The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1914-06-25

condition of the people of the Emer-
aid Isle, and as there are twice as
many Irish in America as there are
in Ireland, it may be of interest to
some Of the readers of the Standard
to read a line from one who has
Travelled through ireland and learned
some things tirst-hand.
There have been many drawbacks
connected with the landlord system
Of ireland, and many efforts at legis-
latiOn to regulate the system, but,
Judging by the answers to numerous
Enquiries as to conditions, it is evil
dent that the Protestants of ireland
are, for the most part, united in their
preference for English rule rather
than risk Home Rule; they prefer
the present evil rather than risk 9th
ers that they know not of. The rents
have not been high; they have been
adjusted by commissions appointed
for that purpose; tenants have been
given value for all improvements;
and the right to purchase has been
offered to the tenant with substantial
assistance from the Government. In
Protestant Ulster there has been very
little complaint. IN the Roman
Catholic districts the priests, with
one accord have favored Home
Rule, and this, of course, has made
the PTOtcStants fearful as to the out
come. | was told by different par
ties that in times past, when there
were prospects Of the Home Rule Bill
passing, priests in the strong Roman
Catholic districts went so far as to
effect the sale of the property Of the
PrQtestantS in the immediate neigh
bOrbOOd, and sometimes the property
was sold at auction to the highest
bidder, who was expected to see that
the owner would vacate when the
Homo Rule bin passed. While such
cases may be rare, yet the numerous
threats and the history of the pope
rule Of the past, have made the feel
ings run high and led the Protest
ants to band together to resist Home
Rule, and to purchase firearms and
prepare themselves for what they
consider an inevitable conflict
| have often heard Of the great
difference between Roman Catholic
and Protestant ireland, bat the i'm
preston was made more vivid and
lasting by travelling through those
districts and observing Tor myself.
Catholic ireland is a beautiful island,
with lovely lakes, magnificent rivers,
gently slOping hills, fertile valleys,
mines OF precious ore, and harbGrs
spacious ana commanding. But,
alas! the lakes and rivers are almost
free from commerce, the farms are
poorly cultivated, the precious ores
lie Und disturbed, and bat few vessels
are found in her harbOrs There is,
in this Cath Ollie island, feable popu-
iatiGn with scarcely enough energy
to scraNe together money Sufficient
10 pay the rent Of the landlord and
the assessments Of the priests The
fences are lily kent, the roads in
poor repair, the chimneys of the
houses tumbling down, and the lack
Of thrift manifest everywhere A
large fam ly hrdd}ed together in one
or two small rooms, and fFeqRantly
the chinfens, several pigs, Q goat or
two, and horse, occupy an adioin-
ing room. From the midst Of this
Roman Catholic population shoot np
gorgeous church es, cathed and
pal9tial residences of the priests, as
if the land we're flowing with milk
and honey There is no money here
to build factories and to prosecute
large bus ness enterpr ses, bnt ii
seems 10 10 an easV matter to secure
$4,000 for a church and 100000
for a stately cathedral. The land
lord system may he an evil, bNt It is
a BLESSING compared to the evils Cow