The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-09-04
4 1ARMING SYMPTOMS IN IRELAND

1he London Times has sent "speolal oom-
missioner" to investigate the land question in
Ireland. aud his conclusions are summed I'D
as follows:
Notwithstanding decided progress, society in
Ireland still exhibits not few perpleIing and
alarming symptoms. Irish agriculture, as
rule, is far behind that Of England or Scotland;
still very defective and backward. Absentee
ism. though diminished. still pIeveils to an ex-
tent detrimental to the country. Though en-
barIassed owners are more uncommon than
they were, though middlemen tenures have
been broken up, it cannot bo said that landed
property rests generally on secure basis. Tho
landed estates acts have done much good, yet
complaints are made that in some districts
| they haye introduced new class OF proprie-
tors grasping, mischievous and illlbcral. The
old disseneions of religion and race keep the
| and change have done something, not much,
| in bridging over the chasm between them.
While the cotter peasantry have almost van
ished, and the position OF the AGRICULTURAL
| laborer has been improved in remarkable
manner, the rotations between the landlords
and the better class Of tenants have not been
| in proportion improved.
1t is said that fiyo-sixths Of the land of Irc-
| land is still held by preoarious tonures-ycarly
tenancos, in O real sonse at willard that q
| growing Discrimination exists TO eoncede oven
short leasehold interests. Complaints are
made, and that not only by trading agltators,
but by thinking men, that tho pressure Orient
is still excessive; that it does not allow tho
Irish farmer fair aud reasonable margin Of
profit. II is said too, that tho great mass OF
improvements which are added to the soil are
| the product or the industry or tho tenant, aud
not OF the outlay OF tho proprietor /; that land
lords have too often the power, md i'm some
instances shave shown tho will, to appropriate
these improvements to their own bonof1t by
direct or Indirect MEANS and that justice,
accordingly, is not seldom done, and agricultu-
| ral pronress is seriously impeded.
3 w0ulH
signs OF an incroasing growth OF tho kindly
sentiments that should knit tho londcd classes
together; indeed, according to some reports.
thero has been a tendency in an opposite di-
rection. More than all those foul confedera-
clos of blood, 30 long the curse OF Irisl Bocie-
ty. have never been completely dissolved; and
Of late, unhapplly, have given proofs OF con-
tinuing and oven renewed vitality. Though
aprarian outrages are few with what they were
thirty years ago. several agrnrian crimes of
the vcry worst typo havo been pcrpetrated
during the last eighteen monthe; tho spirit that
fosters this wicked conspiracy, and that as-
in great part Of Tue nation; nor baa it ceased
with the cessation of tho cause that formerly
made it so force and intense-the extreme
wont of O half-starving peasantry.
Nor must 70 forgot that at this moment tho
government will not entrust the immense ma
jority OF the occupicrs of land IN ireland with
firearms; that until tho other day the hdbeds
corpus act wus suspended throughout .he
whole lsland; that minister Of tho crown not
long ago admitted that il Fcrianism had on
joycd momentary triumph. it would have Gu
joycd the support,' as it had the good will. OF
an unknown number OF the agricultural classes.