Norfolk day book. [volume] (Norfolk and Portsmouth Va.) 1868-1880, 1869-09-02
3,arintns :synipt toms In
Ireland.

0OmmleSIOAoh w
ouestionAip Ireland, and::his combinations,
ara summed up as follows:
notwithstanding decided progresses
eiety in IN ireland still exhibits not few
narplexing and alarming symptoms. - =
frish agriculture, as q rule, is far behind
that of'Eneland or Scotland; indeed, ex-
cant in some fortunate spots, it is still
varv defectiye and backward. Absen-
taeism. though diminished, still prevails
to an extent detrimental to the country.
Though, embarrassed owners are more
uncommon than they were, though mid
dlemen tsnufss have been broken up, it
cannot be said that landed property rests
generally on q secure basis. The landed
g acts have done much good, yet
complaints are made that in some dis
tricts they have introduced a new class
of proprietors, grasping, mischievous
and illiberal. The old dissensions of
religion and race keep the owners and
oecupiers of the soil asunder; time and
change have done something, not much,
in bridging over the chasmso between
them. While the cotter peasantry have
almost vanished, and the position Of the
agricultural laborer has been improved
In remarkablel manner, the relations
between the landlords and the better
class Of tenants have not been in proper
ton improved Sae saaalo ~ .s9sLh (.
It is said that sfive-sixths Of the land
of Ireland is still held by precarious ten
.ures--yeafiy tenances, in a real sense at
willard that q growing Discrimination
exists To- concede even short leasehoid
interests. Complaints are made, and
that not only BY trading agitators, but
by thinking men, that the pressure Of
rent is still excessive; that it does not al
low the Irish farmer fair and reasona-
bic margin Of profit. 1t is said, toe, that
the great mass of improvements which
are added to the soil are the product OF
the industry Of the tenant, and not of
the outlay Of the proprietor; that land
lords have too often the power, and in
some instances have shown the will, to
appropriate these improvements to th cir
own benefit by direct or indirect means,
and that injustice, accordingly, is not
seldom done, and agricultural progress
is seriously impeded. 81 TITAN
1t would appear, too, that. there are
few signs of an increasing growth Of the
kindly sentiments that, should knit the
landed clauses together; indeed, accord
ing to some reports, there has been
tendencyin an opposite direction
More than all, those foul confederaeies
Of blood, 80 long the curse of Irish soci-
ETY. have never bsen completely dissolv-
ed, and Of late, unhappily, have given
proofs Of continuing and even renewed
vitality. Though agragarian outrages
are few with to they were thirty years
ago, several agragarian crimes OF the
very worsts'typs have been perpetrated
during the last eighteen months; the
spirit that fosters this wicked conspira-
cy, and that assures for it impunity and
sympathy, survives in great part OF
the nation; nor has it ceased with the
cessation Of the cause that formerly
made 1t 90 i fierce and intense-the ex-
trsms want Of . half starving peasan-
try. .ibba zsdIInI q ~ .aoi.o. 5t'a
Nor must we forget that at this mo-
ment the government will not entrust
the immense majority of the occupiers OF
land in ireland with firearms; that I'M
Ill the other day the habeas. corpues act
was suspended Throughout the whole is
land; that d minister Of the crown not
long ago admitted thatif Fenianism had
enjoyed . tnomentary triumphit would
have enjoyed the support, as it had the
good will of an unknown number of the
agricultural classes. >, %,