St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1882-05-27
IC0mnllnicatedl.
TIGER BEND, Avoyelles Par. La. !
Nin1 o. L SSs)

[Communicatedj.
TIGER BEND, Avoyelles Par. La.
May 81, 1882.
Editor DEMOCRATS:
Last week | offered through your col
umns few words to the readers OF the
DEMOCRAT on the Irish Question, with
the promise to write something more
this week. In doing so it shall be my
aim to present plain facts for the reader
to ponder over, and hope, wish for the
independence of an oppressed people.
firmly believe that it the world at
large only understood what was, ana
really is, the true cause of the Irish agl-
tatlon, the majority would eX-
claim that ASSASSINATION Justified the
means" but at the same time clvlllIa-
tion cannot approve of such acts OF vlo-
ience, and the agitation the least Of all.
The Irish leaders are lighting tor Tree
dom not with munitions OF war, out by
civil laws of the world, that teaches a
nation shall not be swept from the
earth by another that is stronger ana
binds the weak in chains OF slavery, as
England has done for past centuries
over Ireland. During the last few
wears some Of the Lords have been
5aken off by the hand of the assassin j.
one Lord Letrim. Bear with me while
relate how this Lord caused himself to
be dealt with as he was. This man
known and honored as Lord LetIlm,
oppressed his tenants worse than gal
lev slaves. One writer calls him the
hell hound,n for this great lord was us
wicked and Justly as the lowest pit OF
hades He is said to have been Il man
without feeling. He forced poor, lnno-
cent women to submit to his low lust,
or be driven out in the dead OF winter
to freeze on the cold SHOWS and lce., lie
was inhuman. wicked, douhly dyed,
make their task harder year after year,
until at last, as has, may say, in all
times been the case, the assassln..s
ball crashed through Lord Letrim's
heart and the tyrant was no more.
This is no isolated case OF oppression,
but on almost every estate where land
lords resided, the same relentless cruel
ty was practiced. Years of suffering
and hardships has cursed the falrest
land in the world. Starvation has done
its work by carrying millions, to an
early grave. Mr.. James Redpath writes
that it is impossible to. conceive how
and at the same time how mantully
they stand up under such appalling
treatment. This writer says: Lord
NIontmoris got killed in aiding to per-
petuate a system that was Intended to
keep these people serfs as we'll as pau
pers." This is bill of fare that this
lords people lived on year in and all
time "For breakfast, potatoes, ii they
were pretty comfortable. They have
q little milk and butter with it. but III
the great majority of cases, they have
nothing but potatoes or possibly salt
herring. The dinner and supper are on
n tho hraa Fast That
is the bill of fare all the year round
you have seen that the clothing OF
the peasantry is everywhere made by
themselves into fannels and fries
How can a people be more provlden1
shan these peasants who live on the
cheapest diet that can support human
life. and who not only make their owl
clothing, but make and dye the cloti
themselves y; and for what but to sup
Dcrt as they are forced to Go the lOrdy
task master; forced at the point OF the
bayonet to live out a life OF slavery
and degradation. Is it any wondel
these hard worked peasants rebe
against a government that perpetuatei
such cruel laws, and servitude on {
true, noble hearted and virtuous peo
DIe. There is a notion that England
and Ireland are united Kingdom
They are called so in the name OF th'
Queen. The truth is that there is nj
real union, and never was. 1t is con
nection made by force. In other words
they are pinned together by bayonets.
The government Of Ireland is not tina
of the common or statute law OF Eng
land, but SPECIAL laws are made to
ireland. Judge Jeremiah $. Blacl
says that "Ireland is construed out o
Magma Charter, the Bill of Rights ant
other securities which make English
men safe against injustice" What il
law for the Englishman is SO mad,
when it crosses the channel it becomes
the worst of despotism. Let me pre-
sent you with few words more from
Judge Black: "But if the Irish coult
not live by cultivating the soil, VIII,
did they not 60 to some other employ
ment t.? This is a pertinent question
and the answer to it covers Englant
with an infamy that nothing else cal
match. In fact and in truth they die
aetake themselves to commerce ant
manufactures, and the hope was brigh
before them for a perfect success. bu
their English enemies ruthlesssly brok'
up their business by penal Legislation
destroying their trade, both forelgl
and domestic, by arbitrary prohibitions
Crushed out the enterprise and force'
them back upon the land" No true
words we're ever spoke. The Irish wer
forced by wicked laws to give up ever.
enterprise at home,-factories wer
closed, craftsmen shut out, that Eng
land might grow fat; the Irish com
rnerce destroyed for the benefit OF Eng
Iish shipowners and merchantmen
nr0sperous people made beggars TO
English landlords to fatten on their la
hor. Since England first attempted t
rule Ireland, her work has been that