The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1919-04-12

[SH STANDARD
FINANCIAL PROFIT DERIVED BY ENG
LAND FROM IRELAND.
Britain,s bulldog. grip on Ireland is maintained
have been emphasized by British statesmen in their
attempts to bolster up defense of their position
in the eyes of the civilized world. They would
carefully screen from the scrutiny of mankind the
more sordld financial and commercial advantages
that accrue to England in virtue of the Union with
Ireland 1t is blatantly proclaimed by them that
the Government of Ireland is conducted with
loss to the treasury of the Empire and in proof of
this they have cited financial statistics of their own
fabrication showing Erin as debtor in the account
Figures do not lle' says the adage; but in this
case liars are doing the figuring and they give out
tor publication only such figures as may tend to
serve their purposes. What is given may be true,
but 1t is not the whole TRUTH and the conclusions
winch they deduce therefrom vitiated with error
Students of Irish history and of current affairs in
Ireland are quite familiar with this aspect of the
Irish issue. Out of the mouths of English states
men and from the records of British Parliamentary
commission, the real status of the relation between
the two countries from the financial standpoint has
been exhibited to the world; and the facts and fig
ures have been often presented in publications inter-
ested in advancing the cause of Ireland. But it
should be remembered that Britain has the advan-
tage over the smaller nation in all means of COM
diplomats throughout the ramifcations of the En-
pre are ever the alert to present her case where
ever 1t may seem necessary to mold public opinion
in her favor Thus is built up and maintained in
many quarters of the globe her Wanted reputation
for fair play" and progressiveness in her govern
mental and business relationships with Others much
to the advantage of her political and business inter-
ests About Ireland silence is the rule but wherever
it is necessary to refer to the nsstently recurring
discomfort of the Irish people resdet is had to the
timeworn falsehoods and Misrepresentation regard
ing the inability of the Irish to manage their own
affairs, etc.
But modern education and progress dis
counting this British buncombe and balderdash
The facts demanded, and not the prejudiced and
interested conclusions of British advocates and poll
ticans And authenticated and reliable presenta-
tons are required, not the garbled and distorted
half truths which have in the past suhiced in some
quarters, even in America, to "dope" public opinion
into the British way of thinking. And the facts
and statistics bearing upon the issue tend strongly
to demonstrate to the world that England's tena-
cious domination in Ireland is in large measure due
to the purely sordid and mercenary financial and
industrial advantages which she derives therefrom
This is phase of the Irish problem which has
been cogently presented by Justice Cohalan of New
York in the New York American: In the year 1913,
as the article points out England received in direct
taxation from ireland 613oooo while the
balance Of 100000. In 1918 the profit accruing
in this way was $90O0O,OO0, sum sufficient to pay
the interest at three per cent the whole British
ante-war debt of G6OO,OOO,OOO. During the war the
trade Of Ireland with England, second in volume
only TO that of the United States, was conducted
virtually the terms proposed by Britain Ireland
was per force obliged to buy manufactured articles
exclusively in the English markets, and obliged
to dispose of her materials, cattle, Sheep hogs
and farm produce to the English at their
own prices. It is fairly estimated that from this
turnover England derived an additional huge profit
at the expense of Irish traders.
These figures of the population of the two coun-
tries show concretely the results OF this continuous
system of suppression and spoilation.
The population of Ireland on January l, 1901,
was more than five millions of people The popula-
ton of England was less than nine millions. The
population of Ireland today is 100000 The pop
ulation of England is nearly 100000.
100000. Today, for the first time in recorded his
tory the population of Scotland is larger than that
of ireland and has increased to about 100000
The Chi1ders Commission, which was appointed
by Premier Gladstone to investigate the matter of
Irish taxation reported after protracted study of
the same that since the Act of Union of 1901 Ire
land. had been overtaxed on the average G2,5OOOOO
each year, which would make total for the entire
period covered of G300OO0O0O, or 81 5OOOOO,OOO,
of concededy surplus and unfair taxation.
Irish leaders have not stressed the financial and
commercial losses of their country, because of the
British control. With the Irish people this is. but
a minor and secondary matter as compared with
the primary objective of their protestthe status Of
alien control of their affairs 1t is not of the mis-
government of England that complain" said
Wolfe Tone lit is of the government of England"
This is the keynote of Irish resistance throughout