The Irish standard., 1919-11-01
SOME REASONS WHY IRELAND SHOULD
HAVE SELF
BY John MacCourt.)

the Act OF Union III lSUO She has ceased to
demand the abrogation of the infamous pact The
Irish national spirit longs for selfgovernment and
that feeling cannot be eradicated Irish nationality
may be sentiment but it is just such sentiment that
rules the world. Hungary possessed this national
sentiment and glorious old Catholic Poland was,
and is, the proud possessor of national spirit In
both countries adherence to the national sentiment
has been rewarded and in Ireland too, despite the
centuries of ruthless oppression the call of nation
hood will yet be heard.
tures old and the whole connection has been fraught
with disaster to Ireland. In 1900 Protestant par
Lament which was alleged to be form of repre-
sentative government for people who IS per
by those choice British politicians Pitt and Castle
reagh 1t is record that ll6 of the total 162
members of the Irish Parliament accepted brides
for their votes. 93O00O0O ($l5,000000) was spent
in this way and all of it later charged to Irish
taxes. The Irish people were robbed of their indie
pendence and then charged with the cost of tile
operation. Lecky, the historian. in discussing the
Act of Union, says that, ''t was passed into law by
unexamped bribery, corruption and fraud"
Mr.. Gladstone in the course of speech in Liver
transaction in the history of man than the making
OF the union between England and Ireland" Mr..
Butt, the organizer of the Irish National League, in
his writings sets forth few of the bribes given to
secure support from the Irish Protesants of Ireland
to the Union: Marquis of Downshire, $4,000
($26oOO0)'; Lord Shannon, G45,O00 ($225,OO0)
Marquis of Ely, 945,OOO ($225 5,0OO) and so on.
Twenty-Five Irish peerages were conferred, six
Irish peerage, baronetcies, bshoprics livings,
judgeshps, places and preferments, legal civil and
military were handed out generously as reward for
the dirty work of betraying country.
1t is not to be wondered at, therefore, that the
Act of Union has no moral or legal binding force
for Irishmen and that they regard it great cr-
nnal act of qsurpation and that no mitigation OF its
oppressive details will make it acceptable. Re-
sistance to the Union will last SO long as an Irish
man lives.
Among the first "bene6ts' derived from the
Union was the complete destruction of Irish indus
tries one of the reasons for the Union was to re-
move competitive Irish industries. The great WOOL
industry Of Ireland which employed 10000 hands
destroyed by act of the English Parliament.
The cattle industry, cotton glass ron hats, sugar
refining, shpbuilding (except in Ulster) indus
tries destroyed by English legislation for that
purpose
The colonial and Indian markets closed
absolutely against Ireland and prohibitive duties
were placed upon all Irish manufacturers to keep
them out of the English markets. One by one the
ancient industries of Ireland were strangled to suit
the jealous rival interests of England. Every foun
tain of wealth was Theoretically sealed so that now
commercial enterprise has perished Had it not
been for the destruction of Irish industries there
never would have been an Irish famine in 1S4445.
Were it not for the destruction of Irish industries,
the manhood of the country would not have left
Ireland's shores by the million.
If England had kept her destructive fingers out Of
Irish management there would be today in Ireland
twenty millions of contented people, the most pros
porous in the world, and with every of Ireands
143 beautiful harbors filled with the worlds ship
ping Eng1and's system of government in Ireland
consists of sixty Boards, "a witty Irshman
once said Ireland had enough boards to make her
political cofin). These boards independent Of
another but all responsible to the head Off
cials in London. The Irish people have not the
slightest voice in the management of any of these
boards or departments. The system entails immense
cost can be we'll understood and gives satisfaction
to no one. 1t takes Irish chief governor but
year to be introduced to all of the boards govern
ing the country. The only people who profit by the
system is the horde of officials. To give good idea
of the English system of government in Ireland it
is only necessary to read the following figures which
though compiled before the will apply today -
-Four millions of population, 100000 officials TO-,
600 police, and add todays garrison of troops var
ously estimated from 10000 to 100000 men. As
there are about 100000 able-bodied Irshmen in the
country it must be admitted they are pretty we'll
D supplied with governors and jailers.
s If new sewer is to be laid in Irish village
4 or tramway system is projected in town, the
local authorities must present themselves. in Lon
don and engage counsel at the parliamentary bar at
huge cost and the matter has to be handled by Eng
& lish lawyers and alleged experts who in most cases
4 cannot even pronounce the name Of the places for
which the utilities are required
The following table of costs for police and educa-
+ tion in Ireland and England speaks Volumes
sS Primary Education Police
England $50 per per head head 500 per per head
Perhaps there is better proof of the evil result
ling from the Union than the fact that the expendi-
frs IN Ireland on police is greater than Primary