The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-03-27 00:00:00

THE IRISH PROBLEM.

The Earl of Aberdeen was entertained on Saturday
evening by the Provost, Fellows, and students of
Trioity College in the College dining-hall. After the
toast of "The Queen" had been given and duly
honoured, the Provost gave "The Health of his Ex-
cellency," which was very warmly received. His
Excellency, in reply, after speaking of the pleasure it
gave him to dine in that hall, referred to the history
of the University, the high standard of excellence
maintained there, and the great work of education in
which the University had so long taken a leading
part. He alluded especially to the admirable school
of engineering, an institutron not yet possessed by
Oxford or Cambridge. The health of the Provost
was then proposed by his Excellency.
The following document has just been sent to Mr.
Gladstone on behalf of the landlords of the County
Kerry. It is signed by nine of the principal land-
lords, who, in reference to the letter addressed by
him to Lord do Yesci, beg leave to offer the following
statement as the expression of their views upon the
three questions enumerated:
"1. We desire to call attention to the state of
anarchy and crime at present prevailing in this and
other parts of Ireland, as evidenced by murders,
robbery, boycotting, raids for arms, mutilation of
cattle, &c., and to appeal to the Government for the
restoration of order and the protection of the li-eas and
property of loyal and peaceable persons.
"2. With respect to the land question, we desire to
express our belief that if crime is suppressed, criminal
societies dissolved, contracts made binding, and liberty
of lawful action between man and man restored, the
Land Act of 1381 and the Purchase Act of 1885,
supplemented by the necessary further development
of their principles, will be found adequate to satisfy
all reasonable demands. Considering the large sacri-
fices which landowners were obliged to make under
the legislation of recent years, we feel that they are
entitled to ample protection in the enjoyment of what
is left, and if any of them should be called upon to
resign that residue wholly or in part that they ought
to receive the fullest measure of just compensation.
"3. With regard to the demand for Home Rule,
we wish to express our conviction that the legislative
Union of Great Britain and Ireland as at present
existing is essential to the welfare of both islands.
Having regard to the condition of disorder to which
society has been reduced in Ireland, we look with
alarm to the possible results of conceding to the de-
mand for a native Parliament, and believe that to do
so would jeopardise property of all kinds. For what-
ever safeguards may be provided, the power of taxa-
tion in Irish hands, with the relaxation of the law
which would certainly follow in all cases where rights
of property were in question, would, in our opinion,
involve serious danger to owners of every description.
"Memorandum.—ln adopting the conclusions con-
tained in the enclosed letter to Mr. Gladstone the
persons who signed it were influenced by the follow-
ing considerations: 1. That landlords should not
recommend any scheme or ternis of compulsory pur-
chase, as this would imply despair as to a more
equitable policy being attainable or residence in
Ireland being possible. 2. That no scheme of com-
pulsory purchase appears feasible except on Home
Rule lines, as to which the strongest objections are
expressed in the letter. 3. That even if compulsory
purchase is to be proposed the present is not the time
for landowners to offer suggestions, inasmuch as no
scheme has been put forward with authority and the
present Government may fall before the time for
treating with owners arrives."
The usual meeting of the Cork Defence Union took
place on Saturday at the offices, 69, South-mall, Cork.
A report of business done during the week was laid
before the committee. A number of applications
were received for assistance in various ways from
boycotted persons, and arrangements were made in
several cases for their relief. In connection with the
boycotting of Mr. John O'Connell it was brought
under the notice of the committee that the following
placard had been extensively posted in the neigh:o.
bourhood of Ballyclough on the 13th of March: "Any
person Rea speaking to O'Connell, the grabber, or
working for him may expect death at any moment.
Ile is boycotted." The following report was aho
received: "On the morning of the 17th March
threatening notices were scattered broadcast on the
different roads leading to Millstreet, stating that by
direction of Captain Moonlight plenty of lead would
be lodged in the body of any one entering the public-
house of --.' _ _ _

