IRELAND'S HOPELESSNESS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3155, 5 April 1909, Page 4

IRELAND'S HOPELESSNESS.

No British Government can give peace to Ireland, (remarks the London correspondent of the "Sydney Daily Telegraph"). Just now the position is exceptionally acute. Mr Birrell, the Irish Secretary, following the Liberal ideal of placing the fullest confidence in these goverened, has made many concessions to the malcontents, but so far with scant success. The most harassing weapon just now is not the revolver or i the rifle, but Ireland's old tool, the

boycott. Scores of instances of audacity and hardship are reported. Behind the whole trouble looms the Irish United League, which has had new life and activity under the lenient rule of the Liberals. The League's power is phenomenal. It coerces and strikes in the most brazen manner. A Protestant farmer was asked to give a shilling to the funds of the League. He refused, and at once the man who had been carrying his milk to the creamery refused to do so any longer. Two of his workmen left him without any reason. Another farmer, who also did a little bootmaking, and who refused the subscription, milk left on his hands, and lost many of his Roman Catholic customers. He could not get his horses shod. A Prol testant widow could not sell her hay; another widow had spikes placed in and her mower broken. A blacksmith who shod the horses of a "marked" protestant had his anvil broken. A'boycotted Longford family cut off from all supplies, tried to purchase goods in Dublin, and had their money returned byfshopkeepers afraid of the agents of the League. Ihree maidservants of a family under the ban are attended to Mass three armed policemen!