The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-04-21

which see everywhere in the ooun-
try districts-even among the desc
late boys and stony stretches Of poor
Connemara and Mayo-show what
the masses Of Ireland can do under
fair conditions.
Under the system which has been
swept away by the pressure of the
Irish Nationalist movement the
landlords made no improvements for
their tenants. II the tenant made
valuable improvements, his rent WAS
promptly raised.
Being without the security Of
leases. the unfortunate tenants could
be evicted at the will of the land
ments.
Yet in favored Ulster the tenant
could sell his tenancy and his i'm
provements.
The old slatternliness, poverty, and
general stuck-in-the-mud condition
of the masses of Irish Catholics, to
which the Protestant minority
points as evidence of incapacity for
self-government, was the natural
and Inevitable result of a govern
mental policy intended to socially
degrade and politically destroy the
Irish and to kill all spirit Of progress
or national pride.
One has only to see here and now
the marvellous changes that these
despised. robbed. and ceaselessly in
suited farmers have wrought In
their country since the workingmen
Of England and Scotland have Joined
them in forcing a change in the
laws to believe that, with an Irish
parliament and an Irish ministry In
Dublin. ireland will take her place
among the progressive countries Of
the world.
Irish Party Program.
1t was the Irish party that COM
PEELED the changes in the land laws
and all the other legislation that has
worked such benefits to the people.
IT will be the same Irish party that
will dominate the new Irish govern
menf.
Tho charge that the majority of
the people are incapable Of progress
and preposterously unfit for home
rule Is overwhelmingly disproved by
the conditions today, the direct re-
suit OF Irish popular policy.
There are thirty-seven different
private Irish railroads, largely built
without reference to each other or
to the development Of agriculture.
1he result Is that the farmers are
without proper transportation facil-
ties to reach the English markets.
Under home rule the Irish party
aims to build government railroads
and reorganize the transportation
system of the whole country.
Irtlapd's affairs are now dealt with
by q parliament in which. out of six
hundred and seventy members, only
about a third know anything or care
anything about Ireland
The other day the county council
Of Louth wanted to spend 5000 in
building q pier In the Bay Of Dun
dalk, intended to provide coaling IA
cilities for an agricultural region OF
a hundred square miles. The town Of
Dundalk objected, unless 1t was
agreed that the wharfage rates to be
charged should be the same as for
the town piers.
Both sides had to 20 to the par
Lament in London. The town spent
$500 In parliamentary legal fees.
The Louth county council spent
$4,000 And after $500 had been
thus wasted the whole matter was
settled by private agreement.
This Is only one Of a thousand
cases showing the need for an Irish
parliament familiar with Irish af-
fairs, intent on developing the natu-
raj resources OF the island, encourag-
ing native industries. and, above all
thinge, removing from the people the
social and political feeling that they
are a subject race governed only In
the interest OF their conquerors.
Copyright. 1914. by James creelman)