The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-06
RENT OR NO RENT?
GREAT MASS MEETINGS IN FOUR COUNTIES OF
IRELAND AND sPEEC Es BY THE ANrI-RENT
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS FARMERS THINK HOME
RULE SHAM DOCTRINE OF PASSIVE RE-
sIsTANCE.
(BY CABLE TO THE HERALD. !


LONDON, Oct. 5, 1879.
This has been O memorable day in the annals
of the Irish land question The agitation has
already begun to produce its results. Four
county meetings have been hcld-one at Cork,
where nearly 10000 people were assembled;
ono ut marlborough, in Queens county,
which attracted $4,000; one at Dun
more, in Galway, that was attended by $4,000
persons, and the fourth at Ballinrobe, in Mayo.
This geographical division shows that the
South, Centre and West of the country are
pretty well impicgnated with the views that
the anti-rcnt agitators have been preaching.
The most noteworthy features of all the meet
ings was general absence of the priests,
cept Mt marlborough, where speeches were
made by two of their number.
LANDLORDS DUTIES.
Here the presidents seat was occupied by
Richard Labor, one Of the most extreme par
tisans of the measure. The Rev. DR.. Magee, q
parish priest, made very strong speech,
dwelling OH the great distress that had
arisen from the bad seasons and the
general hard times in commerce. DIR.
Magec also insisted on the duties of landlords
to their tenants, arguing that capital and labor
were as the blades Of u scissors each being use
less without the other. "What the tenants
wanted, he said, ''was the landlords sympathy.
Ii things were going i'll with the tenant, the
landlord must abate his demands" DIR.
Magee avoided saying directly, Don't pay your
rents; !" but his forbcarance was considered
all the more significant. There were occasional
outbursts ut all the meetings of ''Shoot the
landlords" "Give them an ounce of lead 70
Two tenants OF the Meath estate Of the Marquis
of IIeadfert, whose agents, as well as the Mar
threatening their death unless their rents were
reduced, have been privately cautioned against
attending q meeting of tenants which is this
week to be held for the purpose of sympathizing
with the Marquis and expressing their loyalty
to his family.
'siiooT THEM"
The largest gathering was ut Cork. Here
Mcssrs Parnell, Shaw, Smyth and Colhurst,
the members of Parliament, werc the speakers.
Mr.. William Shaw took the more moderate view
of the question. He spoke in favor of Mr..
Gladstone's Land act, which gave compcns..-
ton to cvicted tenants, and declared that
those who worked the soil should
bought out. At tho same time he warned
farmers not to commit any acts which should
place them within tho grasp of the law Mr..
parncll leader Of the movement and Home
Rule Member for Meath was greatly ohccrcd
when no roso to speak. lie said that the
farmers had no intention of placing themselves
within tho power of tho law. The land
lords, however, were determined to get them
there. What should be done with bad land
ers stood together aud refused to pay unjust
rent the game was theirs. They should not
and would not allow themselves to DO exter-
minated, as they were in 1913. They had the
right spirit and they had physical strength to
back it. 81 do not think" said Mr. Parncll
..that physical strength will bc necessary.
ADOPT a policy of passive resistance That is
the line l counsel you to follow. And
so long us Ireland is ruled by Englishmen
the question cannot and shall not DO laid to
cat" The speech was received with enthusi-
usm. Afterward series Of resolutions was