The New York herald., 1870-02-28
ENGLAND.


Prss'ier Glsdsssne's speech on the Itish
Lnad Questi0n-The New Platform OF Ter
ritorint Lense Resolution.
In the House OF Commons on the 18th OF Febfu-
ary-as ALREADY Driedy announced by tile caoe--
Mr.. Gladstone rising to move for leave TO
bring in y bill to amend the laws relating 70 the
occupation and ownership OF land in Ireland. said
that twelve months had not yet fully passed since IL
was his duty 10 submit 10 The House o measure OF
tue greatest consequence and dlfnculty with refer
.encc TO the Church OF Ireland. At that time he
stated mat that important question did not embrace
all the legislation that they had In contemplation
ior the contentment and prosperity OF Ireland,
but that there lay behind It a stili more diff
ncuit ana equally important question Affecting
5he social condition anu welfare or the general por-
hirascif that tue difcuIties OF this quesllon mad
been greatly aggravated by the delay that hau taken
sSai IN tne end Is Would be onn to have conduced
| 20 more satisfactory aud permanent settlement OF
the question. 1t had long been under the attention
OF Parliament FOR it was in 1888 that Mr.. Sharman
Crawford 1rst brought 1t under the notice OF the
House. IN is43 SIR X Peel was struck With the
statement made by Mr. Crawford, when he again
brought it forward, the result being that CON-
MISSION was appointed winch elected much
ward in is48 by the late Lord Derby as
tie organ OF the conservative government or Sir
ton was not then settled by resolate effort; but
for that all parties alike were equally responsible
seeing the ulSAstrOuD the delay Wnlch nlu
taken place. he trusted that the question would now
| be dealt with ia u moro vigorous spirit ana that
success would not fail to crown their iaoors. Al
parties he beleved, now admitted the necessity ol
settlement OF the question: not only In this country
| bur the civilized world looked upon the Efforts
which they were now making IL that spirit;
and, so much had the question engrossed
| the attention OF the public, that not only
members OF that House, bat every man OF ennence
Ia public life or literature had lately devoted their
oest time and leisure to a solution OF thar vexed
question--nOt in party spirit with the desire
to effect satisfactory solution or IT, one good re-
suit mad been certainly attained Tor the Irisn people
mast see that the English Parliament dld not grudge
one year or four wears, II by doing they could a.
tain better aud more satisfactory knowledge OF the
subject, aud provide the better for its settlement
Still prejudlces fingered and 1t with those that
their chief dinculty even now existed. He deemed
that the agrarian outrages winch had excited SO
lributed TO that question:; jor on inquiry, 1t
would be found that they were less frequent
ali prevalent in the purely Celtic ones.
The occupation or the land in Ireland az founded
and tenure to that in England and Scotland. The
country was full; IN England It was not So IN Ire
in poui,cs ana religion. He did not nnd lhe capital
required and the improvements were effected BY the
tenant and not ny the landlord In Ireland the land
iord was IN most cases an absentee; but the WORT
feature OF all that III Ireland The Law, IN the a-
sence OF an agreement, did not recognize The right
OF the tenant TO anything that he had put In the
ground but In every county IN England tnat right
recognized by custom: aud thar state thugs
was further aggravated in Ireland by the ira.
people aud had been taken from them by
Conquest ana confscation. il was, therefore
Idle 70 mantan that the law, although ostcnsloly So
was practically the same III England and IN Ireland
He then pointed out, with great emphasis the natu-
ments-if they came to be evcted even for legiii-
mate although bard reasons could not iaii to have
the temper OF the IRISH peasantry. lle for one.
