Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-04-13
The Irish Land Bill.

The coercive and repressive measures
with which Mr.. Gladstone deemed it neces
sary to commence the pacitication of Ire
land have been followed at length by the in
PRODUCTION of the long-expected land bill
measure which, from the British PREMIER
well-known humane and philanthropic char
acter, one can easily believe was far more
in harmony with his native instincts than
the force or the arms bill. The demands Of
the Irish tenantry, systematically epito
missed in the now famous phrase, :" the three
F's," fair rents, fixity Of tenure and free
sales, has been made the broad basis on
which Mr.. Gladstone's proposed land bill
has been constructed. The terms OF the bill,
which we publish in condensed form,
seem to give general satisfaction. We be
lieve Mr.. Gladstone is an honest and con.
scientious statesman. lie says that justice
is to be the principle to guide England in
regard to Ireland. We believe he has hon.
estly endeavored TO apply this principle in
his land bill, and that if he has erred at all
in the provisions OF his bill the error has
been of the head and not of the heart TIC
Englands innate, but sometimes tardy, sense
nature of the circumstances, for an improve.
ment in her political, material and social
condition. England is at heart humane
and aside from the abstract principles OF
justice and humanity involved in her treat.
ment Of Ireland, her sense of shame at the
spectacle of dependency of hers in rag
and restitution, the object of charity and
sympathy throughout the civilized world
will awaken such spirits as Gladstone and
Bright with their great folowings of pro-
gressive and enlightened Englishmen, to re-
move this blotch from the fair face of Brit
ish dominion. With the spectacle OF Re
publican France across the channel, rising
under the inspiration of her free institu-
tions into marvellous developments of mate.
rial prosperity and social and political free.
dom, England will not wish longer to afford
in Ireland standing taunt of her own ina
bility to devise and execute beuefcent mea.
sures that will in time produce similar devel.
opments in Ireland. Nearly a century ago,
the red plowshare of revolution ripped up
the old feudal system of land tenure in
France and the French peasantry of to-day,
as proprietors of the soil, make the repub-
lie possible, with its splendid prosperity and
brilliant prospects. A similar transforma-
ton must and will some time take place, not
only in Ireland but in England also. The
logical consequences of peasant proprietor
ship in lreland-the breaking up of the sys-
tenn OF landlordism in England-has doubt
less done much to impede the granting of
more liberal land laws to the Emerald
Island. No such volcanic burst as that
which freed France from the oppression of
the feudal system of land distribution
should be invoked, or could prevail in either
Ireland or England. The milder influences
OF progressive and liberal craftsmanship
operating like the sunlight, the winds and
showers of spring upon our frost.clad noun
tains, and bringing, in the fullness of time,
the glorious summer and the ripened har-
vests, must and will ultimately produce in
Ireland the latter day fruits of the bloody
revolution in France. Irishmen must await
with wise patience the "inevitabe hour"
OF her material and political resurrection,
and while maintaining, inside the restric-
tons OF human and divine laws, a vigorous
and judicious aggressiveness towards the
patent evils which afilict her, court and
maintain close alliance and active cooper
alton with the liberal and justice-loving
class in England, OF whioh MIR. Gladstone is
at present the leader and the most illustri-
GUS representative, and from which her re-
demption must come