Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-06-11
na,iiI.s Nex Plans.

DaNiGI'S New Plans.
Michael Davitt sailed for America in the
steamer Germanic yesterday. The object of
his visit Is TO explain the scope and meaning
Of the new development OF the land agitation
which has Tor It's aim the naturalization OF
land In his Liverpool speech he announced
his adhesion To the doctrine OF State owner
ship oil land in every country, and indicated,
while denying divergence oil opinion be-
tween himself and Mr.. Parnell, to the
ultimate solution Of the Irish land question.
Mr. DaEiit has -Arahrscea theories advanced
by Henry George and other CommunistIc
writers-that ownership OF land in any cOun-
try should Ice completely vested IN the
State, and not in private owners, whether
peasant proprietors or landlords. Tins
Is a novel departure IN Irish social poll
tics, and one not likely TO be received
with favor by the 100000 farmers, who have
been taught by the agitation OF the past few
years 10 look forw ard to the time when they
should lie the owners of their farms. Daviti,
however has confidence IN the truth OF his
theories, and hopes TO convert lrish-Amtri-
cans 10 his way OF thinking. However this
may turn out, the launching Of a new pro-
! gTamme at a time so critical has been gen.
orally condemned by his parliamentary ssso-
clates, who believe that the Introduction OF
| communistic theories will drive from the
! Land Lesgue ranks the sentative and
| clerical elements which contributed much
to strengthen the Land League movement.
Davitt has ignored these counsels and seems
to have thrown himself unreservedly into
| the arms of Henry George, who represents
| the American commuuistic element in the
land movement
An DIPRACTICABLE SCHEME
The scheme Of the naturalization OF land,
propounded by Mr.. Davitt in Liverpool, is
impracticable, and possesses all the difficult
ties Of personal proprietary without any
guarantees OF the latter solution. He said
that the land of Ireland could be purchas
for el40,000OO0 in government bonds re-
payable in fifty years. In exchange for
ownership his plan offers the tenants an i'm
personal landlord, with rents varying from
year 10 year in fixed proportion to the pro-
duction of the soil, so that whoever worked
the hardest and most skillfully would have to
pay the most rent. All sense of security
would be at an end, as the government might
vary the land tax according TO the necessi-
ties OF the hour. When Irish farmers dis
cover the real meaning of the nationaliza-
. ton of land they will certainly reject it,
| Among the Irish members there lie a
fear that any effort to preach 1T in
Ireland may result in dividing the farmers
and agricultural laborers into two hos
tile camps and render them easy victims tO
their common enemy, the landlords. Hr
Parnell will have nothing 10 do with the
new theory. He intends 10 continue the
, struggle for the abolition of landlordism or
the old Land League lines OF the establish
ment of a peasant proprietorshiP. In THU
he expects to be supported by the whole par
liamentary party and the overwhelming ma
joriiy of the people of Ireland. Apprehen'
sions, however, are entertained that the more
violent sections OF Irish-Americans may in
duce or force DaVitt TO push. his theories 81
far as 10 lead to a split in the Land League
ranks in the United States. DaYitl's known
devotion 10 The Land League cause, however
is relied npon TO avoid the creation of a di
vision which could not fail 10 prove fatal Il
the interests of the Irish farmers.