The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-08
The Land Question In Ireiand--A Good
sign.

The Land Question In IreiHnu--A cooo
sign.
The Marquis of Harrington, Postmaster
General of England, has introduced the sub
ject of land tenure reform for Ireland, the
essentially vital question of the day at the
other side of the Atlantic, to the people OF
Great Britain in an extra parliamentary
speech, but which, coming from 80 expert
euced and prominent member OF the Glad
stone Ministry, must be regarded in the light
of semi-official utterance, or the public
shaping or roughing out Of what will consti-
tute the strongest plank in the Cabinet plat
form for the next session of Parliament. The
Marquis treated the matter on broad and
liberal grounds, but in reality added no new
points in support of the necessity Of the
movement to those which have been already
set forth, with such accuracy of statement and
telling effect, in the letters of our special cor
respondent in Ireland and which have been
already submitted to the American public in
our columns. He asserted the right Of the
Irish farmer and agricultural laborer to obtain
living from and on the soil of their birth in
words which foreshadowed justice to all,
without violence to the rights Of any. Indeed,
IL may be said that the Postmaster General
merely took ground on an axiom and only
elaborated principle laid down in Ireland
thirty years ago by distinguished and much
lamented Scotchman, the late Thomas Drum
mond, when discharging the duties of Under
Secretary Of State in that portion of the king
dom, in the simple words, property has its
duties as well as it's rights" At that period
an evicted Irish tenant, obeying the prompt
ings of what has been termed the ''wild
justice of revenge" shot landlord. The
magistrates of the county, class peers of the
deceased, assembled and demanded of the
government q proclamation of martial law for
the entire district in which the crime was per-
petrated, it's enforcement to be entrusted to
their own hands Mr.. Drummond wrote the
official reply Of refusal, assuring the gentlemen
that they should be completely protected by
the law in its ordinary course of action,
informing them also of the truth-unknown,
forgotten or UNDECIDED by them previously
that Property has its duties as well as Its
rights"
Mr.. Drummond was called to his reward by
death soon afterwards His words were i'm
pershable and remain. They are producing
their effect to-day, rs evidenced by the fact,
embraced in our European news report yester-
day, that his Grace the Duke Of Devonshire
pledges himself to advance the sum of one
hundred thousand pounds sterling for the
purpose Of constructing railway to connect
the Irish towns of Fermoy and Lismore,
situated respectively in the counties Of Cork
and Waterford, but not very far apart, and for
the most part on his own estate.
This is really excellent sign, good
beginning. The noble family Of Cavendish,
of Devonshire, which comes down from Sir
William Cavendish, the most accomplished
gentleman usher in the household Of Cardinal
Wolsey, built its greatness on its share Of the
confscated abbey lands Of England, its repre-
sentative In the year 1920 obtaining also
baronial title from forfeited domain in Ireland.
The members of the family have been popular
L. si4.s .~.-.-,~y ~;-nn. ord. 10 M~~qeis OF
Harrington is one of them, the Irish people
may, we think, accept his present expression,
as well as the solid gift of the Duke of Devon
shire for industrial purposes, as unmistakable
pledges that the British government and Par
lament will adjust the land question difficulties
at an early day and eaectually. The support
of the Devonshire family in such direction,
owning, as 1t does, an immense estate in
Ireland, Is all powerful. It's members are
deeply interested in the issue, and prudent
withal. The family motto Is ''Cavendo
TITUS" (''be cautious and safe'), words Of
wisdom and just in place.