendid Mills
and Factories
Says Canada, Once Disloyal, is Con-
tented and Prosperous Under
Self-Government

In a speech delivered at a great
Home Rule demonstration at West
Hartlepool on July 12 MI. Joseph
Devlin substantiated the plea of the
Irish party for Home Rule by facts
taken from Ireland's recent history.
Sixty years ago Ireland had popu-
lation Of 100000 people. Today She
had less than 100000 of population.
OF the people who fled from Ireland
every year during those sixty years
it was computed 80 per cent was from
IA to 26 years of age. If the rest of
the population had become more COM
Portable 1t would have been some sort
Of justification for driving these pco-
pie out to foreign lands, but what
were the facts? One out of every
forty of the population was in the
workhouse or in receipt of parish re-
lief. Wages were the lowest In Eu-
rope, and the average wage Of the
agricultural laborer in nearly thirty
counties In Ireland was something
like S.. per week.
Under their native Parliament a
hundred years ago they had splendid
mills and factories adorning nearly
every county in Ireland, but every one
of their enterprises was throttled.
They We're told that Ireland was q
wretched and impoverished country
unable to maintain itself. Yet they
had system of Government which
was the most costly to be found In
any part of Europe. Mr.. Devlin went
on to remark that he would challenge
any Unionst orator to point to the
country in the world so absolutely
crimeless as Ireland, and. proceeding
to deal with the suggestion that Home
Rule would make for the dlsintegra-
ton of the Empire, he pointed Out
that in Australia quarter of the
population was Irish, In Canada &
fifth. and in New Zealand consider
able section. When the question was
put to these Colonies, why are you
so loyal to the Empire?" the answer
Was always. Because we are free. y
They were told they could not give
Home Rule to Ireland because there
was not one Ireland, but two. There
was Ulster and the rest of Ireland.
The Canadian Precedent.
Fortunately, they had precisely the
same parallel in Canada Sixty OF
seventy years ago Canada was divided
far more precisely than Ireland is
The soothing influence Of self-govern'
ment was applied. and today Canada
once discontented, once disloyal. i'
now one Of the most progressive
countries in all the world. He Offered
that historical parallel as vindica
tion of the claim Of Ireland. The figh
in Ulster was not religious fight bu
an economical fight. Religion. not FOL
the first time, had been used AS ar
1
ought to be brothers might be set a
each others throats in the interest
of faction and landlordism. Ther'
was not a more peaceful or orderl!
citizenship anywhere than in Belfas
If people were let alone, and, II the.
would only keep Lord Londonderr,
over there.
~ am told" continued Mr.. Devlin
Lord Londonderry is man of grea
personal munificence. and endows ev
cry community into which he goe
with the riches with which he is pos
sessed. All have to say is, that i
not our experience In Belfast
Ulster "civiI War"
! l believe he owns an estate-or di'
own an estate-in the neighborhoo'
of the city, and because he is land
lord he thinks he can come once o
twice a year with an army Of law
yers, animated by an academic fight
ing spirit, to rouse strife and Great
mischief amongst people who want ::
live in harmony. He and Sir Edwar
Carson and a number Of other Union
list Ministers, have come over to
city with which they have no NOR
, connection than you have, and hav
| told the people who have to live ther
what will occur to. them II Home Rul