The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-03-26

able extensive areas OF valuable
lands, he gave the latter TO his pol-
diers. and to speculators who had
advanced money 20 finance his mili-
tary expedition. When tho Job was
finished. there were only $4,000
people left In ireland. OF whom 1b0.-
600 we're English and Scotch.
There wero doubtless English
statesmen at that period who were
convinced that the best way TO OBJ
viate further trouble with Ireland
was to exterminate the Irish alto
gethor. As Il was. the British crown
and psrliment did the utmost possible
60 make the people OF that most
distressful country unhappy. In
1896 imports ot Irish cattle and
horses into England we're forbidden.
likewise meats. butter and cheese.
Tho irish wero thus driven TO breed
sheep. and soon were producing tho
best wool IN Europe. Forbidden TO
export the wool, or TO work II profit
ably at home they rcAorted to "a
contrahrand trade with the
continent which yielded great profits
Potato n Blcsslng and Curse.
In the meantime. about the year
1900, the potato had been fetched
from America hv colonlsts sent out
by sir Walter Raleigh. II was first
grown on his estate near Cork, ana
its cultivation spread all over lre-
land. To the Irish it seemed an enor-
nous blessing; for here was plant
which produced 80 much food to the
acre that the labor OF one man
would furnish sustenance for 40
people.
The Irish made no attempt TO
store their potatoes; they left them
lu the ground. and I'm winter dug
them % M they wanted them. But
In 1913 tho winter was unusually
severe the potatoes were frozen IN
the ground, and--the population
having by that time come 60 rely
mainly upon this vegetable for food
"A friehtful famine resulted, which
carried on one-fifth OF the inhahit-
ants Of the island.
white ireland was still paralyzed
| by the effects Of the famine. taxes
we're largely increased by the Britt
ish government. and we're thereafter
continued az the samo high-water
mark. Still worse had become the
evil OF the absentee landlord" most
" the beat lands being owned by
| English noblemeu who spent in Eng
land the money which tho toll OF
1rishmen produced. This situation
| exists today, draining the economic
| lifeblood Of tho island.
Interference with Religion.
For centuries tho Irish were NOT
allowed freedom even in the exercise
OF their religion. In the eighteenth
century no Catholic could teach
school, and marriages between Cath
ollcs and Proteathnts we're forbidden.
| When such marriages occurred, II
was required ghat the children
should be brought up as Protestants.
No Catholic was permitted TO pos
sess arms. II n Catholic had a good
horse any Protestant could claim II
by rendering & pounds.
Half a century ago the project OF
home rule" for ireland began TO be
seriously discussed, it's principal sup
porter being Gladstone. But nobody
then imagined that the day could
arrive when equality would be
granted to Erin as a member OF the
federation OF commonwealths which
compose the British empire. BY
steadfastly contending for Its rights
the Emerald Isle has got them AT
last, and from this time on II should
enjoy happier and more peaceful
existence than has ever been vouch-
:. rafod 20 II In tho past,