The New York herald., 1879-09-13
The Ant-Rent Agitation in Ireland Assuming
Threatening Proportions.
PARAELL SIDES With THE TENANTS
A Military Reign Of Terror Es-
tablished in Connaught.
DUBLIN, Sept. /, 1875


into existence The change in the aspect of the
| political situation is moro apparent than real. for
acquainted with the real views OF the Irish
people knows that underlying all forms Of agitation
was this question of the restoration Of the
ship of the land to the people, who have really
acquesccd in the settlements" imposed on them
by force of arms by the English government
Under the old clan system the land be-
longed to the people, and the chiefs
had right to appropriate ALLEVIATE
any part Of it, and to this ancient right Of ownership
the peasants clung with that desperate tenacity
which has distinguished the Western Celts in their
struggle against foreign customs. foreign laws and
foreign rule Beaten the field of battle the indi-
vidual Cet refused to accept the result single
handed defended what he never ceased to consider
his property against English adventurer Irish
traitor who sought to reduce him to the level of
feudal serf In this fact. generally overlooked by
foreign WRITER'S is found the explanation Of that So
cal war which has delugod Ireland with blood since
the struggle against William Of Orange when the final
land conquest was effected which handed the people
over to the power of aet of adventures. for the
most part 'aliens in blood. Language and religion"
from whom majority of tho Irish landlords Of to-
day directly descended.
THE ORIGIN OF LANDLoRDIsM.
The sweeping confscations which followed the
triumph of William OF Orange were not however,
carried out so completely rs the English government
desired The new landlords dared not take posses
sion Of tho lands granted by the King. for the Irish
rapparees had unpleasant method of dealing with
the intruders. In time . compromise effected.
which gave the foreign adventurers the right to
rent charge the estates. and time rolled on by
the operation of English law they gradually came to
exercise practically irresponsible power the
ancient owners, who had sunk to the position of
had rights. and evil disposed landlords only
restrained from tyranncal exercise of the privileges
given them by English law by the fear Of assassna-
ton. This conflict Of interests brought about that
social which has not yet ceased. From time to
time the civilized world 10 shocked by the news that
q landlord has been shot to death, and while the
outside world is hlled with indignation at what
seems savage crime the Irish peasant devoutly
raises his hat and piously ejacuates, "Glory be to
Godl" He knows the landlord oppressor and
hears of his death with much the kind OF satis
faction that the inhabitants Of Italian district
learn that noted brigand has been shot down.
This. of does not apply to all landlords. but
it mostly true of the landlords who shot-the
| ..felonious landlords" as Gladstone very aptly
| called them.
| DIFFICULTY ABoLIsHINa A BAD SYSTEM.
An agitation with the avowed intention OF abolish
ing this hated class to enlist in its support
| the strongest sentiments of the Irish masses. but
| hitherto man OF commanding influence has been
found bold enough to face the social outlawry sure
to be visited on the leader In revolt against the
vested interests Of lAndlordism. Until Mr.. Michael
Davitt returning from his American trip and with
his head filled with New World ideas Of land owner
ship, called on tho people of Mayo to refuse pay
ment of rack rents. proclaimed the right of tho
people to the SOIL no public man had had the cour-
ago to grapple with this question. The home rulers
Wild hari Of fhnvp Al fkn
the millionaire Mitchell Henry. did their best to
| suppress movement which they foresaw must
bring the political field popular forces that had
lain dormant since the tthe war; and that they were
| by no desirous of calling into active life.
| Though some of tho obstructionists were known to
entertain somewhat radical views the subject of
land tenure they did not think 1t wise to ventilae
lar agitation which has been gong on for some time
In the Connaught counties. and which has finally
spread to the conservative North. to induce them
finally to throw in their fortunes with their humber
pARSKLL GIVES Hw ADHERENCE
There seemed some danger that the anti-rent
movement would die out. owing to the refusal OF
the well known public leaders to commit themselves
to q programme which Is be denounced rs
communistic. but this danger is removed.
That stormy petrol of contemporary Irish politics,
solicitations of some Of the most earnest and in.
fuental of the local leaders, and has agreed to Issue
call for convention OF representatives from all
of the tenants and organize national land leag ue.
This agreement has not yet been made public. but
ments for the assembling OF the conveu-
ton are % even now a in progress progress. I The i'm,
place tenfold power in the hands of the
obstructiouist minority. will practically deprive
tho little popular influence they possess unless
they change their tactics and promise vigor-
GUS support to the extreme party in the House Of
Commons The pill will be q bitter one. but many
of these gentlemen will swallow IL rather than
danger their seats. The prospect before tho House
Of Commons is not pleasant one, and unless some
satisfactory leasure is passed next session which
will protect the Irish tenant farmer from capricious
eviction the scenes which during the last session
rather dimincd the nstro OF that most ancient and
respectable assembly likely to be repeated, only
Mr.. parne will have larger following from fear II
GREAT POPULAR STRENGTH OF THE MOVEMENT
1t is impossible not to be struck with the intense
of tho land agitation compared to tho
support given to the home rule movement. The local
papers are full OF 1t. and are sharply divided by
and absorbing topic OF conversation with all classes
Only faint idea Of the 1t s affecting the public
many Of tho most suggestive facts connected with
the agitation are suppressed from motives Of pru-
denco. Although up 70 inc present no active vio.
peasants have gone to the very verge Of the Inv
in impressing on the landlords and their agents
the necessity and desirabeness of reduction OF tho
rents in view of the unfavorablc condition OF tho
crops and the markets. On nearly all the large
tates the tenants assembled In a body and marched
to the landlords agents house, having selected
one of their number to act as spokesman. In every
case they complained that the ronts too high
and demanded reduction of from twenty-five to
thirty per cent. at the same time informing the land
lords that II they would not accept tho amount
offered they would get mono ut all. In reply to
threats of eviction the tenants Ia several den-
anty answered that they did not mean TO be
cvicted and that they would hold their farms by
force. NI.M
| DANGER OF A SOCIAL WAR;
These threats, combined with the intimidation
practised by small groups or armed mon. who
called unploasantly memories Of the Whteboy days.
had In most sauary influence on tho land
owners, aud the tenants terms were accepted. In
few estates situated in Mayo and belonging to
absentees. who feel themselves out OF danger. tho
old rents insisted but the tenants have per-
sstently refused to pay. Notices to quit have been
threatened, but few baffs found willing to run
the risk OF serving them. Evidences OF defiant
temper among the farming classes encountered
In every direction and there bc little doubt that
should the landowners in the coming winter attempt
to enforce claims which the peasants consider un-
Just, there will be outburst OF the social war
which will recall the days when the Ribbon lodges
scattered death through the landlords OF Tippcrary.
GOVERNMENT ADOPTING PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES.