The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-12-06


Turkish rule, that the very earth becomes
barren under its sway. Surely the laws
relative to landlord and tenant in Ireland
are butinferior in cruelty = worse, far worse,
when we consider the pretension to ciyili-
cation and progress now 30 prominently
blazoned forth as characteristic of the age.
Read the following illustration
Mr. Isaac Butt, in his able and honest PAM
phlet, entitled Land Tenurein Ireland: Plea
for tho Celtic Race" speaks of an estate on
which " it appeared that the landlord thought
himself at liberty to dispossessa Roman Catholic
dignitary of the farm on which he lived, because
one of the curates had insufted the proprietor
at nm election p could tell }" adds Mr.. Butt,
. of smother estate on which the landlords
agent had laid down the rule that, under no
circumstances, shall two families be permitted
to 1--we in the same house. An aged widow in
yjted daughter who had lost her husband to
take share in her house. For this crime, al
though occupying respectable position, the
mother of a Roman Catholic priest, she is ac-
tually evicted from farm where she had lived
for nearly fifty years. She is given her choice
Ito leave that home q send away her daugh-
ter. These rules n,ssy be wise or tln-
Fwise-this interpretation nliAy bc-,,roper, or the
contrary. But all this proclaims that the land
lords will is law. Can we wonder ifa high:
spirited population desert a country in which
they can only live on such conditioner Let no
man say that these are trifies. 1 venture to say
III
toned to be consulted by the tenant class, who
is not often asked whether law can defeat in
references like these"
Since the above passage was printed Ihave
met with a very remarkable illustration of it
in an address delivered to the members of the
Legal and Historical Society. i'll November last
by their President, Mr.. Constantine Malloy.
Mr.. Malloy is q barristcr, who has given very
early in his profession abundant proofs of
learning and ability. In this address he thus
describes the change which has taken place in
relation to the tenure of land in Ireland. 1
may quote his words as an independent testi-
mony. had not seen them when wrote the
passages stating the same TRUTH"
'Time (says Mr.. Malloy) has produced no
Improvement in that respect; q great change
has taken place in our land system, but that
chahge-and this is matter which u not con-
sidered as much as it ought to be-has been for
the worse. Formerly, the usual way of letting
arms in Ireland was by leases for life, or thirty
one years, or some longer term, but mt p esent
all that is changed the farmers now holding
under such leases are few indeed, and their
number is every year rapidly diminishing. A
species of tenancy at viii is now being sub
stituted inmany-very many-districts for the
tenures of Burke's day. The tenancy is yearly
one, but subject to number of rules and con
ditions, which render its continuance most
precarious, and destroy all sense of security
aud independence in the tenant. The tenancy
is determinab1e by a months notice the
death of the tenant and further according to
some of these rules and conditions, the tenant
cannot marry or procure the marriage of his son
or daughter without the landlord agents
permits 5ion, and that even where no change of
tenancy would arise. Moreover, he cannot
entertain, even for night, not merely the
st anger who seeks his hospitality, but even his
nearest relative OF friend. Tho violation of
arbitrary rules like these has been visited with
fines and penalties, and, ill some cases, by IL e
eviction of the parties who disregarded them.
know that some viii doubt the existence of
such tenures, but it is too true, and what is
more to be regretted, they are extending every
year, and likely to become general in Ireland"