_
Mr. Baron Dowse on Saturday opened the Com-
mission for the city of Cork. In addressing the
grand jury, his Lordship said there were only eight
or nine cases of an unimportant nature to go before
them. Ile found on referring to the ofEcial records
that there have been only four specially reported since
the last assizes. At the corresponding period last year
there were 14 of such cases reported.
The following letter, signed by the Earl of Pem-
broke and Lord Bramwell on behalf of the committee
of the Irish Defence Union, has just been forwarded
to Mr. Gladstone:—

"Sir,— In your letter to Lord de Vesci you say you
have invited free communication of views from the
rarious classes and sections most likely to supply full
ind authentic knowledge of the wants and wishes of
the Irish people.' As a body of gentlemen, English,
Scotch, and Irish, of various ereds and polities,
associated for the purpose of aiding persons suffering
from illegal coercion in Ireland, we be 4 to submit the
following considerations: In your address soliciting
re-election you say that there are three great Irish
questions demanding our care —social order, and
settlement of the land question, and a widely pre-
valent desire for self-government, extending beyond
what is felt in Great Britain, as to local affairs, but
necessarily subject in all respects to the law of Im-
perial unity.'
"As to the first of these questions, we can assure
you that in the larger part of Ireland social order
does not exist. Life is not secure, nor is property.
The owner of land cannot let it, because men wishing
to take it are not allowed to do so. The pi inciple
virtually asserted is that the power (which is often
merely the will) o! the particular tenant to pay is the
true measure of rent and not the value of the soil.
Resistance to those who order this state of things is
punished by boycotting, which prohibits all com-
munications with the law-abiding, and leaves them in
want of all which social m der ' would afford them.
This detestable system frequently and naturally pro-
duces outrages upon psrson and property.
"As to the second question, the condition of things
is this : The Irish farmers are told, and believe, that
agitation will enrich them at the expense of others,
and they are thus encouraged to repudiate the Acts
of 1870 and 1881, for both of which you, sir, are
peculiarly responsible..
"We respectfully submit that the third question is
incorrectly stated. It is not a question of self-
government, beyond what is felt in Great Britain, as
to local.affairsf Home Rule in this sense, as repre-
sented by Mr. Butt and Mr. Shaw, entirely failed in
rousing popular enthusiasm in Ireland. It was only
when it was transformed into a cry for legis-
lative independence that it became a real
power. It is now virtually a question of separation
into two States. It has been so stated by those
who lead and foment tne present disturbances. This
is not a desire for self-government beyond what is
felt in England for local affairs. It is not something
4 beyond,' but something wholly different. Sir Robert
Peel saw clearly that repeal of the Union would
necessarily lead to separation, and we refer to his
great speech on the 25th of April, 1834, for argu-
ments which are as conclusive now as they were then.
It is a question of establishing an independent and
hostile Satte in front of our most important ports.
It is a question of a separation most disastrous to
Ireland—a separation which would leave all pro-
perty-owners there to the mercy of those who would
think it right to plunder them.
"The Loyalists are in a minority throughout the
three southern provinces, and could offer no resist-
ance. In Ulster they probably would resist, and
might incur the fate of rebels only for adhering to
the Constitution under which they were born. Nor
can we admit that the hatred of England, on which
the desire for separation is based, is well founded, for
this generation at least is guilty of no wrong to Ire-
land. You are, you say, engaged in forming such an
estimate as only a Ministry can form of the social
state of Ireland, especially with regard to crime, to
the fulfilment of contracts, to the pressure of low
prices upon agriculture, and to personal liberty of
action.'

