The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-01-13
THE IRISH LAND LEAGUE.

rious troubles, growing out OF the relation
between landlord aud tenant. The real
estate of Ireland consists of about twenty
million acres, of which about sixteen
million are in cultivation, Or used for the
purposes of residence or pasture. The
population of the island is little over
five million, thus giving an average of
less than three and quarter acres Of
cultivatable land to each inhabitant.
The ownership, however, is not By any
means generally distributed, but Of the
whole number of inhabitants probably
not more than fifty thousand out of the
6ve millions own foot of land. The
whole real estate Of the island is owned
by about sixty-eight thousand persons, a
very large proportion-perhaps twenty
thousand-of whom are not residents Of
Ireland at all, and manage their estates
by agents. Of the sixty-eight thousand
landowners, more than half Of them do
not own more than one.quarter of an
acre, so that by far the greater portion of
the land is owned by foreign landlords,
who use their property in the most arbi-
trary and oppressive manner. This state
of things has existed in the Emerald
Isle for very many years, and has fire.
quently given rise to very great disturb
ances. The governmental Great Britain
supports the landlords, and they are
always tyrannical in the extreme in
consequence of the security they feel in
the protection that is afforded them.
They dismiss their tenants at will, and
annually after the harvest season the
land is filled with officers distraining for
rents, and evicting such tenants as the
anger or caprice of landlords may direct.
Upon previous occasions the differences
between the landlords and the tenantry
have lead to revolts and bloodshed, fol.
lowed By adjustments which would work
satisfactorily until the greed of the land.
lords induced fresh complications. Some
years ago these differences were harmon
lied by the adoption of equitable rent
rates, fixed by civil engineer named
Griffiths, who was ordered by the gov
ernment to make an inspection of Ireland
ard report, which he did with such
ability and. success that the rates sug-
gested in the report were accepted by
both classes. These rates have prevailed
for near forty years, aud as long as adj
hered to very slight complications arose.
Of late years, however, these rents have
been advanced upon an average some
twenty-five or thirty per cent. and the
burden has thereby been increased until
it amounts practically to an enslavement
of the tenantry of the island, and has
given rise to the most rcsolute resistance
by the tenantry. They have formed
organizations known as Gland Leagues" !"
which are clubs for the purpose of unit.
ing the tenantry in opposition to the
advance in rents on the Grifiths rates,
and are proceeding in the most orderly
and prudent manner possible. They
have large meetings from time to time,
but commit no excuses. Great Britain
has sent companies of flying artillery
into the island, but they find nothing to
do, and it is hoped that the present ses.
sion of Parliament will adopt some meas
ures of relief for these unhappy people.
The sympathy Of the outside world is
with Ireland, andthe pressure will ulti-
mately force an equitable adjustment of
the present troubles. Their forbearance
and prudence have won for them a very
favorable consideration at the hands of
impartial people of England, and there
is every reason to believe that the Land
League will be successful in protecting
the interest of the tenantry of Ireland.