Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1881-10-27
n. Y Tribune
Secret League and Open Court.

The British Government has dealt the
Land League staggering blow. The or
ganization has been proclaimed Illegal and
criminal. and is TO be absolutely suppressed
Meetings Of the Executive Committee and
Of the branches are to he broken up by the
police and troops, and the penalt, for giving
aid and countenance to the League and it,
agents is to be arblu AIRY arrest and impris-
onment for an indefinite period. The circu-
laiIon Of the no-rent manifesto exposes
every member Of the League to immediate
arrest unless he separates himself at once
from an unlawful and criminal association.
The public work Of the organization ceases
from this time. The treasurer NAV remain
in Paris, and open-alr meetings may be held
in the Irish quarters of English cities, but
whatever is done among the tenant farmers
must be done IN the dark and under terror
Of law. The League must either become a
secret organization or abandon It's work al
together, and a. secret organization It's
influence over the mass Of the population
and IT, power Of resisting practical reforms
IN land tenure will be greatly diminished
lts agents must traverse the country hy
stealth. their steps logged BY detectives and
League and refuse to pay their rents they
cannot, when eyIcted. be opcnl, supported
by responsible financial officers Of the local
branches, but must depend for subsistence
upon irregular supplies Of money or proSis-
Ious furni shed secretly and at uncertain in
terSals by irresponsible agents. In these
circumstances they NAV well hesitate before
exposing themselves TO the discomfort Of
homelessnes, and the lmmincn, peril Of star
Walton. The Government parallzes the &C
ton Of the League when II proscril,e. 1t a.
an illegal and criminal association. A. q
secret organization It's work must ANGUISH
unless It's desperate appeal 10 the tenants ~
rcpudiale their debts and renouuce their
contracts i taken Up from door 10 door in
opposition 10 the advice Of the Catholic
clergy, and the whole population j. banded
together IN sullen discomfort and aggressive
lawltssness.
The Gov eminent meanS hiie. opens the
new Land Court. Il is d!stInctIvcly Irish
tribunal. There Is one landlord on the
bench, but he is an cminenily Just man,
whose dealings with his own tenants have
not caused any offence and with him are
associated two outspokeu and Eealous friend.
Of the agricultural classes. The svmpathics
Of two, al least, Of the three Commis>ioner,
are already enlisted on the side Of the ten
ants, DOR there is no ground for popular
prejudice against Justice O'Hagan and Mr.
lilton. The Court has begun by simplify
ins its rules Of procedure so thai It's process
ses may he easily followed By those who
submit cases 10 il, and also by reducing the
expense Of tenants appeals to the lowest
figures. The fee for entering the Court. or
for giving notice Of an appeal. is fixed a, u
cents, that the poorest tenant will find
the benefits Of the Land Act within his
reach. Low fees and simplicity u proceed
ure vii! tend TO make the new Court popu-
lar Al the outset. aud 80 many applications
have already been received that il will enter
upon lis work without delay and afford the
public an early opportunity Of testing IT,
sincerity. 4 liberal construction Of the
Land Act can scarcely fail 10 allay popular
prejudice, even if ii does not serve TO recon
clie the mass Of the tenant farmers to the
new conditions Of land tenure. While the
agents Of the League are plotting 10 the
dark and either wheed!ing or !ntimidating
tenants TO take the risks Of eviction, home
lessness and want the Land Court offers an
equitable adjustment Of all questions at is
sue between landlords and tenants. The
advantage of publicity over secret intrigue
l. a most decided one. The rent. will not
be scaled down below G.iffth's valuation.
and the cry will be raised by the Parnell-
ties that the act is a transparent sham
Captious criticism Of this sort is to be ex-
pected as a matter Of course. But unless We
are seriously al fault in our estimate OF the
r. -. l.
pie will soon come TO realize that they have
in the Land Court an instrument that will
right their wrongs, redress their grieyan
and give them the conditions of peace and
pr0sperity-in permanent tenure at a rea-
.onabe rent and exceptional privileges Of
possession and tenancy not enjoyed by any
other body Of tenants on the face Of the
earth
Ii NAV be that We und errate the influence
Of the Land League, but We shall be sur
prsed If the present agitation in Ireland be
not brought 10 a close within a few months
If the Government took an enormous risk
in arresting Mr.. Parnell and his associates,
they in turn were criminally reckless in ad-
yocstlRg the absolute Reputation of rent
Archbishop Cr0ke, who has sanctioned the
course Of the League heretofore, is appalled,
by the rank dishonesty Of the recent mani
festo and denounees it as policy that ''can
lead to nothing but disintegration and de-
feat" His warning will be needed by the
great body Of clergy who have sympathized
with the class Of tenant farmers from which
they themselves are recruited A majority
of the prelates have already expressed their
approval Of the Land Bill as measure of
substantial justice to Ireland. and have
urged the people to take advantage of its
provisions. The sentiment of the clergy
will thus be brought to bear Host powerful
ly against the desperate tactics Of the i'm
prisoned agitators. The Government has,
therefore, all the advantages Of position,
publicity, remedial legislation and religious
influence. We venture to predict that in
the end the resistance Of the Land League
viii be completely overcome.