New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-06
PICTURES FROM IRELAND.
sInE-1ICrTs ON THE IRISH QUESTION.

itical pamphlet partly in allegory. IL IS the
freshest and most interesting contribution that
hae been made to the literature OF the IRISH ques'
tion The plan Of the book is striking. In graphic
and nicturesque style the author portrays scpa-
rotclv every type Of character that has marked
;rAucnce upon Irish life. These types are 80 well
drawn after living models and so imbued with
tho natural impulses and rnce preludices OF Irish
men that they appear TO be real individuals IN
stead of representatives of classes. Zach OF them
acts In a way to show how his class has assisted
in bringing about the present state of affairs IN
Ireland. The bias. for probably no book OF this
kind could be written without some bias, tends
against the agitators and the priests. The pictures
arc so clearly and forcbly presented that they con-
vev distinct impression ut least Of truthfulness.
First We have picture Of tho landlord OF tho old
school. who is a father to his tenants; who when
better times come doesn't raise the rent like the
neighbor landlord who is graspng. But when the
hour of agitation arrived and the tenants demanded
n heavy reduction the selfish landlord who had
raised the rent, discIeetly complied with the de-
mand. and mt once became popular. His rates were
still higher than those OF the good landlord but
because the latter would not consent to reduce the
rent in like proportion the peasantry he had 20 long
bcfrrnded turned against him. Stung by their III
gratitude he decided to enforce ms rights, ana
going abroad becomes an absentee for the rst Time
The Land Jobbrr" is a breeder of strife Once
q small farmer, by greed and sharp dealing DE haH
become the owner OF n large estate. lie affects no
svo,pathv with his tenants, but goes with the parish
priest in everything not affecting the rights oil
property His property is heavily moItgaSed' DC
cause he Is always grabbing more land than he
can pay for. The non-payment OF his rents loi u
year would mean hi, ruin. lie meets the agitation
of M al NJ
his estate
tended the Office where they come determined 20
pay no rent without receiving reduction Oh ~
per cent. Five or six armed policemen are WalhIlE
about outside and an inquisltVe tenant may sec tc
handle of a revolver in CONVENIENT position on II
ledge under the aside of tho desk. at which Inc
landlord sits Mr.Clancy Is not prepoSscSIhS III a,.
near1nre 4 low, rcircatlng forehead, shaggy
eyebrows and dcep.Sct cold blue eyes are pal
anced by an illcul. broad and powerful nose sInaI9
massive chm. and the large month WIN nlIari'n
lips exposing the gums 80 common among III" ir'h
peasants. D.. ,,a,. Oh, .ort
like honest men" ~ Mr. ClancYs greeting, IA, the
trran.s file into the Office one by one until the room
Ali ewes turn ON John Ilcnernan. who j. evidently
the spokesman Of the tenants lie clears HIS
"Wcli. Won SEQ Mr. Clancy, these arc very hand
times entirely. ,,. A. lao
on the potatoaS there is nothing 10 complain OIL
rho ord save us, sir! How can you say that 7
Isn't the turf aswet a. dung OF, u.s. ana ""n \.
mt all And sure there's no usc talking oi the po'
tators; we could not gct as much out Of an acre as
would feed The pigs
ton John Ilclicnan: it won't do for me. | know
exactly what YOU have and what 10 ~ worth. no
out to tn, yard. and sou VIII sc my turi mat was
Cnt hr alongside yours. How comes it that my turf
i dry if yours is wet Have you dug your POTATOES
U" Troth. have not. How could get iimcl'
"Wny, yon have had fine weather for three
months hut suppose you did not lhr 10 dlg th'nl
unit. they GOT fro,btt'h. You say they are worth
nOtMnpW
" Bcdad, the acre that ] have is not worth 4
pourd."
acre. So you can deduct that from your rent. ana
the potatoes are mine. ,
"Thcrrs no use talking about tbs bush. Mr..
CLANCY: We cannot pay our rent unless "o get th'
loul murmur Of assent runs around The room;
81 will give no reduction Mr. Clancy saws de,
terrniucdlv "You have all taken your land and
undertaken 70 pay the rent. and must have either
We'll. now sir the truth must J." spoken.
Dont Won know that tIc rent IL too hiEh SURF
IT'S twice the valuation. and no person c"nld pay
that rent III times like iIr"". Beside. YOU CAV rs
u rise of rent IN 81 and aTain III ~ ana again IN
-. and we think now that Non ought To give The
reduction a, well H. every one else
q cannot listen to you. must pay ms GchtS ana
sure. would pay il could cXcallns thr
Widow urnahnn; but you know you donhicd
the rent on mo elnc" the iii7t risr. $500.
"Arrah, MI. Clancy. how cohld | RlNr ny my
little farm with my children growing mp ahoui he .
What could dOf sure. II YOU SAID Was 4" pAv
twice rs much more must strive Ia pay II oI 20
into the poolouSc. and all ask nov ~ Just 10
get the abatement.
"Yes.r all rxclam: "all We want j. I'll" ahatr
mcnt: YOU the rent Oh IL when the lincs were
good AMI we want You to2iVr Is slice no" th"t
the had year has come.
Does not every one know your honor. that The
IL. lft Il
John lIrnrInan.
T4r word valuation arouses the If" Of NJ lancy;
d" aluuiionw hc shouts. Don't talk to me OF
the valuation. ID you know the GoI eminent
valuation was thrcc.IuartcIs OF the real yaiur nj
land in 49,. W hen the market prlc'N were I'll
tell YOU what they wcrc per hdndred weight :
Wheat, IS. ed. oats. Is. lOd.: barley. ~. cd. {;
butter G5s Id; beef. ;il~. I'd. mntton. lis.
pork. j2s.Y Do yon know the average valuation
OF III things for the last four years is - la cent
greater than when the land was 'alGcd And
you complain II an increased rent
1--WE do. sir; duniLuOw much about what
yOn are talking of: but the rent Is more than
doubled on som" of Us: and We think. and Father
Grcancy thinks. We ought to get thr reduction
"All right; you owe me Il years rent and viii
MI Clancy saws. his ball who has beet standing
near the door % the Office hands IN rcctmcnt
process to the first man who turns to leave. THIS
il fatal blow. Really as are the tenants 10 resist
within certain limits and 10 tIn't to the chapter a.
accidents during the months possibly, before the
process could be- served they feel that here they are
III u trap and know that Mr. lancy will carry out
his threat OF having the land or the rent.
Once get the better 0l an lrIShman and for tn"
time he il COwcd utterly; % John Iiricrnan turns
sullculy and without II word produces the full
amount of hl4 rent, for whrh he receives - rccrpl
duly. one after another every one has paid and
while they wrnd Their way nome ward, bitterly and
| icrccly CuTsing the man whom they acknOW lcd &c
their master III GINNING rs he is in dctrrminat ion
Mr.. Clancy sits writing letter TO friend. IN
which he says: "lhs agitation is certainly most
dangerous. and some people Lave had Glcnt deal
OF trouble; but must say that my Castle CLANCY
tenants came in and paid up the full amount with
out murmur."
The trials Of An Abscntec's Agent" who honestly
tries to assist the tcnantry show how lie came in
| conflict with the parish priest
Mr. HrrIctnn rnnnnf Iemplnhpr thn finln h..n