The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-02-22
Irish Land.

The Irish Land bill introduced in the
House OF Commons by Mr.. Gladstone, the
British Premier, on Tuesday last is said to
have received the unqualified approval of
the Irish members of Parliament These,
however, do not always represent Us much
the feelings Of the Irish people as the senti-
ments oi the English landowners, aud it is
fortunate that we are able to compare what
the Ministers offer, as the best they can do,
with what the Irish peasantry demand, as
the least they will accept.
set forth in an essay on Irish tenures BY the
Rev. Mr.. Lavelc, an Irish priest, is fixed
tenure of land, the tenant to have his hold
ing forever upon payment OF fixed rent.
This perpetual holding IS asked for as q
right, not as boon, and whether the land
lords, reduced to the position Of annuitants,
should receive a compensation for being put
On e new footing, is perfectly immaterial to
Irishmen. Besides the perpetual holding,
the Irish ask that every farmer be under
legal obligation to keep at least two-thirds
OF his lands, so that the rural laborers may
be sure OF employment. The waste lands
should be handed over, on liberal terms, to
tenants willing to reclaim them; check is
to be put on absenteeism, by imposing on
absentees fine of one-fourth Of the income
they derive from Irish land; and the man
agement OF Irish capital, the development
of Irish industry, the making OF Irish laws,
and the assessing and expenditure OF Irish
taxes are to be left in Ireland's own hands.
This is the programme Of the popular lead
ers, who are so far moderate that they do
not insist upon actual political and terrific
rial independence.
Judged by this standard, the Irish Land
bill is not likely to satisfy the people for
whose benefit it is proposed Security OF
tenure is promised, it is true; but this as
well as can be learned from the telegraphic
abstract of the bill, will amount to little
more than payment to outgoing tenants
for improvements giving value to their hold
ing. This view is confirmed by the state
ment that the ulster customs" will be re-
cognized. These scustoms" allow the out
going tenant to claim payment, by way OF
compensation, from the incoming tenant,
and, in the province which gives them their
name, have been productive OF substantial
good The bill also provides for loans to
tenants who desire to buy lands, and for
loaus to enable landowners to reclaim waste
lands. There are, also, the highly proper
provisions that evictions for non-payment of
rent Shall bar all claims against tenants,
tha5 notice to quit shall give the tenant one
years. time from the end OF the current year,
and that the county taxes shall be divided
between the landlords and the tenants.
These are the main features Of the new
Land bill, and, although it les not give the
people the one thing that they most desire,
it has evidently been framed in broad and
libera, spirit, and with an earnest desire to
secnve the greatest good of the greatest num-
Der OF the Irish people. The bill will be read
q second time on the 7th of March, and the
debates and the articles in the public press
will then Indicate what effect the proposed
measure will have in pGcifying and calming
the "Sister Isle" Mr.. Gladstone can force
the bill through both houses if he so deter
mines, and the only question to be solved is,
Will the new law, whatever its liberaIlty.
content the Irish masses and give them an
opportunity Of making Ireland the happy
home Of prosperous and contented pcopieS