Daily Kennebec journal., 1922-04-21
"THE REAL IRELAND"


the contrary notwithstanding there Is
more 70 Ireland than Donnyprook
fair. more than an Island peopled by
brawlers. AS matter of fact, Ire
land is peopled by many thousand
people who are Industrious. thrifty,
peace loving and desirous of living
civilized lives.
"The Real Ireland" by S. S. Nc
Clure in McClure's magazine for May
offords some very timely information.
1T is hard for an Irishman like my
self TO hear continually about the
poverty and suffering of Ireland" he
saws, and doubtless many American
ICED Irshmen will feel like saying
"amen." Some OF them-and not all
perhaps may fairly be termed Amer
icanized-representa of the Clan
na-Gael, the Friends Of Irish Freedom
and the Cumann ma Pan at a recent
meeting in this country to celebrate
the Easter rebellion Of 1916, adopted
resolution to the effect that they
condemn the collection OF money in
America to enable one set of Irishmen
20 fight other Irishmen or to finance
an election campaign They even de-
MED that the Irish mutineers are
really standing for an Irish Republic.
When II is considered that leaders
ut this meeting included a representa-
tive number OF Irish irreconclables;
also that II Is from American contri-
buttons that has come the money
which has equipped 90 many of the
Irishmen who are shooting one an
other with the firearms they are
using. the full significance Of this
protest is apparent If American
mdney can be kept away from Ireland
she would seem in fair way to ar
rive at somewhat peaceful conditions.
Mr. Mcclure on his visit found
them a prosperous people. He writes:
In the week OF July. 1919. | made n
journey through the hole length and
breadth of Ireland in company with
an American who, like myself, had
spent his youth on farm: he in
Iowa. and | in Indiana and Illinois.
We. therefore, looked at Ireland with
tho eyes of American farmers. We
were simply astounded at the appear
i =
wealth. We saw farm houses, aver
aging as we'll as tho homes of Indiana
and Iowa. great herds of cattle of
noble breeds, people well dressed and
looking happy and prosperous. We
had food better than we had in Eng
, land or France. Ireland was the only
part Of the world ut war that escaped
the rationing OF food. There are few
peoples in the world who, for a gen.
Grafton at least, have been as pros
perous MS the Irish. i larger per-
ccntaEo of tho Irish people than OF
the American, people own their own
homes"
And In the matter Of taxes ireland
in recent Years has Jared well. Nc
Clure found that:
No tax is paid in iceland which is
not paid in Great Britain but scv-
tral taxes affecting the middle and
uprcr classes are oyacted in Great
britain and not in Ireland These are
the Land Tax, the Inhabited House
Duty, ana the Assessed Taxes. 1t is.
ot course. n voluntary tax. but here
arain Ireland is favored 1t is IS. Cd.
IN England Hnd only cs sd in ireland.
Or, 70 put it another way, IL $500. 900
n tho population Of England having
Tho same incomes as the inhabitants
~ Ireland we're 20 transfer themselves
- that country. they would find their
rayments by way Cf taxation dis
tinc'iy reduced. II requires much in
renuitv 10 argue in the face of these
Ngurcs that Ireland. as compared with
EnCland ana Scotland. has been pay
n more than her fair share Of I'm
rcriai Taxation"