Rev. Mr. Monahan, one of the deputation, remarked that
the Government acted differently last year, and sold cheap for the
purpose of bringing down the markets. Sir R. Routh admitted the fact,
but regretted it, as it gave bad habits to the people, and led them to
expect the adoption of a similar course now, whereas the Government was
determined not to interfere with the merchants, but to act more in
accordance with the enlightened principles of political economy. Rev.
Mr. Monahan said he could not understand why the Government was to be
fettered by notions of political economy at such a crisis as this. Sir
R. Routh remarked that nothing was more essential to the welfare of a
country than strict adherence to free trade, and begged to assure the
rev. gentleman that, if he had read carefully and studied Burke, his
illustrious countryman, he would agree with him, Sir R. Routh.
This interview called forth much sarcastic commentary from the press.
"And so," writes the _Nation_, "there is a military gentleman in Dublin,
having the control of all public relief operations throughout the
country, whose answer to all deputations--whose sole fixed idea--whose
Bible and Articles-of-War--appears to be the 'strict rules' and 'the
enlightened principles of political economy.
Pages:
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414