Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-10-08
IRISH LAND QUESTION.
Monster Demonstration at COrk-..Point-
ed Speeches and Plenty of
Enthusiasm.

By Cable to the New Hork Heraldl
LONDON, October 5.-This has been
a memorable day in the annals of the
Irish land question. The agitation
has already begun to produce its re-
suits. Four county meetings have
been held, one at Cork, where nearly
10000 people were assembled, one at
Marlborough in Queens county which
attracted $4,000 people, one at Dun
more in Galway that was attended by
$1,000 persons, and the fourth at Bal
linrobe in Mayo. This geographical
division shows that the south, center
and west of the country are pretty
well impregnated with the views that
the anti-rent agitators have been
preaching.
The most noteworthy features of all
the meetings was a general absence OF
the priests, except at Maryborough,
where speeches were made by two of
their number. Here the presidents
seat was occupied by Richard Lalor,
one of the most extreme partisans of
the measure. The Rev. DR.. Magee, a
parish priest, made a very strong
speech, dwelling on the great distress
that had arisen from the bad seasons,
aud the general hard times in com
merce DR.. Magee also insisted on
the duties of landlords to their ten
ants, arguing that capital and labor
were as blades Of scissors, each be-
ing useless without the other. What
the tenants wanted, he said, was the
landlords sympathy, and if things
were going i'll with the tenant the
landlord must abide his demands. DR..
Magee avoided saying directly, Don't
pay your rents" but his forbearance
was considered all the more signif-
cant.
There were occasional outbursts at
all the meetings of "Shoot the land
lord;" Give them an ounce of lead. 4"
Two tenants of the Meath estate Of
the Marquis of Headfort, whose
agents, as well as the marquis, had
received letters on Tuesday last threat
ening their death unless their rents
were reduced, have been privately
cautioned against attending 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.
The largest gathering was at Cork
Here Messrs. Parnell, Shaw. Smyth
and Calhurst, the members of parlia.
ment, we're the speakers. Mr.. William
Shaw took the more moderate view Of
the question. He spoke in favor of
MIR. Gladstone's land act, which gave
compensation to evicted tenants, and
declared that those who worked the
soil should own it; and landlords
should be fairly bought out. At the
same time he warned farmers not to
commit any acts which should place
them in the grasp of the law.
Mr.. Parnell, leader of the move
ment, and Home Rule member of
Meath, was greatly cheered when he
rose to speak. He said that the farm
ers had no intention of placing them.
selves in the power of the law. The
landlords were determined, however,
to get them there. What should be
done with bad landlords? A voice,
Shoot them" If the farmers stood
together and refused to pay unjust
rent the game was theirs. They
should not and would not allow them
selves to be exterminated as they were
in 1913 They had the right spirit
and they had physical strength tC
back it. / do not think" said Mr.
Parnell, that physical strength will
be necessary. Adopt a policy of pas
siye resistance. That is the line
counsel you to follow, and so long al
Ireland is ruled by Englishmen thC