Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-07-05
MIR. HeaIy-s VfewS-

New YORK, July 3.-Iu an interval of
the angry debate on Thursday last on the
repression bill, the London correspondent of
The Herald succeeded in securing an interview
with Mr.. Healy, the irreconcilable member
for Wexford, which he cabled his paper, as
follows: Mr.. Healy made the following
characteristic statement with reference 10
the scheme for the naturalization OF land:
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES are your views in
relation to Mr.. Davitt's scheme?
Mr.. Healy-I think it a question for the
twentieth century, and then it should only
be raised, so far as Ireland is concerned. if we
succeed in getting self-government. The
raising OF any new issue at present would be
most impolitic. By operating on the old
lines OF the Land League the neck Of Irish
landlordism has been nearly broken, and to
embark On any new scheme, which must I'm.
doubtedly create divergence of opinion
among men who are at present agreed, might
wreck the entire movement. The English
government has too much power in Ireland
already without handing over 10 it's custody
the entire surface of the country, thus max
ing every farmer a government underling.
Naturalization OF land would not abolish
landlordism in its vicious sense, for the
peasantry would be given over 10 a horde of
ta~1-gatherers, whose assessments, irregular
as they must be, could be made an engine of
oppression equally as great as that which the
tenants now groan under. The fellaheen
in Egypt and the ryots in India en-
Joy the blessings of naturalization of
land, but they do not appear to
like il. / have no keen desire 10 see
the experiment tried upon the Irish peas
antry. Under the eye of the British govern
ment in India the Zemindars reduce the
peasantry to absolute slavery, and it is the
revolt of the fellaheen in Egypt which has
made Arab Bey possible. 1t might be said
that a different system could be instituted in
ireland; but, however promisingly the thing
might be started, people would be simply at
the mercy OF a gang of politicians who would
depress or initiate the agriculture. interests
by taxation for electoral purposes Just as
politicians gerrymander a district
in the United States. The cultivator would
await with apprehension the annual budget
of the chancellor of the exchequer as to the
impost to be laid upon him, and knowing
as we do the unfair way in which the Irish
taxpayer, as compared with the Eugllsh one,
is always treated, / for one do not think il
wise to moot the question under the present
circumstance.
Correspondent-How do you suppose the
IN Ireland will receive the scheme?
Mr.. Healy-Anything coming from Mr..
Davitt they would consider carefully, but L
cannot think that the result of their consid-
would he favorable, nor do l believe
any one of them would stir a finger to
advance it. A peasant proprietary has been
proved by numerous examples to work well
to promote thrift and industry, while
the only instances we have OF the national
lzation of land are anything but alIuriDg.
We had a modified kind of naturalization
ourselves in Ireland under the clan owner
ship system, and to this l think the success
Of the English invasion may largely be at
ad each man owned a patch of
ground he would have fought for his W
and, as the Beers did. But the English en-
2roachment mattered little TO the individual
until the whole land of a tribe was either |
up or no further retreat was pos
'ible. Men willin ely fight or work for them
'elves in this world, and the spur of self.
interest is the greatest lever in any agita-
ion. Wanting this, as Mr.. Davitt's plan
will be held to do, l do not think it will make
noise in ireland. |