New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-10

tended was to throw over the Land Act altogether
That is what Mr.. Dillon urged, and il was because
his advice was rejected that he retired TO private
life. That is what the Irish Socialists OF America
urged. Mr.. Patrick Ford, their leader and mouth
piece declared that an acceptance of the Land ACT
by the Convention would b. probably death bow
to the League, and he expressly advised that no
notice should be taken Of the Act But MT far-
nell with large means of information at ms com
mand. has satisfied himself that this course womb
he fatal TO the League in Ireland. 1t Is STILL
leaving out the professional agitators,
League of tenant-farmers, and Mr. Parneh
knows that he cannot as matters now stand induce
tbe tenant-farmers to renouncc the benefits OF the
Act He has not been able TO convince them that
the solid advantages conferred upon them are purely
ilusorv Yielding to necessity, therefore, he offers
himself and his League as Intermediates between
tle farmers and the LaudC ourt. AS he cannot annui
the Act. he proposes to " test It,
| The leading advocate of the League IN the
| English press says the effect OF the resolution
! is that the Act is to he put into opera
ton with the express consent ami the assured coop
Grafton of the League" No delusion could be more
mlschievous. Mr.. Parnell may be supposed to know
better than his London apologst knows
what the League really means. He has
himself cxDounded this resolution and this Is what
he SAYS: All the Executive proposed to DO by the
test cases was TO show tho farmers upon what scale
their rent would be fixed il they went before the
Court They proposed TO test the Act not 10 use IT,
| The resolution had been entirely mlsnterpreied'
Those IN its favor had looked upon it rs pledglng
! tie Executive to support the Act. IL was
nothing of the kind. Ii was to test the Act, ana ne
! himself did not believe it would stand the te-t
That does not sound much like " cooperating ne
real trutb came out IN Mr.. Parnclrs and other
a hon
70 work the Act in such a way as to per-
shade the farmer that he. has little or nothing to
gain undcr it, And the very next resolution
tbcv nossed was resolution which strikes at The
essential principle of the Act with reference 10 rent
and entrcats the farmer to refuse to take hiteeh
years lease at any price whatever. and 20 make no
engagement to pay any rent whatever Tor more th'h
one year; bearing in mind that the prncl-
plcs of the League require not the hNlng OF
rent but its abolition" SO much for the express
consent and assured cooperation OF the League III
| the working If the Land Act.
But there is much more behind this peridiouspro-
posal. Mr.. Parnen will do his utmost to convince
the tenant-farmers that they can get nothing from
the Land Court But he torcsees "a failure ~ any
rate lac makes provision iOr ii, and this caucus
marks a new departure Of The League III two direc-
tons Before the Land Act was passed. a y lar
rent was the cry of the League, ana Hrlihths
valuation was the standard OF a fair rent. Since
the Land Bill became law. and the danger
grew imminent that rcdres, Of tenants grew
anccs would destroy tho hold OF the League
OH them, it has been discovered that aiy
rent at all is n grievance. and ian immoral
tax upon the industry OF The people" Mr.. farnel
has SO far denoralizod aud debauched the Irish
conscience th0t he believes form of robbery too
fragrant and no proposal for plumber too gigantic
TO find acceptance The No Rent banner is there
fore unfurlcd. That is his present bid.
In Mr. ParnciPs mind this. ike every other step
be has taken in agraun aE-.ation, has an Interior
purpose, and matters are now IN such state
that hc ventures to show his hand more openly than
ever Irish independence is his aul, and he declares
that Irish Independence can never Ice achieved 80
long rs the question how much rent the tenant shall
nav 81 the landlord remains in dispute He does not
scrnple TO declare that the object OF the Gov
ernment III framing the Land Act was to
perp.tuate such disputes, and keep Ireland
divided. Therefore "thc tenant-farmers of iceland
are invited at the very threshold oi this Act to
assist the people of Ireland in recovering their
rights. and not to allow themselves to be drawn
aside by one single inch from the great task Of re-
gaining their ri sht 10 make laws TOR ireland upou
! Irish soil" Not only do,s the League bcnccforh
plant itself upon the platform II No Rent but Mr.
Parnell has succeeded in Iii, most cherished object
! by making Irish independence plank Of the same
platform. The League, m other words Is no longer
merely agraran agitation. II Is political, and 10
ayows It's purpose 10 dctach Ireland from the British
! Empire.
But it is one thing to lay down platform and
another thing persuade Nation 10 stand on It; one
thing 20 Oder bride and another 10 get ~ accepted.
| Mr. Pamrps speeches and the resolutions of lis
caucus alike bctray hls doubts of success lie has
III
him further, aud he turns therefore to the
| aborcrs. For the present he hopes farm
crs and laborers may work together under
his leadership and inside the League lie offers the
! laborcrs for whom his solioitude is suddenly
| shown, not q farm for nothing at somebody's else
| expense a. ho does 10 the tenants but home
stead =" "bit OF land" n comfortable dwelling and
the prospect Of share in the waste or srmi-wlstr
! lands oil Ireland, which Home Government OF the
! future out of some unnamed fund is to buy in the
| lump and make him present Of Tn" important
! point however. now is not what Mr.. Parnell offers
! but that he makes offer. A largo part
of his speech is addressed To the laborcrs. II Is
upon them lac means to fall back II the farmers fail
! him, and he says in so many words: IF we find
that Joint organization is failure, pledge myself
to take my stand at the head of laborcrs' move
ment" Mr. Parnell is going very fast, indeed, down
| the steps Of the social ladder. If ho can
| keep farmers and laborers in the same ranks. well
and good. He will have a formidable force behind
him. But If the farmers fail to respond 20 this last
desperate appeal 10 q dishonest cupidity, and Mr.
Parncl tries to the iaborers against the farm
ers the latter Will turn round on him a. icrcely
| they turned against the landlords. They have fol-
| lowed his bidding hitherto because Their interests
ran on all fours with his. If they decide that
their interests and Mr. ParnelPs policy adverse,
Mr. Parucl's leadership Will be thing OF the past.
This caucus attracts attention and deserves it, but
! the immcd ate future of Ireland will not be decided