IRISH AFFAIRS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1097, 8 April 1911, Page 10

IRISH AFFAIRS.

Sir, —Y'our correspondent Thos. 31. Milligan, in his • true colours, talks about "slinging mild in tho hopo that como of it would stick." Now, judging from his latest effusion, some of it has stuck, and stuck indelibly. Well, "if the cap fits him he can wear it." Ho should not forget that ho was the first to commence the process. But as ho seems to have repented, and tries to do tho amende honourable, I shallendeavour to assuage my thirst for revenge, and extend to him tho "olivo branch." But should he persist in bis discourteous epithets, ho may expect that his opponent will retaliate in stronger measures than can be expressed in words. I am not ok of thoso whom ho describes as "shooting from behind a hedge." I always do my work in the open, and if 110 wants to bo sanguinary, ho can choose his weapons from tho pen to_ the sword. I am ready to meet him any -timo in tho field of controversy or in'open- combat at twenty paces distant, or nearer, if he so'desires. ' Ho (Mr. Milligan) gives figures on his own ipse dixit, regarding tho national indebtedness of Ireland sinco the Union. But he takes good care not to give his authorities. Is. 110 then, so foolish as to think that the readers of The Dominion shall be gulled by his unsupported statements? Ho has never tackled the arithmetical problem relative to the contributions of Ireland towards tho liquidation of the National Debt of England. But you might as well expcct a man to give you the age of. a comet- by Fluxions as to expect a solution by Mr. Milligan of the problem in question. He evades the question altogether, and tries to delude your readers by giving figures of his own imagining. There is too much of tho "as 1 said before" about Mr. Milligan. Why does he not come direct to the issue and prove his statements? lie cannot do it; abler men have attempted'it, but have signally ■ failed. He need not tell us that Ireland is an agricultural country. Everybody knows that, and known why it is 50. At first he was certain that Ireland lias 110 mineral resources, and now he is doubtful! Has ho never heard of the gold found in tho County of Wicklow, the slate quarries, tho coalfields, the marble quarries of Kilkenny, or. the copper mines of Waterford? Why, lie can know nothing of the laud of his birth! He seems to know something of the north of Ireland—Belfast and 0110 or two other places. But of tho natural resources and power of recuperating, ho is as ignorant as tho child unborn. He places great stress 011 the shipbuilding firm- of Harlaiid and •Wolff, but docs lie not forget that Harlaud

and Wolff, and others of that ilk, were supported by British capitalists when Irish merchants were not allowed to carry on manufacturing operations in their country? Does ho not know that owing to the competition with English and Scotch manufacturers tho Irish were compelled to transfer their business to England; and that every means were taken to stamp out the industries of Ireland, and thus exterminate the people? Hence the exodus to America ami other countries, where they have established themselves, and proved themselves worthy of their sires and the country of their birth I I could easily show where Mr. Milligan is wrong 111 many of his assumptions, but it is hardly worth while continuing a discussion ill such circumstances. Allow me, therefore, sir, to conclude in tho words of Goldsmith, an authority which even Mr. Milligan must respect:— "111 fares the land to hastening ills a prey, Where wealth accumulates, and men dccav. Princes and lords may flourish in brocade, A breath can make .them as a breath has made, But a. noble peasantry their country's pride, When once destroyed can never be supplied?" If Mr. Milligan will only , take these words of the poet to heart ho will see that he is doing his country no. good by his diatribes.—l am, etc., R-'D. .Wellington, March.2s, 1911.