, 1880-02-22
IRELAND.
The Irish Question Discussed in
Ireland.
Meeting Of Ulster Farm Tenants
at Ballymoney.


' Strong and Clear Statements {
4 Grievances.
]: /: The first meeting in the interest OF Iris
: land reform held in Ulster took place in th
: Town~Hall, Ballymoney, County Antrim
{ Friday evening, Jan. g, 1880. Delegation
of tenant-farmers from ali the neighborin
!; districts were present-from Ballymens
Carrickfergus, Larne, Ballyclare, and othe
considerable towns. The large hall wa
packed to its utmost capacity with sturd
Ulster yeomen. The leading land-reform ad
vocates were Justify cheered when they ap
peared on the platform, and every expression
favoring the idea of roofing the tenant IL
the soil was 1apturously app1auded.
The chair was occupied by Mr.. McElderry,
Chairman of the Bal1ymoney Council. In
the course of his remarks he said: No Irish.
man who loves his country can do otherwise
than wish for such reforms as will bring the
blessings Of peace, progress, and prosperity
to our disquieted land. We repudiate the
charge that land reform means landlord
wrong. We ask that the tenants shall have
full protection to hold and enjoy their prop
erty, and have equal privilege with the land
lord to sell to the best advantage. The money
and hard toll Of the Irish tenant has made
the soil of Ireland what it is. Were there
more protection by law for the tenant there
! would be more reclamation, more drainage,
better fences, more comfortable homestcads,
and higher class Of farming. {Applause.]
We hope in our time to have redeemed the
promises made b.: the greatest statesman Of
a our age {Mr: a Glaadstt1ne) tt in & introducing the
ty be given to the occupants Of the land TO
purchase their own holdings as they come
into the market
BY meeting such demand there would
Spring mp everywhere class OF sturdy yeo-
their holdings, responsible for their full price
to the Government The knowledge that
soon the debt should be cleared oil would
and od pat stop o he tde Of eaa
ton which robs Ireland Of its bestand strong
est sons. [Applause.1 And where emig1ants
Wou!q from any cause seek another land, 1t
fsoh monld M pFefeat rf'9t them carrying with then
own country, which is often perpetuated to
the third and fourth generations. Sullen
dlscontent and frequent rebellions in Ireland
would be at an end. 1fr. McElderry CON
was drawing to close, Liberal statesmen
like Gladstone, Bright, and Shaw Lefevre,
whose names were received with applause,
would erapple earnestly and thoroughly with
fa@nes IN H eand % coneiudnEP he Soped
that there would be no division in the ranks |
of the tenant-farmers; that North and South |
would be united in the great Struggle for in |
qepennence from landocracy; reminded |
Lord Reaconsfeld that
Drying up a single tear has more
VI honest lame than shedding seas OF gore;
and paid q glowing tribute to the late Prof.
Smyth, the champion Of land reform and
Sunday closing.
letter from III. John Bright, whose nan name
was greeted with enthusiastic plaudits The |
[o1Iowlne are the most important passages:
IT There s' can be no settlement ef the question
ng tenants, Of whom so, 60 ; are tenants aap at
will, are III the hands of ID, COO or u, COO own
rs OF land; and know no remedy which
Slii not enable tenants to become owners
he soil.
/ am sorry to say that it Is only in times of
In Irish affairs that English count
y gentlemen and county members will con-
en- TO Such changes as you require and may
Letters Of regret for non attendance were
Ilso read from some other prominent gentle |
zen. amonE @ others the Catholic priest Of the
1ostG ans meffng ef SENS to hare been
amuei Black, Of Randalstown, Presby- :
er1an tenant-farmer and q veteran Land-Re- j
primer, was then, introduced, and presented :
eso!atlons tayorlng an extension Of the u T
:; hXlty Of tenure; reform Of the Grand y
ury laws; denouncing Tory rule In un-
easnred terms; .aDtrovfng of bill which is Il
De ntrod4eed et 9t Into Parament under the
c9b etc tne aloM ee n GRpnty Ra Gors FARM
'eeeh Mr.: Black referred to the failure nf r.
e gladstone Land act through the mental, 1t