New-York tribune., 1881-09-02
----~----7-=-- -=-s -
MR.. PIRNELL AGAIN.


Mr.. Parnell is not so wise as his colleague, Mr..
Dillon. Dillon sees that the Land League
agitation cannot be maintained with the new
Land Law in beneficial operation. He has
thrown up his occupation as an agitator and
announced his retirement from public life
Parnell, who is in his element in n period of
popular excitement, does not relish the prospect
of quiet times in Ireland and uneventful ses-
sions of Parliament in London. He feels at
home in the midst of shouting crowds, and no
doubt likes to see his name in the newspapers
as well as any other man. 1t is reported that
he is coming to America again to raise funds to
keep the League alive. If he does, we hope he
will go back with empty pockets. We rccog-
nize the fact that the League has done n great
deal, by the uproar it has made, to call the at
tenton of the thinking classes in England to
the desperate condition of the Irish peasantry,
and that the Land bin may fairly be said to be
the result of its work. If there had been no
agitation in Ireland there would assuredly have
been no action in Parliament, however great
the injustice of rack rent and arbitrary evic-
tions, and however pitifui tho condition of the
Irish farmers. The Law does not fully meet
the demands of the League, but it goes a lon 2
way in that direction. No one can doubt that
if fairly administered it will prove remedy
for the chief evils which atfiict the Irish
tenants, such as the uncertain tenure of their
holdings and the liability to pay increased rent
on account of improvements made by them
selves. Indeed some of its clauses trench so
lar upon the property rights of land holders
that it may be doubted whether they could pass
the Legislature of any American State Yet
the bill comes from British Parliament, IA body
proverbial for its conservatism, and composed
hn nnaf ~ IF 10, II
have personal interest III upholding the rights
of the landlord class.
What is now the plain duty of genuine Irish
patriotsf Is it to keep up All agitation which
will prejudice the ignorant against the new
Land Law and deprive them of its benefits bv
making them think it of no accounts Is it not
rather to make the best of its provisions and
give 1T the fair test of one or two years practi-
cal operation under favorable conditions? If
the Law is found to be defective it can be
amended at future session Of Parliament: if
IL Is wholly inadequate to remedy real Irish
grievances, there will then be time for Mr. Par
nell TO summon the League to fresh activity and
10 embark Tor America with new designs on
the savings OF laborers and servant-girs
Americans love fair play. They believe Mr.
Gladstones Land Act is not the work of n shifty
politician seeking to tide over n present diff
Guilty, but the ripe fruit of the best Judgment of
statesman and philanthropist. They are con-
vinced that MIR. Gladstone desires the welfare
OF Ireland just as much as Mr.. Parnell. They
remember how sturdily he defended his bill
against the attacks of the House of Lords. and
how he pushed it through that body at last by
the sheer force of his own great influence and
lofty resolution. They want the Law to have q
chance to justify the hopes of its author, and
while it is being put to the test of n trial thew
would IKE to see all honest Irish agitators take
hold and help make it a success.