The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-23
The irish ELECTIONS CANVASS.
Progress Of the Great Constitutional
Struggle In the Green Isle.
DIVISION IN POLITICS.


and the Question Of the Churches.
DUBLIN, Feb. Z, 1874
However surprising may have been the results OF
the English elections to liberal politicians the con-
clusion Of the Irish contests thus far can scarcely
be said TO have been unexpected. The issues be-
fore the electors here were simplicity itself COM
pared to the complicated considerations. sectari-
anisms and feelings affecting the electors on the
other side OF the channel AZ completely as at
any previous election In ireland have the questions
on which the contest hinges been defined, but
more than ON almost any previous occasion have
the objects and aims Of Irish electors and Irish
election managers been separated from the pres
enG objects and aims Of English political parties.
We have STILL Of course, liberals and conserva-
tives, ana we have still the respective cries OF
these two parties. may add, too, that, so far
as the tories concerned, some local
questions nave to q certain extent complicated
their candldatures here; yet the Irish cOnserva-
tive is in very much the same position and condi-
ton as the English conservative. He has the same
hopes and fears. He must. from the necessities Of
his position, In sharp electoral canvass be more
pronounced in his professions OF Professionalism,
for he has to crafty the Orangemen, with whom
Professionalism is everything; but even In this re-
spect the Irish tory during the present contest
has not presented such a marked contrast his
English c0ntfere has on some former occasions.
There mas been deal OF Protestant feeling i'm.
ported into the present struggle on the English
side Of the channel II has, of course, existed also
In Irish conservative quarters but, far as have
been able to Observe It has not been pronounced
as in previous contests. Other questions have
forced themselves the attention of politicians.
shall endeavOr to explain
WHY THIS so.
In this, as in many other great electoral battles,
the Northern and Southern divisions OF Ireland
roughly represent two well defined divisions OF
opinion Mark me, speak only roughly for what
/ may call the Southern opinions have made in.
roads on the Northern province, and have even
gained some slight victories Ineed hardly say that
these Southern political views are summed up in
the great question OF home rule. 1t has absolved
every other political consideration. 1t was sup
posed that it would sweep all before 1t in the
| south; that no candidate would have the smallest
hope or chance Of success who did not profess the
strongest faith and reliance on home rule prin-
ciples, as represented and defined by
| the Dublin Conference. As conse-
| quence, the great majority OF the candidates
before the constituencies were home rulers
Not all, however. good many-a very respectable
| minority, indeed-appeared on the old liberal
ticket Some lew on the conservative platform
| and others on q liberal aud modified home rule
programme. But in the main the deciding question
was the approval or the reverse by candidates
OF home rule principles.
In the Northern division OF the country 1t was
very different. A home rule candidate was there
scarcely heard Of In Cavan there are two. In
Monaghan there is one. Mr.. John Madden, cele-
brated Orangeman, who refuses to be comforted
for the disestabisnment Of the Irish Church. and
has become tory nome ruler to despite the
government But home rule has not penetrat
further into Ulster than those places; and don't
know that II Ii OF very vigorous growth even
there. In Belfast though there are some
home rulers they have taken no prominent
part In the election and what they have done has
been done liberals In support Of the liberal
| didate. In the principal Ulster tOwns-Belfast,
Newry and Londonderry-the contest has been
fought and. decided on the old and well defined
| party principles In the counties and the smaller
boroughs the chief questions at issue have been
! tenant-rlght reform OF the Grand Jury laws and
also OF the Fishery laws though these last occupy
quite an insignificant position in the programme.
The farmers are thoroughly reused on the subject
Of tenant right. They wish 1t secured by law;
they wish it thoroughly well defined; they wish 1t
to be settled in their favor continuously on paying
q fair rent with periodical reverberation; and
verify believe that could the tenant farmers Of
Ulster but once feel sure that the landlords would
never know now they voted, they would to man
vote against their present representatives.
LANDLORD IN IRELAND.
But II is hard to convince them OF this. 1t Is
true they have the ballot; and it Is humiatng
to confess that q line OF men, usually considered
80 sturdy and even bold, should fear to vote
openly for what is so manifestly their own inter-
ests. But 1t must be remembered that for long
generations they have been at the absolute mercy
OF their landlords, who were not always over
The picture Of Burns was often realized
Puir tenant bodies scant o'cash,
How thew maunth ole the factors trash.
That and more-sOmetimes good deaf more.
The system practised by the western landlords
was refined, but cruel and most oppressive sys-
TEN Of despotism. They were kind at times. They
allowed occasionally on extensive estates the
farmers to sell their tenant rights; but then these
kindnesses were mainly the rewards of political
and practically feudal subserviency. Independ-
ence, individual uprightness, was severely pun
ished. The landlord insisted upon being absolute
master and ruler over the Wills and cOnsciences OF
his tenants. They dared not think according to
their convictions or consclences; they must con-
slider how the landlord thought and 60 IN that
groove or they might ind themselves turned out
of house and home, penniless, and without
the smallest hope OF redress. They were never
left in doubt as to what were the landlords gen.
eral opinions. The agent lived in 1.-THE Office" He
distilled the landlords views to the bailiffs, who
swarmed over many estates-a band OF spies and
eavesdroppers, VINO not only domlneered over the
tenants, but conveyed to the agent all they saw
and heard. Thus the tenant would never be sure
when his complaints. II he made any, might not
be overheard by some creature OF "the o1lce, u
and transmitted thereto with considerable color
ing. He was never sure when punishment ior
some rash word or deed might not be hanging
over him. Disobedience at the poll was ruthlessly
punished. There was no pardon for that sin. In
the old days Of open voting tenants were ALSO
lutey driven to the poll in droves like cattle. The
man who dared to be independent was mercessly
evicted from his land and hunted from the