Page:Minnie's Bishop and Other Stories (1915).djvu/113



HE inhabitants of the Island of Inishbee, which lies off the coast of Connaught, objected to paying the rate levied on their lands, quite lawfully, by the county authorities. The sum was not large. A moderately rich man would have written a cheque for the whole of it without hesitation. It amounted in all to £2 7s. 4d. There were three families on Inishbee, and the amount due by them varied from £1 15s. 1d., payable by Thomas Geraghty, to 3s. 2d., the share of the poorest of his two cousins. It was not the ruinous amount of the impost which led to the strike against payment. The Geraghtys took their stand on a principle, or rather on two principles. In the first place, they were free islanders, and objected to paying anything, rate, rent, or tax, to anybody. In the second place, they maintained, with great justice, that they derived no benefit whatever from the way in which the county rates were spent. Roads and bridges were repaired elsewhere. There were no roads or bridges on their island. Workhouses were kept open for the reception of the indigent. No paupers went to them from Inishbee. The salaries of dispensary doctors were paid that the poor might be cured of their diseases. None of the Geraghtys of Inishbee were ever ill.