The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-09-21 00:00:00

THE IRISH LAND ACT.

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A speech which is likely to attract considerable
notice (wilts. " Our Own Correspondent" of The
Times) was delivered on Thursday afternoon, at an
agricultural dinner in the county of Cavan, by Lord
Lisgar, ex-Governor•General of Canada. The posi-
tion of the noble lord mid the circumstances under
which it was delivered, combined with the intrinsie
mer:ts of the speech itself, will secure for it more than
ordinary attention. The speaker, an Irish landlord,
All acquainted with the views and opinions held
by his countrymen, ha.s but rccently returned from
the occupation of a post which gave him an excellent
opportunity of learning the true condition of a country
which forms no inconsiderable portion of that great
Western continent whither so many Itishmen have
in past dines turned their steps, and to which many
still look tarn affording the only field open to them
in which they can effect an amelioration of their condi-
tion. The speech was delivered at a dinner given by
the Marquis of Head:fort to about ninety of his
tenaMt y at the char of a cattle eh isv, the competitors
at which consisted exclusively of his Lordship's tenants,
while the prints were his Lordship's gifts. Lord Lisgar
was called on to respond to the toast of "The Lord
Li,utcnant and Prospelity to Helene]." Having re.
walked that F. in Silencer poss.-as.' all the qualaficse
Come and all the accompliehments which were necessary
for the discharge of his exalted functions, Lord Liegar
brii fly referred to his career while representing the
county of Cavan in Parliament for twenty years. Now,
after a Mug sheen :e from Ireland, be had returned to
it, ant he was happy to think that he found it prolyer-
ing and increasing in material wealth :
" He heard that agriculture was much improved, and that
the farmers as a close were rich beyond what they were in
former tittles He trusted that was the case. He returned
to a country altered in many respects, and, he bethved.
greatly Loproved. (Hear, hear ) The conditions on which
agriculture was carried on had been altered, and the rela-
tions between landlord and tenant were not exactly those
which existed some years ago. lie would say nothing of the
policy of the meaeure, but this he mut say that he believed
it would be admitted that every intelligent and honest man
in his own closet would approve the principles of equity on
which the Land Bill was founded, and they would also see
thnt the principles had Iteen embodied with the moit
admirable skill and patriotia views in legislator, by
Mr. Gladstone. No doubt, in no great a measure there
might he difficulties and differences of opinion. At
the tnaent moment differences existed, for no doubt
some people thought a very great change had been
eft. cted. No w, he tel given his very best attend.,o to the
mewure, at.., speaking of It as it is, he was peefectly con-
fident that before many years elapsed it would be found
that the extent of the changes effected was very much smaller
than they had anticipated, and that, while it gave security
on one band, it did not alter the relations between land-
lord and tenant. He believed that, after some little
further expertence ot the In:irking ot the Act, the results