, 1880-02-22
THE PREsBYTERtAN3 IN IRELAND IN
DISTRESS,

a 1eW Uay9 ago CaUlEEldH SItAAc4 tAat
there was much real distress among the
Protestant Ulster farmers Of Ireland; but
they were too proud to acknowledge the
fact, This statement is confirmed by mail
advices which have since come to hand In
the Northern IYhtg, a paper published in
Belfast in the interest OF the Liberal Presby-
| terian party, we find the announcement made
that 1.-THE Moderator Of the General Assembly
intends to issue letter requesting that the
congregations in connection with the General
Assembly Of the Presbyterian Church in
Ireland will make an arrangement for col
lection, in order to supply the 7.ecessartcs
Of life to those fthe rent-devoured tenants]
| who are in urgent need" In accordance
with this intention, we find that at a largely
| attended Presbyterian ministers meeting
held in Belfast the 29th Of January steps
were taken td make collections, and the hope
was expressed that Il the response would be
as hearty as that given to the appeal made in
1847."
From these circumstances it would appear,
in what has been the most prosperous parts
of the reimbursed island, that distress is all
but general in Ireland. Many others than
those proud, independent, gritty Presbytert-
ans have suffered severely in silence rather
than expose their sad poverty to the public
gaze. An Irish gentleman, the editor OF one
of the principal Irish papers, says in private
letter to party in this city: It cuts me
like a knife to see rentdevoured Ireland
making periodical appeak to the charity Of
even generous America, and it Is perfect tor
ture to hear Englishmen lecturing us on our
improvidence and telling US that England Is
always ready with an aims"
The Ulster custom has in part protected
the farmers Of the Northern Province from
much Of the misery visited on the other coun-
ties by 1apacious landlords; and, as Afr.
Charles Wilson, the farmers candidate for
the representation Of Antrim, said at recent
meeting: "f the Ulster custom of fixed land
tenu1es were abolished We would find famine
and destitution prevalent alike in the North
and the South"
Many have the idea that the Protestant
tenants are treated with exceptional leniency
by the landlords on account OF the sympathies
arising from community Of race, and religion,
and politics; but this is not so. The late
Lord Leitrim and men Of his class " do not
care fg," as they would express 1t, for any
thing but the accomplishment Of their own
selfish, sordid, rent-roll ends, and the exae-
ton OF every last centfrom the rentroppressed
tenant The Presbyterians have, at various
periods in the history Of Ireland, been treated
with as much harshness as the Catholics, and
the Presbyterian farmers who voted against
the Tory candidate previous to the passage OF
the Ballot act were frequently eyicted for
following the dictates of their consciences.
The "Ulster custom was not established
through the leniency Of the landlords, but
BY the united and active perseverance Of the
spirited Northern farmers, aided by large
section Of the English Liberal party. The I
landlords, wherever they could bully the |
tenants, have "covenanted themselves !" out
OF the CUSTOM" as in the case OF Lord Lei
trim and other feudal tyrants, but generally |
speaking they have been obliged to give |
way to the persistent and manly stand made |
by the tenants.
Notwithstanding the protection afforded, |
which is only slight boon after all, it ap- |
pears that these farmers are now In need of |
aid, and 1t is certain that their complaints |
are not made without reason. Theirs Is no |
mendicant spirit-no desire to air their
grievances. When they speak they speak
boldly and for their rights. Their independ- |
ence is not the creation Of to-day or Of last |
year. Their race have ever been the pioneers /
Of liberty, national and individual. Their
naughty spirit and sterling character will not
permit them to be suppliants for mercy, I
when it is in their power to obtain their
rights by the means which freemen have
ever used.