Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-09-06

wearily on the West. Four great land
lords, who, together, have drawn, for
several years past, about ES0,000 from
their estates in Mayo, Galway and Glare,
have not, l am assured, ever spent one
farthing year in this country. As with
the land itself, crop and crop has been
gathered and no fertilizer has been put
in. The peasant is now aware of as
many OF such facts as apply to bis own
locality, and this knowledge, coupled
with hard work and hunger, has arous-
ed a discomfort not to be easily appeas.
ed. Thus arises state Of affairs against
which the peasant, at last, shows signs
ofrevolt. Physically and mentally neg
lected for centuries by his masters,
be has found within the last
fifty years neglect exchanged
for extortion and oppression. The hold
ings throughout the west are, as a rule,
miserably small, and the land is 80 bar
held the lands without having to pay
penny's rent, they could not live, were
they dependent upon farming alone,
and had they not the harvest earnings
from England to assist them. The bar
rem spots OF Connaught are certainly
over.populated, while the rich plains in
the-centre OF Ireland have been cleared
of human life. Bullocks and sheep
Craze upon these immense pastures, and
the peasantry are driven TO dwell upon
the barren lands, the wastes, bogs and
mountains, which are now as over
crowded as the fertile lands sra
depopulated. In 1879 80, endur-
ance in the West had reached it's
limits. The lessons OF the famine OF lS47
had sunk deep into the Irish mind.
Then the people paid their rents, know
ing that after doing 80 they had no crop
to fall back upon-and they starved.
Last year the people who had no crop in
their hazards refused to pay their rents
in order that they might not starve.
They knew that evictions have always
increased with the distress Of the people
that in the famine times the landlords
smote and spared not when their fellow
or, ures needed mercy most; now
the irish peasant has turned and faced
his landlord at bay. These unfortunates
have been and are at present accused OF
dishonesty and breach OF contract, be.
cause they kept for themselves enough
of the produce OF a bad harvest to en-.
able them to keep alive. They ought
indeed to die OF starvation rather than
withhold from landlord his rent! 1t
was in this part OF Ireland that the land
agitation was started. In April, 1879, a
meeting was held in Irishtown, County
'Mayo-the first OF the great series since
misunderstanding for an abatement OF
rent. The leading spirit in this meet
ing was the famous Irish patriot Michael
Davitt, who now lies imprisoned in an
English goal. Similar meetings were
afterwards held in the same county and
in Galway, and at last the whole people
OF ConnBught district, stung by hunger,
rose to an attempt to shake of their
load OF misery. Since that time the
Irish National Land League has
been formed, and grown into
powerful political organization.
1t has magnificent headquarters In Dub
lin and nearly two thousand branches
extending throughout every portion Of
the island. It's great power lies in the
hearts of the people OF Ireland. AS to
the work OF the land league its present
and increasing strength is suf-
Gent proof. 1t arrested fam
inc and pestilence to an
enormous extent, and has checked to a
degree before unknown the work OF
eviction throughout Ireland. Beyond
this the Land League has rendered in
evitable radical settlement OF the land
question; has transformed race OF he.
reditary, despairing and impotent slaves
into hopeful, self reliant and almost un.
important freedom; and has shaken to
its base foul, plundering, and iniqui-
tous land system Of centuries duration.
Ths-one OF the most marvel
Gus and gigantic revolutions
OF any time-Mr. Parnell and the Land
League have accomplished through
practical, peaceful revolution, by con:
stitutional agitation, in the face OF
twenty.four months. J. F. B.