LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
HOME-RULE AND IRISH COMPETITION WITH ENGLISH LABOUR.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " Spumeros."]
SIR,—Referring to your article on the Unionist defeat at North St. Pancras, and to Mr. J. J. Murphy's letter in the Spectator of March 15th, I write to say that a Home-rule working man, in discussing the chances of the Stoke-on-Trent election with me the other day, began complaining of Irishmen coming over here and working under price. I did not see the full bearing of his remarks at first, but on mentioning them to a Unionist neighbour of his, he said, laughing : " Oh! that's the common opinion, Give them Home-rule, and they'll stay at home, and won't bring down our wages.' However, I always say, 'Irishmen will come across if there's more money to be made here, and, Home-rule or not, Ireland won't be as rich as England just yet." If this is the " common opinion " of an almost wholly working-class constituency, some effort ought
to be made to reply to it.—I am, Sir, &c., F. E. C.
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