CAN IRELAND STAND ALONE?

New Zealand Tablet, 8 May 1919, Page 42

CAN IRELAND STAND ALONE?

IS SHE RICH ENOUGH TO SET UP AS AN INDEPENDENT 1 NATION? ' , "" These questions can be.best answered by comparing Ireland with the small nations of Europe that prospered in freedom. ~: See how Ireland holds her own in size: Area in Square Miles. ■■>■.■ Denmark... 15,042 Switzerland 15,976 BSSBMEBMBBBM/8888888 Ireland ... 32,531 Countries about 'the same size as Ireland are: Serbia,- 33,891 square miles; Portugal, 35,490; Greece, 41,933; Bulgaria, 43,305. In. population, also she is well to the fore, as these figures show : - —• Switzerland 3,888,500 k£323aiESS2£ES2E£I£Z2 Ireland ... 4,390,219 The following are the fiures for countries whose population in each case is about equal to that of Ireland—Serbia, 4,547,000; Bulgaria, 4,751,000; Greece, 4,821,300. What do these small nations pay each year to run their business; and in most cases they do their business better than the big nations? Here are the annual bills: Serbia £5,250,000 Greece 5,400.000 Switzerland... • 7,000,000 - Bulgaria 7,000,000 Norway 7,200,000 Denmark 9,500,000 Dublin Castle Rule cost Ireland last year £30,000,000, and this year. £35,000,000. All the small Powers mentioned here keep their own armies, and three of them, have fleets as well. It is cheaper, therefore, to be free than in slavery. Liberty costs only 32s per head in Bulgaria, 35s in Serbia, 37s in Switzerland, 4 0s in Greece, 51s in Sweden, 55s in Portugal, and 60s in Norway : while in Ireland subjection and corruption cost 75s per head ! In point of trade, Ireland whips all the other small nations hollow. Here are the figures for 1915, in each case taken from Whitaker's Almanac, 1917: —- Serbia. £ 9,500,000 Greece 12,500,000 Bulgaria 15,000,000 '•; Portugal 23,000,000 , ' Rumania ... 41,000,000 ' ; " Norway 42,000,000 : Denmark 65,000,000 " Sweden 75,000,000 while Ireland's trade for 1915 was £172,413,724. Judged by any standard we may select, Ireland is admirably fitted for freedom. She is large enough,

populous 'enough and -rich enough. "■"" For the money paid Englandj last year could ber.run-■? the government business of Bulgaria, Norway, Switzerland, and Denmark, paying for all their police, soldiers, ships, and guns. Is not Ireland fooled and robbed long enough?