Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1870-01-06

minister. 10 an uu%ih'5F Oti HSot
laborer in the workshop of political
and religious rights. He is upheav-
ing the monstrous weight of social
wrong, which has crushed Ireland
and its people for centuries he
rests not, with the success that
crowned his efforts, for the disestab-
lishmcnt of the Irish Church, but
having vanqnished the hierarchical
dcspotism, he again enters the arena,
girt with the sword of justice, and,
at the head of Fietoria's faithful
Commons, proposesto combat, until
success is achieved, the unjust. and
illegal assumptions of Ireland's nom
resident landowners; which is no
less than, that the Irish peasantry
have no rights which her feudal
lords are bound to respect.
Gladstone has the will, the stamina
to push his noble purpose to an
early and triumphant issue. While
we heartily rejoice in the masterly
activity of England's PRIMER, for
the adjustment of this vexed ques-
ton, yet we deplore as deeply the
folly and selfishness which has char
aeterized the Fenian escapades.
The land question is to be settled on
its own merits.
The rights of the feudal land
owner, and those of the peasant
must be alike maintained. How
this is TO be done, is the gordian
knot which Gladstone proposes to
unite.
Centuries Of enjoyment OF usurped
rights by the lords Of the Manors,
has led them to imagine that all the
tenantry are only tenants at will, so
that at the caprice Of the absentee
land owner or his grasping steward,
they can be elected, and all i'm
proVements are swallowed mp by the
landlord, 10 assist in swelling his
rent roll.
Under James I, Ireland passed
from the Irish TO the English tenure.
for the express purpose of giving
more security to the peasant, who
held by right of feudaI tenure, on
his paying fixed sum to the lord of
the Manor.
In consequence of tho revolution,
ireland again was subject to parti-
tion, in 1641, among military adven-
turers, and others of like ilk, and
here commences the vast system of
injustice under which the Irish
peasant has groaned for many years;
at that time living upon the soil,
which gave him and his family their
daily bread, with the other very
few necessities OF life, they required;
he could make few improvements,
and pay his rent, whereby he legally
held his tenure for ever; but in
ireland to-day the rough hand of the
English landlord seizes his improve
ments, raises his rents, and worst of
all, robs him of his feudal rights,
which were vested in him, even un-
der the rudest Irish Barons.
If the English landlords, hold
dear old Erin by feudal right, surely
her peasantry, who are to the manor
born, must not be unceremoniously
kicked out as mere tenants at will.
We have not referred to those peas
ants who rent land by contract, as
clay ORC NOT combatInts in this war
for justice.
In this age of progressive reform,
when effete monarchies are tottering
to their fall, it is sound stateman-
ship in Gladstone, to hush the clam
ors ofan outraged people, by lifting
from their weary shoulders, the
crushing load of absenteeism; and to
settle this land question, at least
for the Irish peasant ten
antry, giving them comfort with
fixity of tenure, and receiving in re-
turn, the heartiest blessings, not
only from them, but from our own
Irish citizens, who turn with loving
eyes toward ireland, Emeral gem of
the sea.