Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-04-24
IRELAND As 1T Is.
Condition of the Emerald IsIe No So
Bad a. Represensed-Vsole Aets
Confined TO a Comparatively SmaII
SeetIOn-Csuse of All the TFOubIe-
The Land Bill Working Well.

THE MANsE BATLYMINA, IREL md, April T.
Editor Morni'lg Nslcs: Through the kindness
Of a reverend brother CRev. R. P Kerr 1 was
favored some time ago with copy of the Sa-
vannah MoRNiN NJws. Having had the pleas
ure of spending few days in your city in the
autumn of 1881, glanced through It's columns
with pleasure and interest. Il subsequently
occurred to me to write you a note for inser
tion in the same. 1t is primarily intended for
the perusal OF the Irish residents Of Savannah; /;
but If others take the trouble to read it hope
they won't grow impatient over the recital
which it contains of the ills of ITelsnd.
From the reports which reach you from time
to time relative to the present state of our
distracted country you might readily suppose
that living in Ireland Just now is not, TO say
he least OF il. an uncertain existence Put
this is not precisely how the matt stands.
The only two classes Of persons likely to re-
ceive violence in ireland at present. are. !.
Tenants who pay their rent. and. 2. Landlords
who exact these rents Further. it ought to be
borne in mind that the present Irish distur
bauce is largely confined to the south and
southwest. The people OF Ulster are as a class
quiet snd law abiding.
Instances Of violence in the North are of rare
occurrence. and "wsisting and destruction
are seldom known within our borders The
county of Antrim is quiet and peaceabe from
north to south, and from east 20 west The
fnlness Of the Immediately adj lining counties.
But OF the south and southwest a different
story must be told But quite recently a
Young msn was shot IN public house on one
Of the principal streets OF Dublin The story,
again, is only few days old, Of how a lady,
when returning in her carriage on a Sabbath
evening, after being at worship, was shot
deaS near the avenue that led up to her own
house Il is said the shot was intended for a
gentleman friend who was slit ng in the car
riage with the lsdy-a gentleman friend who
- .-E-N
Again, two weeks ago. magistrate fell NOR
raily wounded by the hand of the assassin.
These acts Of violence are hOrrid in the ex-
treme. The story that relates them is a sick
stin it is possible to overrate this social dis
order. I j0urney-d latey right through the
entire island from north to south. and expe-
rienced nothing but courtesy and kineness.
Let us hops that a few weeks will restore
order. and that the angry waves OF cOmmO-
ton, which are surging so angrily, will be
hushed in the calm OF a permanent and lasting
peace
Here the reader will possibly inquire. what
is the cause OF all this cOmmOtlOn! The ques-
tion, we freely admit. is a hard one to answer.
Some suggest Fenianism as the cause.
Others affirm that the unsatisfactory
state OF the land laws has had more
than an average share in fomsnting the dis
order. Not a few say that oppressiOn-which
has been to a great extent produced by a sue
cession Of bad harvests has latterly driven
the Irish people mad, and that more prosper
ous times win not only bring plenty, but peace
also in their train. There is much truth in
each Of these suggestions.
Gre9t expectations have been created in the
breasts of Irishmen BY the passing OF the
land bill Il is hoped that these expectations
will not be doomed to disappointment And
neither shall they, II we are to infer anything
from the decisions hitherto given
b. the Land Commissioners. Rents are
beiug sensibly lowered all round, and farmers
who have entered the courts and sought le-
adjustment OF their rents have, almost In all
instances, come out Of the same satisfied with
the decisions. Surely this augurs well for the
future OF Ireland. In time and it will take
time to make the effects of the land bill felt
the Irish farmer will settle down to his work
again. and our own green isle win again be-
come
Great. glorious and free,
First flower OF the earth and first gem Of the
sea-"
cannot close without sending greetings to
my friends in Gavannah-clerical and lay
whom Imet and from whom / received kind
ness when in your city in the autumn of 1891
Yours very faithfully, DAVID NcMEEKIE.