The Sun.
London, England, 1867-02-23 00:00:00

the fact that there are already on the table of the
House of Commons four measures relating to it.
This bill of Lord CLANRICARDE'S does not interfere
with the proposition of Government, which con-
cerns compensation for improvements only. During
the recess several pamphlets have appeared on the
subject of the tenure of land; still, notwithstanding
all that has been said or written on the matter, the
task of legislating does not seem to have been made
easier, or likely to prove more effective. It is satis-
factory to think that at present there is not the
excitement and irritation prevalent about the laud
question in Ireland that some might suppose, owing
to the peculiar circumstances of the case. On the
contrary, as the noble Marquis explained, " in spite
of the Fenian riots and alarms, iu spite of speeches
and writings of the most vehement description, there
exists among persons properly and immediately
connected with land, among the class of tenant-
farmers, little real agitation or excitement ; for the
condition of everything connected with the occupa
tion or cultivation of land, including the condition
of the agricultural labourers, has materially im-
proved." This is encouraging, but at the same
time it seems to urge forward the necessity of losing
no time in the task of improvement, because it is
always far easier and more satisfactory to legislate
for people when they arc in a state of calmness
than when they are excited and discontented. In
fact, it often occurs at such junctures that faults
are found and disapproval manifested at measures
which, if proposed in time, would have been eagerly
welcomed. Several circumstances have conduced
of late to show that on the whole things are not
so hopeless as some have asserted. The meeting
of the Great Southern and Western, the principal
Irish railway, showed that the character of the re-
turns was quite satisfactory ; and we quite agree
with the noble marquis that it is idle to say
nothing is wanted ; but at the same time we must
not shut our eyes to the fact that an increased pros-
perity in the face of political agitation shows that
there cannot be the " distrust and rancour" so com-
monly represented between landlord and tenant.
Of course, it is very desirable that the Government
should use all their efforts to bring about a satisfac-
tory settlement of certain vexed questions, and thus
increase the prosperity of the country, while they
put away irritating causes of discontent; but there
can be no real end gained by prejudging the case, as
it were, and giving, in fact, unfavourable conclu-
sions before the experiment in question has been
fairly tried. We suspect that in many instances the
wish is father to the thought with those cavillers,
and that they really do not desire any important
change to take place under their particular views
are therein carried out to the letter. The noble
Marquis censured the proposal recently made, that
the State should buy up large properties from the
present owners, and then distribute them among
the occupiers, and, as he very justly said, such a
scheme was utterly wild and nonsensical. " There
is not a single principle of political economy
or of any other science to recommend
the propositions. After referring to many
plans and projects that had lately been suggested
as to the propriety of fixing a particular term for
the holding of leases, Lord CLANRICARDE said that
the effect of the scheme would be that they would
practically revive the old feudal system, under
which land was supposed to be rendered inalien-
able. No doubt there is a great deal of truth iu
the remark here made that there were bad tenants
as well as bad landlords, and no law that may be
enacted on the subject of compensation and tenure
can altogether put a stop to extortion on the one
hand and to roguery on the other.

Lord MEREDYTIL said he thought that part of
the mistakes made on this subject arose from the
fact that in making these changes and alterations
people were apt to forget that after all the chief
thing was that a good understanding should be
arrived at between landlord and tenant. Very
likely this may be the case, for no acts of Parlia-
ment can render any arrangement satisfactory that
does not accord with the desires of those con-
cerned, and unless a good understanding exists
between the various persons it is idle to anticipate
a beneficial change to take place. As for emigra-
tion which has been so bitterly complained of of late,
there are two sides to that question, as to most
others ; and as the noble lord reminded the house
time was when the Government of the day were
earnestly solicited to assist emigration to the utter-
most, and it was then believed by the " best friends
of the Irish tenants to be the great panacea for the
misery existing in that country." We suspect that
in this, as in every other thing of like importance,
the secret of success lies in juste milieu, which
is so easy to talk of, but so difficult to attain.
At the time alluded to by the noble lord no doubt
the emigration plan proved a great benefit, but it
has since then been carried too far for the good of
the country, or for the benefit of those who flocked
in such numbers to distant lands. The bill of Lord
CLANRICARDE was read a first time, and we are sure
that all well-wishers of Ireland will rejoice if it
should prove to ameliorate in any degree the
state of things now in existence, and tend to pro-
mote a better understanding between landlord and
tenant.