The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-07-05

LedSueIS let US IeJolCe III inc udy Vi udt leSo-
luton; not that we have any quarrel with or
beyond that blind and unfounded prejudice
established between them and us by that idle,
proAigate and plundering aristocracy cons,i
tuting the English government and the pro-
life source Of human misery and woe where
ever the British flag dominates supreme.
suppose l may be pardoned for alluding
| to Irish affairs on this occasion, considering
the important services rendered by the Irish
in the establishment, development and preser
vaion of this republic, and their loyalty to
! this and other countries of their adoption is
we'll attested; for you never see that green flag
displayed alone on occasions like this but al
ways accompanied by another as in Britain
| by the flag of Marlborough, in France by the
F7uer de L,s, and as here to-day by the stars
and stripes of America. The organization
of which we are branch originated in Ire
land about three years ago, and has for its
mission the removal of those causes produc-
ing poverty and periodical famines in that
country. 1t would be superfuous at this day
of the agitation to discuss the justice of the
Land League cause and the necessity of the
reforms demanded, for these are
now conceded by all parties and
proved as to the land question
| by the action of the land court, whose deci
| sions have reduced rents on an average about
40 per cent. in the cases adjudicated. Only
the methods of the league are impugned, but
| it must be remembered that other methods
| have failed for centuries to command atten-
ton, while to-day thanks to the methods of
the league peasant proprietyis almost a settled
fact, and home government has been brought
within the range of practical politics. At the
beginning our leaders were denounced as I'M
1al md I,ct,,r
of the peace, and imprisoned as such. But
now we hear of compacts and government au-
thorties tire .ting with them as to times of set
dement,, and their noble manhood, patriotism
and adherence to principle have won for them
the admiration of the world as unhinching
leaders of the grandest social and political
movement of the modern world. Even the
New York Herald after all its original bitter
ness against the movement. now applauds the
wisdom and patriotism of Parnell, and tells its
readers that the abolition of landlordism is
necessary for the peace and prosperity of
Ireland, ano how can it be otherwise. Think
of the enormity OF that system, by which a
few persons estimated somewhat in the light
| of public functionaries. and as such entitled to
| special Legislation and protection; holding in
| their power every interest of the people, even
to life and death. And there is no hope for the
|
system OF absolute and permanent landlord
ism necessarily begets an absolute and perma
nent system Of tenantry and vassalage.
The demands and exactions of the system
have gone on from time to time until to-day
the annual rents there exceed the value of the
land by about 50 per cent What people
could prosper under such system, and what
people would not rebel against it; reflect upon
it? $50 per cent. upon capital paid annually in
the shape of rent, and add to this the fact that
nne-tents of the value was created by the
labor, skill and industry of the tenants, and
we have some idea of the iniquity. Why, in the
best farming sections of this country our
farmers think they do well if they make FIVE
per cent. on their investment, and yet we are
told that the Irish are lazy and indolent as the
cause of their misery. Aye, robbed of their
property, they are charged with being poor,
deprived of the privilege and right of educa-
ton they are charged with being ignorant and
despoied Of every incentive to industry they
are chared with being lazy. Oh shame! But
pent covers its victim with saliva to facilitate
the process of swallowing, so England covers
Irish facts with the slime Of calumny to make
them more palatable to an unfrendy and I'M
thinking world
| Some time ago we heard and read much of
the rights of property and the sancity of con-
tracts as involved in this movement, but such
arguments have been abandoned as inappli-
cable to property acquired as that of Ireland
was acquired, by conhscation, and to contracts
made as those of Ireland were made, by and
under duress. But just now the question of
agrarian outrages is being urged to prejudice
the world against the cause, and while we
must admit some foundation for the charge, by
influences beyond the control of the league,
and while we deplore the fact as a chief OBJ
stacle to success; yet let us inquire who is to
blame, whether such might not be expected
in the natural order Of things, and whether the
English are not equally guilty. Can we not
mention that affair at Ballina where defense
less boys were shot down by the police for
presuming to celebrate the release from pris
on of that noble specimen OF manhood and
patriotism. Michael Davitt. and that other af-
fair at Balmuet, where innocent women were
bayoneted by the same force, otfenses more
damnable than any committed by the Irish be-
cause wholly inexcusable. And consider the
appalling record of nearly two thousand evc-
tons week now going on in that country
and Gladstone has told the world that an
Irish eviction was equivalent to a death,
sentence, and before the intervention Of the
Land Leage this was true, it was death from
starvation on the roadside, or social and NOR
al death in the poorhouse, and thus because
these unfortunate people find it utterly impos-
sible to meet the demands of their dispotic
masters, they are cast upon the streets, there
to see their hearihstones rudely destr yed, the
rooftree that sheltered them and theirs for gen.
erationS torn away, and the little homes de-