Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-05-30
irish CLAIM
NOT ENTIRELY
80 SENTIMENTAL
O'Mara Declares There is a
More Practical Side to
Independence Demand.

LlmerlCk, ireland, April IS.-tNOr-
respondence of the Associated Press,)
dependence is not wholly sentimental,
according to Alphonsus O'Mara, may
or of Limerick and one of its leading
manufacturers. There is. he says, a
much more practical side to the
questionable desire for economic in
dependence n the opportunity for
industrial advancement, which the
Irishman feels he can never attain
until he is permitted to make his own
laws and deal authoritatively with his
W problems.
Material advantages have come
out Of every movement Of the Irish
remains" said Mr.. O'Mara. 1.-The one
point is we are heavily overtaxed.
This year England is making q profit
of twenty millions out ofSus That is,
she is caring is t%hirty-six millions
and giving is a government which
costs her nc more than fifteen mill
7lions.!% These figures are not ours, but
hers. We have England's word for it.
ireland has improved its position
in the past years. but we have not ad-
vanced industrially. We lack capital
and we lack confidence because Eng
land and England's statesmen have
told us hat we are not fit to govern
ourselves, that we lack those essentials
which make for self-government of
the mass, and therefore of the indi-
vidual. Our farming population, alb
sorbipg this sentiment through oft re-
iteration, have withheld their- money
when it vas needed by Irish enter
prise. They have deposited it in
banks, vast sums of 1t, and the
money has been loaned to English
man for tho 1ovolopronf ~ Eno1;et,
industry. ~
Limerick some IS years ago had a
prosperous mercantile marine. Now
the Shannon bears not on it's bosom
a single ship that a call Limerick
it's home port.
ALSO We had a fine textile in.
dustry, with more textile workers in
ireland than there were then in. Eng
land. BIT that has one the way OF
the ships.
I'VE have here the finest river in
the world for shipbuilding. We could
line the shores of the Shannon with
the people who would take the init.
alive have not the money. and be.
cause we are told we are not capable
of self-governE,ent the people who
have the. none will not lend it ia
those who could use it.
1.-THE world is passing through ar
industrial crisis. Every nation -
America, England, France, and ever
Germany-is making preparations fol
world trade. But Ireland is not al.
lowed to take n industrial step tina,
would help her people here at home
Why, the British government ever
refused me a passport when 1 wanted
to go to America to place the natura
advantages of Limerick before your
investors and. shtpowners. So here W.
are; high and dry. with the ocean O
prosperity all around US.
I'VE could only take the steps nee
essary to develop this country IL W.
were assured Ireland would be al
lowed to make its own laws and pro
vide it's own government, for in nj
other way could VI give American in
vestors any guarantee that, Englant
would not tax their investment out o.
existence.
II don't have a great deal Of faitt
in what the rest Of the world is goint
to do for us unless we do something
for ourselves. We have stated oul
principles, and at the present ,momen
d government Of the people Of IRELAND
is in office in Dublin. OF course, thi
government can't have any rea
power until England .withdraws hel
army of occupation, and that can onl,
be brought about by pressure from
outside Of Ireland"