The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-06-01

Agricultural Condition of Ireland - De.
cline of Boycotting.
Uondo- Nasal

$500 Va
London Eews.l
/ have just completed a rapid journey
through the midland and western Countess
including the whole of ConnemaIa District.
and at this period of the year a few word:
as to the agricultural prospects of these dis
tricts may not be unacceptable. The spring
has been a late one. Cold, harsh weather
prevailed until about three weeks ago., and
kept back the sowing of the seed, and in
some places also the preparation of the
ground, for there seems to be an idea pre-
yalent among many of the small farmers in
the west of Ireland that aslong asthe weather
is harsh and the nights are frosty, N as long
therefore as it would be injudicious TO plant
it is premature to prepare for planting. The
result will be that when the genial spring
weather does come, and when vegetation. If
there was anything IN the ground to vege-
tate, would proceed apace, the advantage
will be TO some extent lost. This, however,
only applies to a small number, and per-
haps il is in many cases unavoidable, be-
cause of the absence of all implements or
machinery, save the spade, resulting i'm a
tedious and laborious preparation of the
ground for seed. As / have indicated, the
preparation of the ground was gen.
orally well forward and in advance
of the season. and the delay in sowing
oats and planting potatoes was probably a
Ms OCldH. III Sccd OclIB DtllcT OUT Oh Lne
ground than in il touring such harsh weather
as prevailed in the early spring. The genial
weather, alternate sunshine and showers,
of the past fortnight or three weeks has
been followed by a rapid Vegetation. Cereals
in the extreme west and in the bleakest and
coolest districts are well above ground, and
show a strong, healthy, and even vegetation.
Potatoes are just beginning TO show in the
earlier districts, but a continuance of the
nracant u-oothar N NOT foil 70 hripv flar,
on rapidly. The action of the Land League
is causing uncertainty and unrest, and the
action of the landlords in e~victing does not
appear TO have had any material effect in
retarding spring work or to nave
caused any land to pass out of cul-
t~ivation. Alike on the plains of Meath
and Westmeath and in the wild recesses of
COnnemara every patch that has up to the
present been in cultivation has been put
ly a spreading feeling of distrust of the
Land League. l was informed in the course
of my tour through Connemara that the
people there are saying that they won't
subscribe any more to the organization.
"What good" they ask, has it done us?"
Even my car-driver on the road from West
port to Leenane, who was severe on the
lazy habits of his countrymen, said they
were much better off when they paid their
rents. The scene at Claremorris, in the
heart of Mayo, on Sunday last was a most
significant one. Hitherto all the Land
League meetings, especially the meetings in
Mayo and Galway, have been orderly, unani-
nous and enthusiastic, but on Sunday there
was disorder, division, and a marked lack of
enthusiasm. Even in numbers, as compared
with former meetings, it was g failure. A
notable illustration of the declining in
fiuence of the Land League is furnished by
the turn of affairs at Moyard. near Ballina-
kill, the residence of Rev. Canon Fleming.
1t will be remembered that Canon Fleming,
finding it impossible early in March to get
laborers to work his farm, was the object Of
a relief expedition organized by the Elmer
gency Committee. About a dozen laborers
were sent to his relief from Dublin. The
result was magical. Not only was Canon
Fleming's farm put into order, and his
crops got in almost a month sooner than
those of any of his n~eighbors, but the local
laborers saw the northeners at work. and the
only result of their boycotting
Canon Fleming was to deprive
themselves of the good wages which a
fortnight before he had offered them, namely,
twelve shilllngs a week, while the wages
given by the other employers was only nine
shillings. On approaching Canon Fleming's
farm | was surprised to find a considerable
number of laborers at work on the land.
Canon Fleming, on whom l called, ex-
planned TO me the state of affairs as already
indicated. He added the Protestants had
never refused to work for him; that the
Roman Catholics whom he asked TO work
for him before the relief expedition came
answered in nine cases out of ten that they
would be glad to do so. but that they were
afraid. In a few cases the answer was that
they had sufficient work of their wi This
unwholesoEe fear has now altogether dis
appeared, and Canon Fleming has no diff
ficulty in procuring as many laborers as
he requires. His turf is now all cut, and
the laborers on his farm are engaged in put
ting the second molding on his potatoes.
In fact, he says he is in a better position
than most of his neighbors. His is but a
typical case so far as boyeotting is concerned.
Boycotting. in fact, is no longer the weap-
on it was; il is now q street-boy's word,
which only provokeS laughter. The cases
in which il is reSorted to are now extremely
rare. for the good reason that it has lost its
power. There is every prospect that the sec
ond weapon of the Land League-the fore
ing the collection of the rent at the point of
the bayOnet-promlses soon to become
equally futile. The number of these sales,
like III nu mber of cases of boycotting, is de
creasing, while the payment of rent is becom-
ing more general. The tendency is against
the realization of John Dillon's dream of
the day when all rents shall have to be
levied in this fashion. The waning in
fiuence of the Land League may be further
inferred from the way in which speakers of
Land League platforms adjure the people TO
stick to the Land League" to stand by
the Land League" to -be true to the organ
ization which has done so much for them
Much of the enthusiasm which was formerly
| exhibited at land meetings was undoubtedly
| due to the heartiness with which the labor
ers supported the movement. This support
seems nov to nave been withdrawn to a very
large extent. and the land meetings are
smaller, are less enthusiastic, and by nc
means unanimous. Meanwhile, and with
out the aid OF. the Government, emigration
goes or apace; almost every train from the
| West, ever on Sundays. bears its freight o.
intending emigrants. There was q large
fair at Balla on Monday morning, and JUS
at the heels of a large cattle train came thu
ordinary morning train on toward Dublin
On the platform were some scores of people
waving good-bye"-probably a last good-by'
to their friendsin the fast receding train
But although the lane agitation is declining
it is not TO be inferred hat the hates anC
discomfort arising out of agrariaEism have
died out. This seed sown by the agitation
of the last two years is still bearing fruit.