Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1912-08-31
Tories Resort to Custom That
Originated i'm Famine
Times.
All Founded on the Basest and
Most Contemplate Argu-
ment.
Ireland Not Nation of Paupers
These Tory Gentry
Imagine.
NATIONALISTS TRUST REDMOND

Tract dropping is held in poor
esteem in Ireland Sixty years ago
when famine and pestilence we're
sweeping tens of thousands of peo-
pie into untimely graves this delight
full practice had its origin. It was
carried on, side by side with the
Soup kitchen" and the birds nest"
campaigns, by ultra-pious ladies who
were unwilling that Irish Papists
should go to heaven by the road of
their own choosing. II is carried on
vet in some places. But as a rule
tract droppers" have learned that
the pastime is unpopular and un-
healthy. Besides they have fairly
well made up their minds that it is
a hopeless task to pervert more than
one in every million Of Irish Cath
olics. These tracts are four in
number and would mislead the peo-
pie as to home rule, taxation, land
purchase, etc. They are shattered
by the Dundalk Democrat, which
thus deals with them:
We have before us a bundle of
political tracts printed in red, white
and blue and posted to representa-
tive Nationalist in this county. The
envelope in which they were posted
bears the postmark "Blackrock"
and the handwriting of that retired
Colonel of artillery whose easy
acquisition of a big slice of Clermont
Park was brought under the notice
of Parliament the other day. The
gallant Colonel-like the old ladies
of the famine times and after-has
taken up the. role of tract dropper."
If he imagines that he is going to
pervert the Nationalists of this coun-
try he is as badly mistaken as were
his fanatic prototypes in petticoats.
All four of the tracts before us are
founded on the one argument-the
DHyesr- anu 1n0sI confemptible OF
arguments, and the very one that
the soupers of sixty years ago relied
on--the argument of personal
pecuniary gain. The compiler has
evidently a poor opinion of Irishmen.
The plain Nationalist who distrusts
tracts and puts his faith in John
Redmond will be consoled by the
recollection of Redmond's words on
the finance of the home rule bill:
Every penny of Irish taxation, no
matter from what source, is to be
expended on the government of Ire
land. And in addition to that Eng
land is to provide for an indefinite
of years at least a million
and a half a year out Of Imperial
sources, with in addition sum by
way of surplus of Irish revenue over
commencing at two mill
ions, and at the end of eight years
reduced to 100000 year, which
will be a permanent sum-"
The plain man will further con-
clude that the taxes raised by the
Imperial Parliament will provide
for Imperial services, which we at
present have to pay for and can not
escape, and in addition for Irish
services at present paid for by the
Treasury. These latter will be
under the control of the
Irish Parliament, that is of the Irish
taxpayer himself in his capacity as
elector. II the cost of these serv-
Ices be increased without equivalent
benefit to the country he has his
to look to. And in
the future, unlike the present, the
irish taxpayer will govern these mat
Lers through his representative. AT
present these services are controlled
by English Ministers whom Irish
taxpayers can not touch. In the
future the Irish Parliament will
control them, and the Irish tax
payers will control the Irish Parlia- !
ment The Irish taxpayer in fine
need not fear extra taxation unless
he is convinced that it will be for
he benefit of his country.
A complaint that crops up twice
In the tract before us is that Eng
and will keep Ireland's purse"
under home rule. She keeps II now,
and keeps II at her own sweet will.
She can tax our stirabout," as Tim
Healy in a heroic moment foresaw,
and she can spend the resultant
revenue as she chooses. She won't
be able to do that in the future. She
may keep the purse" but she will
nave TO pay over under the act the
specified sums for Irish uses. Pro-
lided she does so II does not very
much matter who keeps the purse"
L Is the money In the purse that
and Ireland will get her f,
iue share OF II.
All these tracts, as we have said,
appeal TO the supposed cupidity and
of Irish farmers. They
ire exhorted to sell their principles
or a Tory bribe-not even for hard I
ash. but for politicians promises.
They are asked TO dishonor the 4
lames they bear-names Of men who /
ought and suffered for Irish free
lom In dark and evil days And IN I
eturn they are promised that Eng Z
and will continue TO dole out TO !
hem the pittance given to a nation /
Il paupers-will graciously pay the ,
ost Of this or that Irish service. 80
ong as Ireland grovels In the dirt {
/ England's feet and begs for the 1
craps from the rich mans table II I
5 the policy OF "souperism" once