should be sorry 10 be so tried when he saw swept
away AL the labor and value OF past years Since
1850. while the yaue OF labor IN Ireland had been
almost stationary, the cost or subsistence had greatly
increased. The abolition OF the corn laws SO great
Irish Occapler Wheat was less ia price, but thai
was his great resource from the market: while the
lived. Hs had ~ materally sa increased. "Sa the re-
suit was thai the progress which had been
previously taking place had M been @ checked since
had been egislatlng for Ireland during tine last aI
century with the most benevolent Intentions, az re-
gsrded thai country they had really effected little
for The social aud national Improvement or the small
occupler and the peasant lie reviewed the cha
racter OF the Legislation since the Union. As affect
ing the subdivision OF the land ana the tenure upon
which IL was held the acts OF 1898 and 1875 hae
lhat too, was the effect OF the Incumbercd Estates
Court which had for its object the great AMI indis-
pensable object OF getting rid Of the Impoverished
proprietors who had previously existed over
great proportion q the country. Under that act
the estates sold with the improvements which
had been erected by the occuplerS, and not by
the ruined landlord, who got the benefit OF the labor
and outlay OF dis tenants. Thus II Was that their
very remedies. with the Dcstntenions had operated
prejudicaliy TO the cuyaior OF the and; and in-
directly had been the operation OF the Poor law,
AZ II was voluntary and free, but whom 1t was COM
puisory ON one who wished to stay who was pas
sionately attached TO the land-under these circ1m-
stances II was but another word for Dan!snDleDt,
and country 30 situated did not deserve and
would get the affection OF those treated by
IL. Still IL true that for ninety years they
had been incessanty le2islaung for the benefit or
Ireland Fney mad abolished all civil ana religious ds
abilities; they had endeavored TO place nelan, upon
an Equality With England; out st alter All il was
doubtful whether tho social condition OF The irish
people was materially better. Inis was Startling
f,urA IN -
they had placed within the reach OF the irish peas
ant national system Of education. But education
Mlshout the removal oil social grievances only made
he sense OF them more embittered. The eject or
new statutes intended 10 settle this question had
been hutful, FOR they unsettled the old relations.
and. by the changes introduced into the law, had
introduced new processes, or which rhe practical
really for the advantage OF The landowners. Par
lament was, therefore, now being called upon
TO deal seriously and radically with this qucs-
iion; and they must bear IN mind that the result OF
their legislation, hitherto beneficial as IL WAS IN
tended TO be- had really been harsh and iurtful 30
tile occupicr and peasant. He would now explain
What the propositions OF the government were. They
did not intend 10 AJAX Parliament 10 interfere merely
10 reverse the pfevioas prescriptiontla in the a6
sence OF contract the occupation was from year 70
rear They did not tntend 10 Interfere with the most
perfect freedom Of contract; unless indeed ~ had
II was necessary TO DO faJ TIE bsliet ofthe eGsT
party, who could not fg9m his elrcnmsta1ces, enter
into d fair bargain. In Ireland there was great de-
nland for land, and q great desire TO make large
farlns so tnat the freedom of the irish peasant
and occupler 10 enter into u contract was only
\ nomipa one The great eyll OF Ireland was inse-
curlty OF tenure Jhis was pointed out years ago
1y the Devon Commission. II not only interiefed
w,h his comfort, but parsyzed las efforts and his
industry. For years he had been excited Dy the
cope tDat his condition would he afneoriated: aud
II was noy wonderful thar alter 10 long period he
had A. last become despondent and depressed. He
did not wl5D 10 conionnd security of tenure with
BY security he meant enough 70 enable
man 10 enjoy The fruits OF h,s 0usiaY ana industry,
not transfer TO him OF the rights of property.
Pcrpetuty Of tenure was the expropria-
tabished rate OF rental according 20 the value OF
the produce tie landlord would nave lan claim To
compensation, Tor which he was afraid that tue oniy
source available would be taeir Old familiar friend,
the consolidated fuDd. He examined into the result
OF THIS, which would reduce the iandnrdto mere
state pensioner, aud the state had an pnuoupted
right 10 do 40 II II was for tDe public good. THIS
pan ~outd secure othe occupier the right Of the
holding ~ long as he PAID fair RENTAL 10 be liked
either oJ the vaae oi the produce or state tribunals
but IL would reduce the landlord to the state and
condition VI the lundhoder receiving certain In.
come for the land, while 1T would destroy his social