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of Ireland； as suggested by Mr。 Parnell； were invested in the
establishment of Irish manufactures。 This would not only give
profitable occupation to the unemployed； but enable Ireland to
become an increasingly exporting nation。 We are informed by an
Irish banker； that there is abundance of money to be got in
Ireland for any industry which has a reasonable chance of
success。 One thing； however； is certain： there must be perfect
safety。 An old writer has said that 〃Government is a badge of
lost innocence： the palaces of kings are built upon the ruins of
the bowers of paradise。〃 The main use of government is
protection against the weaknesses and selfishness of human
nature。 If there be no protection for life； liberty； property；
and the fruits of accumulated industry； government becomes
comparatively useless； and society is driven back upon its first
principles。
Capital is the most sensitive of all things。 It flies turbulence
and strife； and thrives only in security and freedom。 It must
have complete safety。 If tampered with by restrictive laws； or
hampered by combinations； it suddenly disappears。 〃The age of
glory of a nation；〃 said Sir Humphry Davy； 〃is the age of its
security。 The same dignified feeling which urges men to gain a
dominion over nature will preserve them from the dominion of
slavery。 Natural； and moral； and religions knowledge； are of one
family； and happy is the country and great its strength where
they dwell together in union。〃
Dublin was once celebrated for its shipbuilding； its
timber…trade； its iron manufactures； and its steam…printing；
Limerick was celebrated for its gloves； Kilkenny for its
blankets； Bandon for its woollen and linen manufactures。 But
most of these trades were banished by strikes。＇5＇ Dr。 Doyle
stated before the Irish Committee of 1830； that the almost total
extinction of the Kilkenny blanket…trade was attributable to the
combinations of the weavers； and O'Connell admitted that Trades
Unions had wrought more evil to Ireland than absenteeism and
Saxon maladministration。 But working men have recently become
more prudent and thrifty； and it is believed that under the
improved system of moderate counsel； and arbitration between
employers and employed； a more hopeful issue is likely to attend
the future of such enterprises。
Another thing is clear。 A country may be levelled down by
idleness and ignorance； it can only be levelled up by industry
and intelligence。 It is easy to pull down； it is very difficult
to build up。 The hands that cannot erect a hovel may demolish a
palace。 We have but to look to Switzerland to see what a country
may become which mixes its industry with its brains。 That little
land has no coal； no seaboard by which she can introduce it； and
is shut off from other countries by lofty mountains； as well as
by hostile tariffs； and yet Switzerland is one of the most
prosperous nations in Europe； because governed and regulated by
intelligent industry。 Let Ireland look to Switzerland； and she
need not despair。
Ireland is a much richer country by nature than is generally
supposed。 In fact； she has not yet been properly explored。
There is copper…ore in Wicklow； Waterford； and Cork。 The Leitrim
iron…ores are famous for their riches； and there is good
ironstone in Kilkenny； as well as in Ulster。 The Connaught ores
are mixed with coal…beds。 Kaolin； porcelain clay； and coarser
clay； abound； but it is only at Belleek that it has been employed
in the pottery manufacture。 But the sea about Ireland is still
less explored than the land。 All round the Atlantic seaboard of
the Irish coast are shoals of herring and mackerel； which might
be food for men； but are at present only consumed by the
multitudes of sea…birds which follow them。
In the daily papers giving an account of the Cork Exhibition；
appeared the following paragraph： 〃An interesting exhibit will
be a quantity of preserved herrings from Lowestoft； caught off
the old head of Kinsale； and returned to Cork after undergoing a
preserving process in England。〃＇6＇ Fish caught off the coast of
Ireland by English fishermen； taken to England and cured； and
then 〃returned to Cork〃 for exhibition！ Here is an opening for
patriotic Irishmen。 Why not catch and preserve the fish at home；
and get the entire benefit of the fish traffic？ Will it be
believed that there is probably more money value in the seas
round Ireland than there is in the land itself？ This is actually
the case with the sea round the county of Aberdeen。＇7＇
A vast source of wealth lies at the very doors of the Irish
people。 But the harvest of an ocean teeming with life is allowed
to pass into other hands。 The majority of the boats which take
part in the fishery at Kinsale are from the little island of Man；
from Cornwall； from France； and from Scotland。 The fishermen
catch the fish； salt them； and carry them or send them away。
While the Irish boats are diminishing in number； those of the
strangers are increasing。 In an East Lothian paper； published in
May 1881； I find the following paragraph； under the head of
Cockenzie：…
〃Departure of Boats。In the early part of this week； a number of
the boats here have left for the herring…fishery at Kinsale； in
Ireland。 The success attending their labours last year at that
place and at Howth has induced more of them than usual to proceed
thither this year。〃
It may not be generally known that Cockenzie is a little fishing
village on the Firth of Forth； in Scotland； where the fishermen
have provided themselves； at their own expense； with about fifty
decked fishing…boats； each costing； with nets and gear； about
500L。 With these boats they carry on their pursuits on the coast
of Scotland； England； and Ireland。 In 1882； they sent about
thirty boats to Kinsale＇8＇ and Howth。 The profits of their
fishing has been such as to enable them； with the assistance of
Lord Wemyss； to build for themselves a convenient harbour at Port
Seaton； without any help from the Government。 They find that
self…help is the best help； and that it is absurd to look to the
Government and the public purse for what they can best do for
themselves。
The wealth of the ocean round Ireland has long been known。 As
long ago as the ninth and tenth centuries； the Danes established
a fishery off the western coasts； and carried on a lucrative
trade with the south of Europe。 In Queen Mary's reign； Philip
II。 of Spain paid 1000L。 annually in consideration of his
subjects being allowed to fish on the north…west coast of
Ireland； and it appears that the money was brought into the Irish
Exchequer。 In 1650； Sweden was permitted； as a favour； to employ
a hundred vessels in the Irish fishery； and the Dutch in the
reign of Charles I。 were admitted to the fisheries on the payment
of 30；000L。 In 1673； Sir W。 Temple； in a letter to Lord Essex；
says that 〃the fishing of Ireland might prove a mine