The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-12-04

ton, and as the discussion proceeds,
argument is more and more lost sight
of, and angry denunciation as a nat
ural consequence takes its place. The
Poll Null Gasetts has discovered that
in Ireland there is little if anything
wrong. The landlords are kindly and
considerate the rents by no means
high; eylctions almost unknown. In
fact an Arcadia is coming gradually
into blossom, 80 that we have only TO
wait patiently, and all that u needed
as improvements will come Of ITSELF
The Times assures its readers that
Mr.. GIadstone's task would be very
easy one if ''ten men could be found in
Ireland on whose judgments and per-
sonal honor entire reliance could be
placed, and whom the great body Of
tenant farmers would agree 10, accred-
it as their representatives. This is
simply compendious way of settling
the whole question. If the Irish PEG
pie could only find ten honest men,
whose words could be believed; but as
they cannot, of course the whole mat
ter must be settled for them by men in
England. who are honest, and who can
be relied on. This sort of insulting
nonsense would be bad enough if il
went no further than the limits of
Cockney-land-but unfortunately it
goes everywhere, and those connected
with the press in Ireland, who are un-
friendly to England, take care by its
reproduction in the Irish papers to pro-
cure it circulation in that country.
The natural effect is that a feeling OF
anger and hatred is gradually infusing
itself into the minds of the Irish peas
antry, and when Mr.. Gladstone's bill
comes it will be looked on with spiri,
of suspicion and distrust by those
whose hearty sanction is by far the
most necessary thing to ensure its sue
cessful working, should it become law
Such a policy as this is simply sui
cidal. No doubt great deal will be
said, and has been said in Ireland diff.
cult to sanction as the expression Of
sound ideas. There never was in any
country in the world popular agita-
ton that had not in this respect its
weak side. But nothing can be more
unfair, and in the case of Ireland al
the present moment, more impolitic
than to apply such language to the
whole Of the people, as if the object
was not to rebuke individual errors &C
much az to provoke a whole nation BY
gross and uncalled for abuse.
Meantime the masses of the English
people are beginning to arouse them
selves to a true comprehension of thu
subject. Lectures have been given ir
Manchester and Rochdale, and il
other towns in the north of England
and the tenants claims have been ex
planned in such a manner as to prevent
such teachers as the Pail Nall Gdzett,
and the Times from leading the popular
mind very far astray. That which
happened when theAmerican war broke
out is also happening in this case. Al
first there was but a very dim appre
hension of the merits of Republicanism
and Democracy. The history of the
causes that led up to the struggle was
little understood; but as the fight went
on light streamed in-the people read
and understood, and their sympathies
flowed out with force that no obsta-
Gle could Withstand in the direction OF
your government and its cause. This
l doubt not will be the case also in re-
gard to Ireland, But so much depends
on the course Mr.. Gladstone may
adopt, that it would be hazardous to
make any kind of guess as to what turn
things may take. 1t is hardly to be
hoped that consideration Of the alb
stract justice of the case will prevail.
The interests and passions of those
concerned are too far engaged to sup
pose that there will not be some sort Of
divergence. Mr.. Gladstone will nc
doubt weigh all the circumstances Of
the case, and shape bill such as he
thinks he can carry through parlia-
ment, and not even the most sanguine
land reformer can hope that in the
British Houses of Lords and Commons
composed as they are for the most
part of landholders the tenants
in Ireland are likely to have the advan-
tage of any unjust leaning towards
their side. The trnth is that every
ground Of superstition tends in the op-
posite direction; and when Mr.. Glad
stones measure is once brought in, if
it should turn out anything like fair
compromise, people will be glad enough
\ to accept it, and leave the most dan
gerous part of the difficulty to the fu-
ture. Gladstone is a man of courage
in certain sense, and a wonderful i'm
provement on the ordinary run of Eng
lish statesmen. But in dealing with the
Irish land question, l prophecy with
out hesitation that he will be found
lacking that insight and infrepidity Of
will that carried Stein and Harden
burg over similar difficulties in Prussia.
T. L. J.
FROM NEBRASKA.