The sun., 1883-12-05
LETTER FRom AN InIsHMArs WIFE
How she Demesstrstes that Ireland IL n Tas
On the Unitea States

on the Uufted states,
To THE EpITop OF THE SUN-Sir: Some
sixteen years ago Lord Dufferin wrote de-
fence OF Irish laud tenure and Irish landlord
ism. He devoted especial attention to emigra-
tion. which great Irsh landlords like the father
OF the present Lord Lansdowne. tho successor
of tho Marquis Of Lorno as Governor General
Of Canada. actively promoted, chiefly to escape
poor rates and confiscate the tenants improves
ments. Lord Duffcrin enthusiastically np-
proved OF emigration. As the strongest argu-
ment In It's favor. next to those already int-
mated he proudly quoted a return OF the
Government Emigration Board. showing that
between tho years 1913 and 1864 the Irish emil
grants In the United States had sent back to
Ireland upward OF thirteen million pounds.
Every shilling Of 1t was clear gain to Irish
landlords, except the sums that went to British
ships as stoerage passage money.
In his speech in Cooper Institute few
months ago. Mr. Sullivan. President OF the
Irish National League Of America. also quoted
these figures Of the Government Emigration
Board. but for very different purpose. Ho
pointed out that. taking those as q basis. the
people OF the United States pay at lcast $5,00O.-
tions E OF BritsG n raia saSf in roland ola ''"' ''
Lord Dufferin looked at tho interesting fig-
ures as rejocing Irish landlord; Mr salii,
van, an American born ind bred. looked mt
them as an American and asks Il 1t Is not time
that this foreign tax upon American labor
| OF money" he said. is earned in tho United
States. and should stay in tho United States. {"
drain. 1t can forthwith bo stopped SO long ns
the present regime exists IN Ireland. the mass
the epnqt bo tsnt will @ sh9 Sy % on
through the financial aid sent thorn by their
kindred in the Now World. A, scrutiny of the
| not always In proportion to the dread Of actual
famine. For instance. in ls4s. when men. men.
plenty OF food was being oxnorted to England
tho sum transmitted was G4GO00o While In
1854. when the potato crop was more than sum.
United States reached 81 .730 900, or 81. $50 900
That went To save tho tenants from eviction
for arrears Of rack rents during the years wher
charity OF their Kindred in other lands. o
course somo OF it went to tho British steamship
companies for passage money but not YER,
much. tho practice being to purchase emf
Tickets this @ size ~ thH water and .orwar
ity. earned in tho United States. was handet
over to Irish landlords MS rackirents.
ACCOMPLISHED much, its benefits have beer
Arrears. act. It's most humane feature. is IA
from bel ing 80 thoroughgoing as it should be
Its PROVISIONS are within reach OF only thos S
must get the money Oh credit at usuron
rates or from America rs gift. Many of thos
who borrowed the sum have since been oblige'
to surrender the security-the holding itself
and go to the poorhouse, or submit, pcnniless
to compulsory emigration. Those who cou
neither beg nor borrow one years arrears hav
generally been evicted. In spite Of the Ian
act of 1881. Government returns show that J.
five years eyictions have nearly doubled, and
was Mr. Gladstone h imself who said that i
ireland eviction is almost equivalent to sen
tCnce of death.
But the Irish landlord has Jared we'll. If tn
| tenant could neithor beg nor borrow ono year
arrears. the landlord turned him out coniis
eating the suits OF his toll and his savings |
good years and rented the farm to anew ten
ant. OF course ut an advance; If tho tenant !
possession succeeded in getting few hundre
: dollars. the liberal Govcrnmcut-ibsral for tn
land iord-pnt its hand into the Irish churc
/, surplus. which belonged to the Irish pcasautr
and paid the balance of tho rack rent to th
surplus be used for education. Pnrneil en-
treated the Govrrnmrnt to use it for the Mons On
antry during the tam inc period of 'S0-'8l TIL
Government kept it for the Irish landlords.
At tho present Il me collections are bein
, made in many parts Of tho United States
send TO Ireland for the relief of lmpovcrshc
districts, Tho Irish question is. therefor
practically an American question.
, IIIsHMANs WIFE