The Evening Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1917-1920, 1919-08-07
THE OPEN COLUMN
The Other Side of Ireland's Case.

Editor the MiSsourian: To furnish
a balance for the sympathetic CD dis
cussion by NJ. of Ireland's troubles in
Tuesday nights Missourian, submit
letter on the subject printed in
the New York Evening Post. The
writer deals with facts; and the rem
edy he would apply is not unanimity,
but our own tried and proven medi-
cine-majority rule.
If the American colonists had wait
ed for unanimity, we should still be
waiting for independence Day. for,
through the vigilance and kindness of
England, we should never lack Tories.
Unanimity! Impossible: therefore
England's remedy.
F. GILFILLAN.
The letter to which Father Gilfillan
refers, reprinted from the New York
Evening Post in the Catholic News,
follows in part:
To the Editor of The Evening Post:
Sir: Your editorial. Irish Sense and
SenSitiveness,' is friendly in tone and for
that | thank you. As | have been reading
the Evening Post for thirty five years |
feel i'll Il position to point out to you
fairly my idea of the distance you have
yet to 20 to Il correct and just Judgment
on the Irish situation and its solution.
| approach, and have always approach
ed. his subject from an American view
point, never having seen Ireland, nor have
my people before me for nearly two hun
dred years; but l have always priced,
above every earthly possession, my belief
in the principle, which is the corner stone
of this republic, that every nation and
every people forming true nation has
the right to govern itself without the die
tatiOn, interference and OverlOrdship of an
alien race or nation.
This is not strange doctrine to American
ears; it was never questioned, publicly,
until the poison of cOlonialism and i'm
perialism entered the minds of many of
our public men and people, largely as IL
result, l think, of the requirement of the
Philippine Islands.
Well, Ireland self determined" in the
general election, under British law, in
December, 1918; the Republican candi-
dates. thirtyfour in English prisons at
the time without charges and charges
never since made, were returned in sew
enty-three seats out of 1903, and six Ma
tionalists more, who protested against
English rule and methods in Ireland, We're
also returned. These Republicans formed
an Assembly January 10, 1919. in Dublin.
elected Professor De Valera president, and
are now carrying on the political business
of the vast majority of the people of Ire
land in as far as they can in the presence
of Il great English army of occupation. |
cannot understand why this is not II
strictly just and praisewOrthy proceed
Ing, according to the best and noblest
American precedentS.
How many know that the English gov
ernment raised S1TO,O 100000 from taxes in
tbnt ba OF of
administration Of Ireland was only S63-
100000. including the lord lieutenant's sal
airy of $12J,0O0 and the lord chancellor's
of $4,000. net profit to England of S101,
100000? One-eleventh of the entire i'm
perial budget is saddled on Ireland; her
share. under any calculation, is but one
twentieth to onethirtieth. How many
know that the British-appoined Childers
Commission of 1874, composed of three
Englishmen. three Scots and three Irish
men, reported to Parliament that Ireland
had been overtaxed, since 1900 to that
date, mt the rate of S15.000000 per annum
a colossal total of about 81 J00,000,000
And that, of course, was only in the tax
rates. not mt all counting the rack rents
for nearly the entire forfeited soil of the
country. the excessive profits through con-
troll of trade, the imposing of vast ex-
penseS of a foreign soldiery, judiciary,
police and place holders too numerous to
set down. The Childers Commission WAS
appointed by Gladstone-no mean nation
III fnancier and economist. and Gladstone
accepted and indorsed this report.
Yet not one penny of that vast sum has
been refunded to Ireland, and the over
taxation today. in proportion to England.
Scotland and Wales. is far greater than in
1874. In view of these facts why the diff
fculty of keeping up old age pensions:
Whose money is doing it now?
The world must now demand this Olsen
thralment from England. for the worlds
sake. for lreland's sake. for England's
sake and reputation, and for the sake of
Justice and peace.
Only justice can bring peace. or ought
10 bring peace. That is Il certainty.
JOHN JEROME ROONEY.
New York. July 10