SENATOR JONES ON THE IRISH SITUATION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XI, Issue 24, 12 October 1883, Page 5

SENATOR JONES ON THE IRISH SITUATION.

While staying in New York the senator was interviewed by a reporter of the Neiv York Herald :— „,," TTeSIT TeSl I have beea ia Ireland. For the first time since I was a ctiild I went back to see my old home in Balbriggan, a fine little town about twelve miles from* Dublin. I found Ireland far more beautiful than my early recollections led me to expect " " And its people ?" '•I found amoDg them a strong.deep, and seemingly unquestionable desiie for local self-government, such as the Canadian people nave. Ihe feeling is thoroughly national, and, whatever differences may exist as to miuor political matters, I believe that Ireland is eager for flome Rule. The people talk earnestly about their plans, and 1 failed to see any evidence of disorder in the portion of the country which I visited. There was no more lawlessness or crime than in other countries." '■Was there any great destitution among the people?" To tell the truth, I did not go to the section where the sufferw g . 1 ! VaS rn ßaid^ 0 c ? reat est. But when I was in Dublin the late father lorn Burke left his sick bed to address a meeting in the cause ot charity, and I took this last occasion to hear the famous patriotpriest of whom 1 had read so much. The assembly was a very large one ; but I could not judge of Father Burkes oratory, for he was s very sick and only spoke a few earnest words, full of tenderness and t idling. He declared that in the Western portion of Ireland in one ihstrict there were 6,000 little children dying of hunger. Father Burke appealed for money with which to buy bread and clothes for the helpless little ones. This I considered the highest evidence that the suffering in some parts of the island was as great as it has been represented. When I was banqueted by the Lord Mayor and citizens of Dublin I said in a brief speech that if there were 5,000 children on the verge of the grave in a single district there must be a proportionate amount of destitution among the adults. By the way, Lord Wolseley was banqueted in the Rotunda of Dublin on the very night that I was honoured in the Mansion House. The Freeman's Journal commented extensively on the two banquets, and quoted the words it t-x. Wolselev » who in h is speech that the Irish soldiers, like the Irish people, could not be governed by the cold discipline of the English, but must have leaders of their own. The words lad a strange ring, coming as they did from the lips of a distinguished general. The London TimetjaM. the reception to me was intended as a political more to detract from the meeting to Lord Wolseley I do not think that it had any political significance, and the fact that the two affairs took place on the one night was merely a coincidence. " Do the people seem to rely generally upon Parnell ?" • Yes, decidedly. They seem to thiDk that a deal of good has been wrought by the Land Act, and that it can be altered so as to accomplish much more. The people think that the country can easily be developed if the Government will give it a fair chance lias view was held by the most thoughtful men I met. Everywhere it was said that the distribution of taxes in Ireland was not iust when compared with taxation in other parts of the Empire, and that there was much need of reform in this direction before the country could prosper. I don't believe that any Protestant leader ever had the confidence of the Catholic people as completely as Parnell. There are a few who disagree with him, but the great mass of the Deoole are with him heart and soul. They like his moderation and conservatism. Even men who dare not sympathise with him openly support him secretly." . v J " What was the most prominent feature in Irish politics that you noticed V " The most striking thing to me wa3 the fact that the religious differences which formerly divided the 'Irish people from top to bottom are being thrown at one side, and Protestant and Catholic are joining hands." "How about the exportation of the peas Entry to America? Is there really any feeling on the subject ?" " There is a very strong feeling against what is called < assisted emigration. The idea of exporting to America, by means of Governmental aid, people who can be classed as paupers, offends the pride of the Irish, and they talk very freely against it. The popular feeling is that the poor peasants should not go to America, but stay at Home and help to work out their country's redemption." "Did you observe any general sympathy for the men who were recently hanged in Ireland ?" " No. I found that the people themselves detest any form of crime just as much as we do here. The Irish people think that crimes committed in the name of Ireland have done the country's cause preat injury. •jP "What were the chief points of difference between Ireland and America that you noticed ?" " Well, the people there claim that they do not reap the full fruits of their labour, and that if they did they would be as prosperous as our people are. They contend that under the political system by which they are ruled the country is unable to contain within itself the wealth which is created by the tillers of the land ; that the growth of industry is checked by oppressive laws ; that, although Irishmen labour hard and skilfully, the bulk of the country's subsistence goes into England and nothing comes back. Another difference between the twu countries is the great display of military force which met my eye at every little railway station. There was always a number of constabulary carrying sidearms and sometimes carbines. land 'J, What did you see personally as to the depressed state of Ire"Well, Til tell you one thing. I saw south of Dublin immense tracts of magmficient farming lands which had apparently been cultivated once, but are now used as pasture. The fences were down and the fertile fields were abandoned to nature and the cattle wtich grazed upon them. I wondered how the people along that

section could support themselves when so little of the land was devoted to the cultivation of breadstuffs. I was told that this was the direct result of the evictions of tenants by landlords. I really cannot see how it is that Ireland cannot support a larger population when so much of the finest farming laDd I ever saw is lying waste and almost useless."