"The statistics of crime are already in your hands.
We are in a position to give many details as to the
non-fulfilment of contracts. The fall of prices has
doubtless been serious, but we submit that too much
will turn out to be attributed to it, and vie desire to
remind you that rents have already been greatly and
perrranently reduced. It will be found that a sus-
pension of industry and a diminution of honesty are
factors in the case. In order to form a ocrreet
Opinion, it will be necessary to ascertain how far the
rents withheld correspond with increased savings,
and how far the inevitable loss has been aggravated
by the excited condition of the people and the inse-
cure state of the country. As to personal liberty
of action, it has well nigh ceased to exist, and of this
we can furnish many proofs. These indications go to
the heart of the question before you, and we venture
respectfully to present them to you as likely to assist
in forming a correct estimate.
"We sign this on the behalf and at the request of
the Committee of the Irish Defence Union, and have
the honour, to be, sir, your obedient servatits,
PE3II3IIOKE.
" BEisanvELL.
_ _

" 22, Charing-cross, March 17." -----
The Daily Chronicle is informed that Mr. Parnell,
M.P., has just received a draft for £6OOO from Nest
York for the Irish Parliamentary Fund, making
Xll,OOO received from that city alone. The remit-
tance is accompanied by a lengthy address to Mr.
Parnell from the New York Parliamentary Fund
Association, signed by Mr. Eugene Kelly, the banker,
and other gentlemen as officials. Having assured the
Nationalists leader that members of no less than 17
nationalities are to be found amongst the Subscribers,
the signatories inform him that the NeW tork daily
press heartily endorse the Irish movement, "almost
without exception." They further assure Mr. Paltell
that they hold themselves in readiness to be eilleid
together at an hour's notice to provide financial iard
for any emergency that may arise in the inbsiement.
Other associations dist in Philadelphia, Boston,
Chicago, and San Francisco, arid it is estimated that
hefore the close of the present month the joint tils
wzriptions of these centres will reach AMOK.

SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 1886.

On Saturday, at the opening of the Cork Cif/
Assizes, Baron Dowse commented on the small nuny
ber of bills that were to go before the grand jury. fie
was in the habit, when addressing grand jurors in the
North or the South, to ground his observations orl
facts and figures officially supplied him. It was not
a pleasure to him to paint a gloomy picture of al
part of the country. It would be more in consonance
with his feelings to paint a glowing picture. He was
an Irishman, whose interests were bounded by the
four seas of Ireland. In the words of Davis 10
prayed," May the Lord God for ever smile with
guardian grace upon our isle." However, without the
blessing of God, which could be only earned by a strict
obedience to His law, the legislative enactments (i'f
any Parliament would fail to establish peace, happ"
ness, truth, and justice in this realm.

Mr. Michael Davitt was on Monday evening enter
tamed at dinner by the Political Council of the Maw
chester Liberal Club, and subsequently addressed
meeting of its members. He said he believed the time
was at hand when the English people would no longer
be afraid of dealing with the question of Home Rule
for Ireland. They ought to I:now what the Irish
people complained of, and what were the maladies tO
be cured. The two great evils were the Cagle rale
and landlord administration of the soil. The onl9
remedy for the evils of the Castle system was the sub'
stituticn of rational self-govcrnwent for Irellnd.
Every English retneciy had been tried for the grief'
ances of Ireland, but all had failed. The Irish wanted
the right to manage their own affairs, as the Englii,l3
colonies had. The Home Rule Constitution for Ire'
land would mean simply this—we should have in
Ireland a representative of the Crown, either as
Governor-General or as a Lord-Lieutenant. He wonl!
have under his control whatever troops the Imperlei
Parliament might deem h necessary to allow V;
remain in Ireland. In addition to this safeguaN
against any contingency the Imperial Parliamer
would also probably demand its representative le
Ireland a right of veto upon the legislation of the
Irish National Assembly. These guarantees would be
demanded by the Imperial Parliament, and he had Fe
reason to believe that Mr. Parnell would refuse to die'
cuss those demands, and to make every possible coo'
cession to those by whom these demands were ptl!
forth. Having maintained that Home Rule would
not be detrimental to the political or religious rigbte,
of the minority, Mr. Davitt referred to the proposo
to buy out the Irish landlords, remarking that the
were politically and socially bankrupt. He thought
it would be difficult to persuade fhe English taxpayer,
with hundreds of thousands on the point of starvatioo,
to pay a hundred millions for an idle and wortblesg
class in Ireland. Fifty or sixty millions would be
amply sufficient.

