Page:On Irish absenteeism (Hancock).pdf/11

11 on in harmony. Few things have contributed more to the stability and good working of the British constitution, than the long continuance of that representative system of government which makes all the ablest and most influential resort, for a portion of the year, to a common centre; thus adding the greatest strength to good government, and putting the most complete barrier against mis-government, such as has prevailed in other European states.

The provincial proprietors are also much better fitted to discharge their duties as magistrates and local administrators, from their occasional residence in the metropolis. Thus, it is manifest that the moral and political effects of the temporary absenteeism of political men, which results from our political constitution, are highly beneficial. The expenditure of this class has no permanent effect on wages and profits, any more than that of the preceding class, and that expenditure never escapes taxation.

Having thus completed the investigation of the subject, I shall briefly state the conclusions at which I have arrived. They are as follows:—

That Irish absentees consist of three classes, incumbered absentees, wealthy absentees, and political absentees.

That these kinds of absenteeism are produced by entirely different causes. The first by the facilities to incumbrances, and the impediments to sales of land. The second by the encouragements given to primogeniture. The third kind must always exist under any form of government, but will be greatest under the representative form.

The effects of these three kinds are also different. The absenteeism of incumbered proprietors does not increase the moral and political evils of incumbered properties; nor does it lead to any expenditure out of the country or to any evasion of taxation.

The absenteeism of wealthy proprietors is in some degree morally and politically injurious; but their expenditure in England does not lower wages and profits in Ireland, nor do they escape taxation to any extent worth noticing.

The temporary absenteeism from political causes is morally and politically beneficial; the expenditure of such absentees does not lower wages and profits in Ireland, and they never escape taxation.