Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-28
IRELAND'S GRIEVANCES

10 the EdtOr OF inc Evening LCdger
Slr-In an editorial today you concede
that Irish home rule should be given ION
general and national grounds" yet some
what inconsstently ask for some specific
grounds upon which it should be given
You then say:
Precisely what injustice has the British
Parliament done TO the average Irish
community in recent years which it has
not done to the average English COM
munity, and what justice and aid have
been given to Englishmen that have been
withheld from lrishmen?
Under your Limitation of recent years"
I could go back say twenty to look for
cases in which the people Of Ireland and
the English people are not treated alike.
But l will confine myself to the present
day and cite a few of the many grievances
under which Ireland labors now.
Some years ago the Childers Royal Com
mission. appointed by the House of Com
mons to consider the fiscal relation of
Great Britain and Ireland, reported that
since the Act of Union of 1900 a sum of
more than $500, 900, ,OOO-one billion six
hundred millions-was due to Ireland from
the Imperial EXchequer for money paid by
Ireland in excess of her legitimate con-
tribution TO imperial expenses. Not single
cent Of this has been returned. Is not that
a grievance?
Since the war hundreds of munition
plants have been erected in England. Not
a single one exists in Ireland, although
promises for the erection of some have
been frequently made. Is not that a griev
ance?
In the education grants for l917-1S, just
published England is given more than
twelve times as much as Ireland. while
Scotland, far smaller country, is given
nearly twice as much, For the first time
a sum of over S5,000,000 Is given for
scientific and industrial research in Eng
land, Scotland and Wales, while not a soli-
tary penny has been given Ireland. Is not
that a grievance?
Public school teachers in England get
about so per cent more salary than the
Irish national teachers, and, besides, are
provided with free homes, which the Irish
teachers have not. Is not that a grievance q?
The English Board of Trade will not
permit the export from England TO Ireland
Of structural iron needed in the rebuilding
Of that part of Dublin wrecked by the
shells of a British gunbcat during the
Sim Fein revolt nor will the same board
permit the export Of the machinery neces-
sary TO open and develop a coal mine at
Killnaleck County Cavan. Is not each of
these a grievance?
A few weeks ago a council Of agrIcul-
ture was specially formed TO develop agri-
| culture during the war, Ireland, unlike
| England which is mainly Industrial is an
| agricultural country and yet not single
Irshman was named on this board. Is not
| this a grievance7
Henry Ford, automobile manufacturer of
Detroit. wishes TO establish a factory I'm
| Cork To do so II is necessary TO obtain
| the permission OF the English Parliament
| and II is quite likely that permission will
not be granted as English manufacturers
have presented petition against the
| scheme. Is not that a grievance, and does
not a grievance lie within the fact that moi
| a railway, or tramway or harbor pier or
| any other public work can be undertaken
| in Ireland without the express authority
| of an act Of the British Parliament?
Your space is valuable, 80 / will moi
| trespass on II. But could cite you scores
on scores OF cases in which the Irish people
| are not treated as fairly or as consider.
| ately as are the English people. You are
| not quite correct when you say the Irish
peasantry' forced Parliament 10 make The
landlords "dsgorge," The land purchase
act 20 which you refer was passed by thr
landlords friends. the Tory party, ant
| under its operation these landlords, Instead
OF "disgorglng" readily and cheerfully, solt
their estates at from three 10 four times
their value. The WyDdham purchase acl
Twas q landlord measure, pure and simple