The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1880-03-03
mo-. ~.
THE IRISH QUESTION.

The position taken by our contem-
porary, the States, in regard to the
Irish question, is the same as that q -,
the Picayune. The States thinks as
the PseuDaae. thinks, and has more
than once said that the evils Of land
Ior.lism are the great affection Of Ire,
land, and That, until these are cured,
there is little hope 20. a permanent
Improvement in the condition of that
unhappy country. But this is not the
question presented to the American.
people, nor is it question peculiar t.,
Ireland The agricalturalists Of Eng.
land suffer from precisely the same
cause, and the same remedy is required
for them unless England is prepared.
tn risk the dangers Of a violent revolU--
tion, " to face the Consequences of q
general exo,lns of her agricultural
population. A short time ago an Eng
lish nobleman, the grandson Of the la
NOUS Lord Uxbridge, died. and left an
estate consisting Of hbodt "a 900 acres:
Of land, the rent roifOf which is about
E lO5, 900. That is to say am average
"f about 500 an, acre. This lis a fair
specimen Of the revenues which the
English landholding class extort from
the English farmers, But, it is ohvi-
ons,y impossible ia tile face Of the
cumi,et t on Of American cheap food,
tn pay "a rent OF $22 an, acre. In fact,
it would scarcely be possible for Eng
lisl farmers to make a living profit,
and pay any rent. The consequences
must be either the forced emigration
Of the agriculturalists, or an abandon
mentsof the systeurof land tenure,ho
prevailing in England. Emigration is
the favorite remedy proposed by the
ruling classes both in England and
Ireland; because emigration, whilst it
might, for astime, diminish tire proiits
of the landhollers, would avert the,
danger Of the loss Of their power and
their possessions. This is the question
now so hotly agitated in Ireland, and
destined soon to be tlte incentive M q
similar. agitation in England. 1t is.
this question whicl, Mr.. Parnell, wishes
to place before the American people
for discussion, while hundreds OF thou
sands Of his countrvmen are on the
verge starvation. Bat whatever
may he the views of Americans. on. the,
land tenure question in Great Britain
and Ireland, it is obvions that they are
under no moral obligation tn Intervene
actively on One side or the Gther.a Mr..
Parnell knows little IF the. American
character, and less or American insti-
tutions if he supposes that he cam
transfer the theatre If his political ag
sMtion from Ireland tn the United
States. IL he had confined his :efforts
to the cause of charity for his starving,
conntrymen he would have found nnis
versal sympathy, aud a generous aud
substantial response: On the contrary
he h forced to see, insalmost 6very
.merican newspaper criticisms of his
|cOnduct and ceDs',res of his language.
II he has amy common sense, which
seems oi,e doubtful, il,e must know
that criticisms and censures, SO gene
raj as IA, be almost unanimous, mnst
have some rational foundation He
can scarcely be absurd enough to as
scrt that he alone il rightsand that the
undivided public opinion of an intellii,
gent nation 10 wrong. Yet this is tie
unpleasant prpdicament in which lie
Inns inv0lveti himself by his senselsss
1 vituperation Of everybody that, does
not join him in degunciation Of per-
sons Who are actively engaged IN t,s
work Of charity for his couutry men,
hut whom he reviles simply because
they do not chooses, in a. critical mo,
Nest like this, to forward him in his
I political purposes. So far. lie his
done nothing but evil in tlliseountry;
If lie wishes to do geoea he mnst either
ceaee his nonsensical talk and change
the measure Of his purposes, or 81
!: back to Europe as soon, az possible,
= New Orleans Picay nne;- t'Is2aissji5