Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-12-31
IdNDIORDS' 9RIGH HTS

and alarming condition of affairs as existing
in ireland, and the causes which have super
induced the same. fk
Although these land agitations or troubles
arc not OF recent origin, having existed, we
believe, from the time of Cromwell and
William of Orange, still it seems that there
are few who understand them, or under
standing them, as yet have failed to take
any steps towards solution of the difficulty.
The misery that exists in Ireland at the
present is, we may almost assert to be a
yearly occurrence, and is likely TO remain
just as long as that unhappy and unfortu-
nate country remains under the cruel and
wicked deSpotism and submission of Eng
land. The situation of poor Ireland par
takes great deal of the same wrongs that
hold Poland a slave to Russia.
Ireland almost perpetually presents the
anomaly of people starving in the midst Of
plenty created by their own hands 1t is
admitted by those who are acquainted with
the character of the soil and the climate,
that the Island under the administration of
just and equitable laws is capable of main
tanning in comfort twice the population it
now holds. But the moment any voice is
raised or change contemplated against the
unfarness of the same, they are told that
the laws of political economy must not be
interfered with, that the "rights" of the
landlord are sacred and there must be no
violation of the rights Of property.
| If we take the trouble to examine how
these Irish landlords became possessed of
the soil of Ireland, we can say with truth,
if there be truth in history, that il was
through violence and fraud TO which their
titles can be traced-bows were the current
coin given in payment, and "for seals, blood
was used in preference to wax" 1t matters
not how many hands these lands have
passed through, how long the adverse pos;
session, this does not cure the defect in the
first transfer, it does not go to show that the
consideration in that transfer is not repug-
nant and in violation of the laws Of God
and against the laws and usages of civilized
humanity
But even granting the validity of the land
which the fixity of tenure or the establish
ment of peasantry and proprietary in Ire.
land is agitated, is that the land OF the
country owes support TO the people Of the
country, and even if the principle was aban
doned, which cannot be, the infection O
such a measure on the landlord class for the
public good would be no more unjust or un
reasonable than the revenue tax ON the trade
class for the same purpose. The public goot
is the first business of the State, and all pri
vate rights must yield thereto
Gladstone declares that an evctor withou
cause commits a crime against the State anC
that he is guilty of murder He Injuries tn
State by depriving IL of defensive membe
, whom he renders unable to compensate tn
State for the benefits and the advantages de
rived from its protection until dispossessed
The principle is obvious that the land
not the landlords own, no matter by wha
title he holds it, for he can only hold it in pro
prietorship, subject to the prior claims Of tn
inhabitants to get food and clothing out Q
it, and the moment that principle is violates
: by the death of a single human being an in
justice is committed as palpably as if tn
, landlord conspired TO set Il lien on all cult
, walton and leave the entire population t
starve.
Land is not commodity created by labol
, il IS a gift of the Creator TO men for thei
q support and comfort, and no select circle {
l men can seize on il and claim it as thei
, own to the detriment of the people born OF
it, any more than they can tax the water W
| drink or the atmosphere we breath.
. ireland is in area but little larger than tn
| State Of South Carolina, and yet after tn
steady depletion of the last thirty years, it
| population is about eight times that of tn
, Palmetto State OF its total acreage {
der cultivation, and while in England AM
Scotland about one in twenty of their gros
population own their lands, in Ireland onl
one in eighty are landowners, and yet tn
f great industry of the people is agriculture
relatively much larger than in England o
Scotland.
, Let the historian record the deed of Pho1
: necian and Milesian. Let the harper sin
, the deeds of Brian Boreu and Malachi. Blu
let the orator who would wake to ecstas
the living Tyre in our hearts, and open tn
: well-spring of sympathy, dwell upon he
y history since the days when George the IL
, was King.
MURDERER LYNcHED.-Jacob Gogel an
u his wife, Anna, residing four miles from tn
town Of Bethlehem. Pa, We're found dead j