| Title: | David Carmichael to the Editor of the Northern Whig. |
|---|---|
| ID | 543 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Carmichael, David/45 |
| Year | 1864 |
| Sender | Carmichael, David |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | merchant? |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Millisle, Donaghadee, Co. Down, N.Ireland |
| Destination | unknown |
| Recipient | editor of the Northern Wig |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | unacquainted |
| Source | The Tyrone Constitution, Omagh, 7 October 1864. |
| Archive | The Linenhall Library, Belfast. |
| Doc. No. | 9410097 |
| Date | 07/10/1864 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LET |
| Log | Document added by LT, 10:10:1994. |
| Word Count | 687 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | ONE FORGOTTEN CAUSE OF IRELAND'S MISERIES. (To the Editor of the Northern Whig) SIR - The columns of the Times have been lately teeming with letters from a great variety of correspondents, engaged with the editor in the discussion of that ever recurring topic, 'Ireland's Miseries; their cause and cure'. We have the landlord, clergyman, merchant, and almost every class in the community represented, each claiming to give a reason for his country's misfortunes. One ascribes it to England's past misgovernment, another to the existence of the Established Church, one to the incurable perversity of the Celtic race, another to the combinations of workmen, agrarian outrages, the shooting of landlords and agents - all tending to frighten capitalists from investing their money among us. In these and many other reasons, too numerous to recapitulate here, there may be more or less of truth; but their authors entirely overlook the great and principal one - the introduction and working of Free-trade. The mere mention of such a thing at this stage of the world's history will no doubt surprise a number of people who have given little consideration to the subject; and I would scarcely have ventured to do so had I not heard a gentleman, more capable of forming a sound opinion, giving expression to the same idea. 'What!' it will be said, 'has prosperity not flowed upon us like a river, unimpeded by our expensive wars in Russia, India, and China, and unchecked by the still greater calamities that have befallen our best customers in other lands? On every side what indications there are of our vast and accumulating wealth. Witness the ease with which we bear our enormous burdens of taxation; and observe the triumph of our commerce over every country which has not proceeded in the same path. And to what other reason can all this be attributed than the great and mighty influence of Free-trade?' Justly, indeed, may this be affirmed; and not for a moment could the truth of the conclusion be disputed when applied to the nation as a whole, but utterly astray when applied to the purely agricultural portions of Ireland, and the poorer districts of Scotland and England. These have passed through the severest trails that have ever befallen a country, when both landlords and tenants succumbed to a pressure the weight of which may be estimated by its effects in compelling millions of the population to seek subsistence in other employments, and in setting on foot an exodus such as the world has probably never witnessed before. Owing to a variety of causes it might well be said Free-trade is only now beginning to be really felt by the farmer with a power that is unmistakably injurious to his special interest. In consequence of deficient harvests abroad for a series of years, and a great impulse to consumption at home, resulting from the immense development of our manufactures, prices have been maintained at a range that can never be hoped for again; while the foreigner, stimulated by the high price of butter, cheese, beef, and pork, obtainable from our well-paid artisans, has now learned to raise in abundance, and of a quality which is rapidly approaching the very best that can be produced at home. Aided by near proximity to large centres of industry, having the advantage of capitial, and the application of the same on scientific principles to larger farms - moreover, possessed of indomitable perseverance - the English and Scotch farmer may hold out when the Irish must give way, if not possessed of similar advantages. In laying at the door of Free-trade part of the cause of Ireland's miseries, I am not to be supposed for an instant as lamenting the departure of the old system of protection, but merely pointing out the impossibility of Ireland, in her present condition successfully competing with the great steppes of Russia and prairies of America. Unwilling to trespass further on your space, I may allude at another time to a few of the palliatives recommended for staying the exodus and inaugurating a new era of plenty and prosperity in our afflicted country - I am, yours, etc., DAVID CARMICHAEL. Millisle, Donaghadee. |
