New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-02-09
JOHN BRIGHT ON IRELAND.
ABOLISHING LANDLORDS.

TO MR.. BRIGHT DISPLAYED BY THEM.
IRON THE REGULAR CoRREsPoNDENToF THE TRrBUNE.l
LONDON, Jan. 26.-Mr. Bright concluded his
weeks task at Birmingham by speech on the Irish
question, with particular reference to the land.
Now it happens that Mr.. Bright is one Of those
Liberal ora ors of whom the Tories have complained
that their recent speeches too exclusively de-
voted to foreign affairs. looked into Tory organs,
therefore, this morning, with the full expectation OF
finding some expression Of content and gratitude
that Mr.. Bright had taken up domestic grievance
But was disappointed The Tory journals gener-
ally do disappOint one who looks into them for any
recognition of their opponents merits. They seem
to like MI Bright no better when he offers them a
remedy for the ills Ireland is heir 10 than when he
points ont the bunders of the Government in foreign
policy. We shall have to take the speech upon its
merits, and Judge for ourselves to what extent its
recommendations are likely TO prove beneficial to
IrelaDd-tO that part of the Kingdom which SEN
sationa paper delights to depict the dstressful
country" But it is worth notice in passing that
while the extreme Irish journals dccry Air BrIghts
suggestions as inadequate, the extreme anti-Irish
journal Of this metropolis hastens to enlist prejudice
against the orator by dcnOuncing him to its readers
as Mr.. PanelPs Great Convert If Mr.. Parnell
had really made convert, perycrt, of Mr. Bright,
he would have something TO boast OF. But 1t rs lu-
dicrous. if not something worse, to speak thus in
reference to Mr. Blight aud his views respecting IIe
laad. The best answer TO such wild talk that is
supplied by other Tory Journals; those which, far
from complaining that Mr. Bright has taken upnew
ground, complain that what he now proposes is pre-
cis ely what he proposed long since, and which ex-
pcreuce has proved TO be Of no avail
You hear, | daro say, more than you want to in
these days about ireland. You have Mr. Parncll,
like TIE poor always with you. But shall venture
n I'll tat.s,
treated by Mr. Parnel is one thing; treated by Mr..
Bright, another thing Mr. PIrnen. don't doubt,
is honest enough. but man less capable Of dealing
with great question, or leading great movement,
was never tossed to the surface in troubled tImes.
He has never mace, so far as is known tere. sim
gle suggestion for the reform of the land laws in
Ireland which will bear a moments examination.
Mr.. Brghts plan, whateye else may be said of it,
bears evidence that he has studied the question. 1t
is wanting neither in breadth nor in precision. 1t
is the plan of a man able to grasp the situations
with competent knowledge of details; whose ac-
quaintance with the subject is something more than
sentimental; for whom vague defamation in favor
Of Uopian schemes. and vague denunciation of the
Government for not performing impossibilities,
have no attractions
There are, says Mr. Bright. IN Ireland 10000
owners Of land, and 600 600 tenants who cultivate
but do not own land sixty tenants to one owner
That Is roughly speaking, the state Of things which
produces the existing discomfort. The 6OO,OOO
tenants have to pay rent and, as they allege, the
rent exaccd an unjust rent partly because it is
higher than the land Will bear partly because, to
a great extent the title of the owner is a title
quircd in past times by conquest and cOni~tation.
Mr. Mccarthy says in his " History of Our Own
Times and wish Mr.. Bright had quoted the
passage, and expressed his opinion on it-that no.
body can offer any suggestion toward tho redress
81 IRISH grievances unless he accepts the conviction
of tc Irish peasant that he and not the land ord IL
:hc rghtful proprietor of the soil. BE that as 1t
ma,-be the question one of right or of cxpedenoy
the problem Is, how To transfer the land from the
landlord TO the tenant For tho tenants says Mr..
Bright. there is no other industry, almost none
There are no manufactures except in Ulster. They
must ill the soil aud they struggle for tho bit of
land they hold rs being their only chance of living.
There is for this reason fierce competition and a
constant ten 'ency TO rise OF rents which will
continue 50 long as landlords aud tenants continue.
l. there any remedy for this state of thingsf Mr.
Bright believes there is and stated IN general terms
it amounts undoubtedly TO "A complete concession
TO the demands of the most radical agraridn agita-
tors. what | PROPOSE" says Mr.. Bright land
what have proposed for many years Is this, that
some measure should be taken by which Occupiers
OF farms in Ireland should be transferred and trans
formed into owners" But then comes n quallfca-
ton that this should be done bY process which
should be absolutely just. not to the tenant only,
but as Just to the landlord himself There is an
other qualification that the process should he grad
ual; and these two qualifications taken together
may make Mr. Brights plan anything but palatabe
to practitioners on Mr.. ParnePs pattern; who
would establish the millennium Tomorrow by Act
ID lao hclt hat
wretched country can be transformed at once by
legislation into happy and prosperous country
Tho gradual Improvement of the condition of the
people and gradual transfer of the land into the
ownership of its 0cc piers, Mr.. Bright would ac-
complIsh by two methods. First he would stop the
formation and growth Of groat estates Oy abolish
ing primogcnture and entail. He would enact that
whenever man owning land died without "A will.
his land should be subject to exactly the same rule
of division which is now applied to personal prop
eriy. lie would so lcgslate that the present gener-
alton should be tho absolute owners of the land,
and the next generation should be the absolute
owners but that neither this nor the next should be
able to dictate to future generations who should
own #. The man who lies quiet in the churchyard
IS no, to determine who among the living shall pos
sess the land II the reports Of the last day or two
since Mr.. Bright spoke-be true this present Gov
crninent have resolved to bring in bill doing away
with entail and allowing present tenants FOR lie 10
sell their estates. | heard this on Sunday night
from a man who ought to know. lt was announced
on Monday in the Liberal journal of London; ana
thus far has not been contradicted.
This first method, remedy, is indirect ana SLOW
The second and main feature OF Mr.. Brights scheme
is also slow but Is direct 1t is proposal TO enlarge
the Bright clauses of tho Irish Land Act OF 1871
clauses intended to facilitate tho purchase of land
by tenants. In their present shape they have
proved a comparative failure; or rather have proved
to a great extent imperative. If understand Mr..