, 1881-12-18
Workings Of the Gladstone Land Bill
Evidence Of Numerous
Witnesses.
Landlords, Leaguers, Agents, Priests,
Magistrates, and Po0r-LaH
Guardians.
Collecting seyeny~fve hillions from In
po7srished People-~0utrages, Boy
oottings, and Evictions.
The influence Of the Land League
"A Thorough Canvass by
Counties.

rived when some estimate may be made OF
the 1uttfuer in which l1elanl Is affected BY
the Land Court decisions, by the suppression
vi the Land League, and the prolnulSation
VI the *'no-1ent" manifesto. In order to
arrive ut a fair and accurate statement OF the
condition Of the country your correspondent
this wee., sent out series OF questions bear
ing upon those Important events TO nuuler-
o4ls gentlemen living III all parts OF the coull-
try who have exceptional means of observit-
tluu.
ARREARS.
Tile great question of arrears looms up OH
black cloud III the distance. Reduce rents
as the Commissioners may, the landlords are
entitled to arrears, aud intend to collect them
if possible Ii the Tenants pay arrears ac-
cordirg to the Land act-tl,at Is, by INSTALL
,,tnts from year to year-1tils payment VIII
maize up the rent to about the fig
ure before reduction. 50 that PRACTICAL
j. the rents Of such tenants Will
be unchanged for many years to cutne.
If they do:l't pay arrears the landlords Will
cyic1. Upon this question the peace and
Qtlietude Of the country will largely depend
during the coming winter. The Land Com
lnissioners have now been sitting for several
weeks and independent observers and those
interested have searched lninutely for some
indication of the principle upon which re-
t!uc1iolls are made; but search is frultless
and explanations unsatisfactory. After care
full study of the Commissioners methods
:,1n convinced they are not proceeding upon
any independent principles At al. They are
sir:ipIy reducing rents to Grinl;h's Govern
,ncnt valuation. The basis Of Grillitll's val
ua1itn was fixed by ac- Of Parliament, but
1:nw the only maxim laid down is The 8 live
ard thrive" thcory, though tenants on minute
hoidinx of Mayo, Galway, Donegal, etc,
could not thrive if they paid 10 rent ut all.
p1s0EDERS.
Another fact to be learned from 100 reports
below is that the arrest Of tie league Ieuders
and the suppression of the league las only
temporarily stopped the outi.aGes, which are
beginning again, while the payment of rent
has been only slightly accelerated. The
great result at the Governments measures
has been to practically remove the check put
upon the tenants to prevent them applying to
the Land Court Intimidation continues
even now and is increasing. Hardly day
passes that some one is not shot at or some
outrage committed. Tile speech OF Lord
lonck. Lord-Lientenant Of Dublin and
1'rlvy C0ulicilor at the Castle, delivered this
by some as warning that the Government
is on the point Of using more stringent MEAS
ures; but this is not likely at this juucture,
Attention is now turned to- the Derby cleo
tion, where the Liberals Irish policy is on
trial. Tile Lal,d-Leasucrs are giving the
authorities much trouble, however. as tho
Fenian elements i'll them are forming III
various pats Of the country under other
v,og> {~4H Ht1ht re-
league branches in Dublin eight: were
Feniau organizations pure and simple. These
are daily refor1ning-last night as Il franchise
association, two nights before It's a home
society; but the Government do
not fear secret societies, as it can always buy
au account OF their doligs. 1t was Ill open
had most to fear.
TIE QUESTIONS. |
The questions submitted BY the Herald cor |
were as follows: |
l. Are the rents III your district being paid !
to 4 greater extent than before the suppress ]
ion of the Land League?
, Are the mass of the people standing i
out against paying without reduction, US be- |
forea |
.. What are considered the prospects as to |
:. Are many tenants going into the Land |
court, and what is the general feeling toward |
The courts
s. With regard to the great landlords in
your ileigtborhood. can sou give an idea t
how particular ones are getting rents and to
acto
G. Has the Governments action beer benc-
lc1al rs regards out1ages, boycottlng, and
general peace? Il
T. ARE there likely to be many eyictions /
his winter, and arc they likely to bc of
character which may lead to collisions?
=. Did the - '1io-rent" manifesto have any
8. Or are the refusa's TO pay rent made on
he old lines OF demanding reduction?
H. Are reductions In rent Dj' the landlords |
>einc made TO any extent:
II: DO you think the winter will be marked
y tue - bad work" predicted:
COUNTY MAYO.
My informants here are Il police official.
'riests and maeistrates. They agree that
ents arc little, If u all. more generally paid
Ian before the suppression OF The league,
tie mass u the people are sta:lding out for l.
eductiop before paying their rent. The
prospects OF mort. general payment are NOT
RS rents, Tie large arrears stailding, !
With the poverty OF the people and !
Ae lStlcnlll.s VI LIE league ln1ufe t1e pros /
pecfs-. The teilaEts are g0inE into the Land
>ourt III large numbers, :st,li, in Wholesale
III several estutes- All expect considerable |
eductlons BY landlords III Mayo, but mostly |
III smaller. estates, such us that OF !
-s'rd hilmaine, George Brown, ex-.nein~
er Of Parliament; Thomas Tighc,
nj Col. Cul!e; but OIL the mouster
states Of Lords Sligo. Dillon, and Lucan,
lld Sir Roger Palmer and Sir Robert Blosse, {
here have been Ito reductions. Their ten
1ifs will largely apply to the court It is !
Spected that their rental will be heavily IT.
uced> Tie suppression OF the league has t ,
cen beEencial in checking boycultillg aud !
ufFases. Few eyictioGs are expected. all !
gree TINT the Eo-reIlt manifesto had little or
o effect, and the slight sensation il had Is
'tssing away -Aii retusaIs 10 pay rent are
II me old lines Of demanding reductions or .
waiting the decisions Of tile Land Commits
Ions Pol1ce, land agrn1s, ut,d landlords :
ope and nre inclined tu predict ouieter :
lnaes thts winter than last, but others say il =
alaiords want TO get their rents or arrears =
y 1orce they will be 1net by resistance and :.
Dstructlon OF the usual Kind besides ls}ieli~ ! :
ood vi revenge being taken in tile shape or =
loosin.s out1ages- 1t Is hoped that the heavy -
e1nciuns $ Ut rent at Balliua. in this county, y
LII 10 great extent pacify the tenants "
COUNTY GALWAY. c
Ay tnfornlants in this large county are In 1.
Away Town, 1'uam, Citfden, Woodford. y
,lo neaa195d, whict, are towns In different II