Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-10-07
ERIN's ACRES.
The Castlebar 0utrage---6 Great Excite.
ment in DubIin--- Opinions Of
The Newspapers.

LONDON, October 2.-The agrarian
outrage near Castlebar, wherein
Messrs. Smith, agents of the MARQUIS
of Sligo, were fred upon and one of
their assailants killed, has created a
great excitement in Dublin. The Ex-
press, the Irish Times and the Dublin
Evening Mail declare it to be the re-
suit Of the recent political agitation,
and say that the responsibility for it
and for similar violence that may be
expected will rest on the heads of the
agitators. The Freemans journal
says it would be unjust to charge the
outrage on the tenant farmers and
believes that the purpose was robbery.
A meeting to discuss the land ques-
tion was held in Tuam in spite of the
express disapproval of Archbishop
Nc Hale and his clergy and a protest
Of the town commissioners against the
intrusion Of the chief promoters. The
assembly numbered 1000 to $500 per
sons, who nearly all wore green en-
blems, laurel leaves serving the purpose
where they had not sashes, and such
notices as the following were exhib-
tied in the decoration Of the streets
and on banners borne by some con
tingents" from different parts of the
country who marched in headed by
bands: Land for the People" +" uni
ted we Stand, Divided we Fall BE
! hold the Dawn of Freedom y n"End
Save Ireland" and Down with the
Tyrants." The three principal speak
ers came from another county and
have figured in previous demonstra
tiOns Of the same kind. A letter was
received from Mr.. Mitchell Henry re-
gretting his inability to attend at such
short notice. He again expressed his
views on the subject of the meeting
namely, that small freehold farms
should be formed and that security of
tenure must be given to all tenants, to
be fixed, If necessary, by arbitration,
and the right of freely selling their
interests. Mr.. p. j. Costello moved
a resolution to the effect that. in view
of the widespread and alarming dis
tress which threatened the people
with recurrence of the famine hor.
rOrs of 1917, the tenant farmers should
be allowed such a reduction of rent a.
their desperate condition imperativelI
demanded in order to save them from
impending ruin. Mr.. Michael Davitt
the liberated Fenian convict, second
ed the resolution. He said it afford
ed an opportunity to the landlords t
show their sympathy with the people
and he thought it would be for theil
interest to grant its request or de
mand, 1t would be impossible 70,
them te pay the full rents next No
vember. He advised them to offe,
the landlords such a portion of thei
profits as could be given withou
starving their families or defraudin,
the shOpkeepers of what was due t
them, and if such offer should b,
twenty or thirty or ninety-nine pc,
cent. below the usual rent no powe
on earth could compel them to pa,
more. The time had arrived wheI
Irishmen who thought themselves
above the reproach of being slaves
and towards should say that that sys
tenn must end aud its place be takel
by one more in accordance with civi
lization and their interests. He sug
gested as a remedy that the four mil
lions Of church surplus should be ex
pended in the reclamation of vast,
lands, and that those who reclaimed
the land should be recognized hence
forth as its proprietors that on tn,
mountain lands which had ALREADY
been reclaimed by their industry tn,
tenants should be at once declared
the sole proprietors, and that absen
tees should be called on to surrender
the land in their possession for the
benefit of the people but he woult
give them a certain amount Of com
pensation. He advised the tenan
farmers to band themselves together
in associations and clubs in order t,
support each other in the struggl,
they had to make.