The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-04-11
ULSTER'S BOASTED TOLER-
ANCE.

In the first of series Of syndi-
Gated articles published in the
st. Paul Dispatch of April 7.
James Creelman gives an interest,
ing account of the situation in
Ulster as it appears to the observ.
ant eye of an experienced and
impartial war correspondent.
We take exception, however
to the statements made in one
paragraph in regard to the pro,
portionate representation Of Cath,
olics in the local official positions
in Ulster, and to the amount OF
money which they draw from the
public treasury in the form OF
salaries and wages. He says that
(1) lin the local official govern
ment Of Ulster the Catholics, who
represent only 80 per cent Of the
population have 35 per cent Of
the appointments and ~
"here in Belfast, the citadel OF
militant Orangeism and the head
of the present rebellion, the
100000 Catholics who represent
one-fourth of the city's popula,
ton and pay about 100000 Of the
local taxes, draw more than $685.,
100000 a year from the public
treasury in wages and salaries. -
In regard to the first point
The Catholic population of Ulster
is 100000; the Protestant popula-
ton $4,000. Catholics constitute
more than A per cent Of the en-
tire population and yet, on the
highest computation, they have
not more than 20 per cent of the
appointments under local bodies
and where they have even 20 pei
cent it is due to a strong Catho-
lie vote. We cite a few typical
instances: In County Antrim
where the Protestants are only 7e
per cent of the population they
have 90 per cent of the Offices
In the city of Derry, where the
Catholics are in the majority, they
have only Ii out Of 80 represen
tatives in the local corporation
This is due to the fact that the
city has been so jerrymandered
by the Protestant minority that
Catholics are unjustly deprived OF
their political rights. In contrast
to the foregoing, and to show how
generously the Catholic majority
treats the Protestant minority, we
may mention that in County
Cavan in Ulster, Catholics mum
Der 80 per cent Of the population
and hold only SO per cent Of the
Offices; and in County Kerry, g
typical Catholic county in the
south, the Protestants who consti
tute only 3 per cent of the popula
ton have II per cent Of the Offices
Mr.. Creelman's second point
is that the Catholics of Belfast
who are about one-fourth Of its
population, pay only 100000 Of
the local taxes and draw $50, 900,
900 a year in salaries and wages
As matter of fact, the taxes fol
local purposes in Belfast amount
to 1885, 900 a year of which
Catholics pay $560,0O0, or about
one-third. The local authorities
pay out in salaries to Office holders
100000 year, of which Catholic
officials draw the munifcent sun
of $4,000. Creelman error il
due to the fact that he credits tc
the Belfast local corporation the
salary paid to Catholics, not by
Belfast out of it's local taxes, but
by the Imperial Government out
of imperial taxes. Thus, for In
stance, soldiers, policemen and
civil servants, are paid out of the
Imperial Treasury. Furthermore
even the small amount OF salary
which Catholics get from the Bel
fast local authorities is given, In
many cases, because Belfast cannot
help itself. No inconsiderable