Lord Plunket, Archbishop of llsblin, presided 03
Tuesday over a special meeting of the Synod of tbe
Church of Ireland, held to consider the present csi-0.
In a lengthy speech his lordship pointed out tit's..
Ireland had real grievance to justify the demand fo
Horne Rule, behind which was the ulterior aim Pr
entire separation from Great Britain and a ve,rl
advanced form of Socialism. Several bishops P'
dressed the Synod, and resolutions were passed, pr°'
testing, amongst other things, against the establiifr
ment of a separate Parliament in Dublin as 4
revolutionary change which would e.ggrasate tLe
existing state of the country.
The London correspondent of the Tew York
has had an important interview with Mr. 'Parnell re:
specting the political crisis in England and its beariv
upon the Irish cause. A summary of Mr. Parnell.°,
remarks has been cabled and published in Londos'l
and has naturally attracted considerable attentiO
Mr. Parnell evidently spoke throughout with cautioo
and reserve, and, indeed, was so anxious that his viel
should not in any way be garbled or misunderste°
that he revised with his own hands the proof of tb:
reporter's notes. Mr. Parnell says the most import.,o
factor at the present moment is undoubtedly xf;
Gladstone's health, If that continues good TA
Rule for Ireland is, in his opinion, secure, wiTet,
Mr. Chamberlain and Mr. Trevelyan leave .tt'
Cabinet or not. In regard to the probabilities of a et';
solut;on of Parliament Mr. Parnell is of opinion tbt,
the dissensions within the Cabinet would not necessit9`,
an appeal to the country. He thinks Mr. Chainberlaiot
parliamentary influence has been exaggerated. 1'13„5f
gentleman's influence over members of the House
Commons, at any rate, is small, and Mr. Gladsto9t
could carry his Irish measures through the Locref,
House without Mr. Chamberlain's assistance. Oa'
is!
side of Parliament Mr. Chamberlain is influent,'
only in the Midland districts of England. Mr. r 1
,o.
nell, therefore, says he does not apprehend that Y'4
Chamberlain's opposition to the Premier's schen'
would do much damage to the Irish cause. But el
result of that opposition would be probably to br4
Lord Hartington into closer relations with
Gladstone. Questioned as to the probable
tnde of the House of Lords, Mr. Parnell renitea',
that the peers would hesitate to reject Mr.
stone's mesoures if they were passed by the ffol;„
of Commons. In Mr. Parnell's opinion to
peers would be more likely to confine their efforo
to making their land purchase as favourable of
possible to the landlords, and to minimising, f,
amendments, the measure dealing with Irishautonoo'o
As already stated Mr. Parnell does not expect fje
early dissolution of Parliament, but if Mr. Gladstoti,
should appeal to the country on his Irish measureio
the balance of parties in the House of Conlo,
would not be changed. The landlords of Ireland,
Parnell pointed out, are desirous to sell their l.
oo
and their eagerness not to lose the benefit of aiv
vernmeut Land Purchase scheme will materio,
weaken their opposition to Home Rule. "Mr. Cb5P-12;
berlain's policy, added Mr. Parnell, "is witbo,o
doubt to keep the Irish members at Westminster, ~1„
the hope that they will assist him in carrying out
Radical programme. Should he succeed in his desieD
the result would be a chasm between the Iflbe
members and the Radicals, which yvonld not
bridged for years." In conclusion Mr. Parnell !lit
pressed his thanks to the American people for t!1.',4
liberal contributions to the Irish Parliament'
Funds.