New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-11-02
THE "NO RENT MANIFESTO.
LAST RESORT OF THE LAND LEAGUE.

| ACKNOWLEDGEMENT EXPECTATIONS OF IRE
MENDoUs RISE OF WAGES IN AMERICA.
| IRON THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBuSri
| LONDON, Oct. 2O-The manifesto of the Land
| League is an admission that the action
of the Government has been more efficient
| than was supposed. The League is really
| crippled. 1--WE are obliged" say the existing ex.
ecutiye, |" to announce to our countrymen that We
no longer possess the machinery for adequately pre-
senting the test in court according to the policy
prescribed by the National Convention That is
| confession as significant as it is surprising. II ia
still to be said that the Government hestated too
| long, and only crippled when they might have de.
strOyed the organization that defied and still defes
them. But the testimony of the Leaguers
! themselves is sufficient to show how much
| damage has really been done to their
power for mischief. l think it likely said too
much in criticism Of the proceedings of last week
and too little in praise of the energy really shown
Mr.. Forster must read with satisfaction this public
admission by his enemies of the vigor with whichhs
has acted and he is entitled TO all the credit which
| such an avowal implies.
| Yet when all this is said there remains the fact
that the League is strong enough still to defy the
| Government. This manifesto is bold document in
its way. 1t is the fashion to write about it as If it
were an acceptance of challenge. To my mind
| the courage it shows is rather the courage
| of a gambler who risks all he has left
| on a single throw Of the dice. The League has
! in fact played its last card, and it is 10 slight
tribute to the ability Of Ministers that they have
been able to force the hand of the League. The last
word of agrarian agitation has been uttered. Mr..
Parnell himself has been distanced. He, who began
| by cry for tenant right and lust" rent ended
| by programme Of reducing the rental of Ireland
| from seventeen millions TO three millions. The
League has gone three better. They now ADVISE the
tenant to pay no rent at ALL until the Government
relinquishes the existing system of terrorism and
restores the constitutional rights of the people" In
the way Of what is called peaceful" agitation or
passive resistance, 1t is impossible TO go beyond
that IL it fails, the League is impotent. II the
tenantry either refuse to act on this advice, or il
attempting to act it they are beaten, there is
nothing left to them but submission appeal 10
the they have not got. 1t is, repeat sufi-
Gent proof of the merits of the Government policy
that the crisis is brought alta moment of their own
choosing to this decisive issue.
Whether the Leagne has done wise thing from
its point of view is another question. Con-
sderations of morality and honesty aud decency
may be put aside for moment in order 70 look at
this matter as the Leaguers themselves look at ii.
What they want is TO beat the Government
abolish the landlords, and reestablish the
supremacy of the League throughout Ireland. The
advice to the tenant farmers to pay no rent is the
means Ivy which they hope 10 accomplish this three
fold end. But there already signs that thoy
have nobody 20 replace Mr.. Panen They have
plenty of men as INSCRIPTIONS as he, but nobody
who brings to the service Of organized dishonesty
his cool Judgment and capacity for seeing the real
facts of n case Mr.. PamelPs last edct pro-
hibition against resorting TO the Land Court,
prohibition which he openly justified on the ground
IL. into
would demonstrate the worthlessness of the Land
Act. He advised the tenants. meantime to make
no contracts for the payment of rent beyond
twelvemonth. but il was understood that pending
the decision of the test" cases. tenants were to 10
at liberty to pay rent some part OF their rent IN
eases where otherwise they risk of eviction.
The policy was policy of transition. period long
enough for Mr.. Parnelps purposes was to be tided
over as best it might.
Now the League deprived Of Mr. Parnelps coun-
sells has issued order to pay REM, hut without
repeating the former order. The tenants are still
told TO keep out of court, 10 make no bargains with
their landlords and to refrain from ayailing them
selves Of the Act Ii does not to have occurred
to the Leaguers who drew mp this manifesto to con-
slider what might be the result of a compliance with
H. They have listened to the promptings of passion,
and their policy is in great part policy Of revenge
Suppose their counsel is followed The tenant does
not avail himself of the Act. He does not pay rent
What is to prevent the old result following, aud
what was the old result but evetOnf The present
policy Of the League leaves the landlord in posses
sion OF the legal power Of enforcing payment and Of
eviction in default of payment. How is he to lie
prevented from using it, and what recourse has tho
tenant against that dreaded penalty which Mr.
Gladstone, in his too picturesque and perIlous way
once described as in many cases equivalent TO SELL
tence of DEATH
What the League has to say in answer to this
natural and inevitable question is in part purely
rhetorical and in part purely absurd. The land
lords they say cannot evict whole nation. Well.
perhaps not; but then, neither is 1t probable that
whole nation will refuse TO pay rent, and so put
themselves in a position to require eviction. III
great number refuse, they will refuse experiment.
ally They will refuse, and wait TO see what comes
of it, If the landlords act with decision and arc
supported with frInness by the Government, the
strike against rent will go the way of other strikes
where courage and capital are on the same side. lt
will no more be necessary TO evict whole nation
than il is necessary to shoot the whole OF mutnous
regiment When the rngleaders have got their
auietus the rest return dutifully TO the ranks.
Perhaps that is sufficient answer TO the rhetorical
consultations which the League addresses 10 ito
clients.
The remainder of their announcements may be
disposed of by stating them. They really expect
the 600 900 Irish tenants to believe that, il they
are evicted they will be supported in comfort and
reimbursed for their losses. Where is the money TO
come FRONT In the first place, the funds Of tho
League will be poured out unstintedly" for the
benefit of "all" who may endure eviction. They
have not, IN many previous calls, been poured out
unstintedly, or poured out at ALL Hundreds Of
farmers who, trusting in the League, have endured
eviction this year have been left to their own re-
sources. If they were poured ont nnstintedly tho
amount coming to each of the eyicted would be, on
A.. ,,r,,aot bas;s of contribution IL tina IeaOnp