The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-11-30
AFoar ABOVE RIonr IN IRELAND.
TIE Rev. Bernard OReiiiy Describes I.aaa.
SsrA Tyraaay ~ the Wicklow Nssntains.

seacoast from Dublin to this place. especially
IN such exceptional weather as tho present au-
tumn In ireland. reminds ono forcibly OF some
Of tho loveliest portions OF the Mediterranean
seaboard In Italy and Spain. There Is in Irish
scenery. boheld In the soft splendors OF Martin
mas summer. something moro attractive oven
in tho subdued tnts Of earth and sky. Neither
Spain nor Italy can boast anything like the
deep green which clothes alike lowland and up
land. while tho lordy mansions along the road.
with their Immense extent Of luxurious wood
and mark. would tempt the wayfnrer TO
look upon the land - . paradise. Aye.
ono might bolieve these eastern and south
ern shores OF ireland to belong to
como enchanted islc. II one could shut ones
eyes to the wrotchcd novels that seek in vain
to hide themselves beneath the llve-hedge
rows. or In the very shadow OF the great trees
In the landlords prtncely park. or lato. and at
tho threatened approach OF Asiatic cholera. the
ewners-nol beg their pardon-the occupants
Of these novels havo had TO whitewnsh tho ex-
terior. and make poverty and s1ualor put on
an air OF tidiness and comfort. Do not be de-
ceived by the forced smile which misery IL
compelled to wear In this land. where lordly
extravaganza hustles at every step tho FINN
fshag toilers. who are denied the right TO live
on their native soil.
Your readers will forgive me II nv study OF
tho contrasted mRgniilcence and indescribablo
wretchedness which meet ono hero side by side.
imI.arts occasional bitterness to my pen. I
would fain do nothing but describe the pleasant
plaocs OF Ireland. and set forth the real frog
ress she has made and is making In education
and all tho arts OF peace. owe IL to you and
your readers to give the truth. and-wherever
may without injury TO the cause.-the whole
truth about tho fierce struggle now going on
here between the lords Of the soil and those
who till 1t and make IL fruitful
We must not mistake tho nature and parposo
OF this struggle. 1t is n battle for the possess
sion OF the land. I only state what is to many.
and what ought to DO to all u simple historical
fnct when l say that ever since Stronabow
landed in Ireland in the twelfth century tho
one persistent purpose of the English in Ire
land. and OF the Government in London. has
hecn-up to within the last decade-to take
away from tho aboriginal Celtic owners OF the
soil every foot Of Ii. in its length and breadth
aud as high as the heavens together with
eyerythin. which the teeming ocean around 1t
can yield for the benefit OF man. have
weighed every word in this statement; defy
any ono to dispute it's absolute truth.
Well. we Americans believed or were inclined
TO believe. that the very material changes in the
Irish land laws introduced by the Gladstone
Ministry had to great extent turned tho bal
anco in favor OF the farmers rs against tho
landlords; indeed. it has been said and be-
ievcd on both sides OF the Atlantic that the
now legislation almost confiscated the prop
erty Of the landowners in favor OF their ten
ants. And then the Land Courts with their
Commissioners and observation-disclosures were
twas Thought ostnb. shed to secure to the agri-
cultural classes the full benefit OF these legs-
latlvc changes. to protect the tenant farmers
against possible Cypress ion or injustice.
A., wish could assure tho American public
that tile working Of all this machinery Of the
Land Courts had resulted in securing Justice
70 farmers and tenants; II has, unhappiiy;
IN affirming TINT, with one solitary exception
John George Mccarthy. all these Judges Com.
a. they 90 to tho landlord class. are prejudiced
In i,s favor. and allow their decisions. as Is
c?lqred by their prcludicss.. This is tho COM
plant in every province and county of Ireland.
Thus are the renl and great benefits intended
=. Eut Of q his i may find a more fitting and
Tho popular mind in tho counties Of WicEiow
By The Maraas Of Hrs Sa tho n
balitants Of four entire townlands among the
very YER high against the lan,downers who blush
Clare and ,Hch!l Islands in Mayo; when sI roo o.
TO be judgment Of God on ths men WHO were
h ssnae1s tfe Se 81
docs seem strange that the most D noSie the
Marquis of Waterford should not hesitate to
execute .S decree OF eviction. OF sXtermination.
Look on the map Of the county Wicklow. 1t
high hilis and mountains Al its nor.hern ns eS <.
tremty lies the valley q Kng's, River. this
Of BIos sineon Near tho head Of this Ts' Valley.
clustering here and there upon the rugged and
townands. whose Inhabitants now have de-
cree OF eviction hanging over them. l should
s be 'q@ Is the sraSs h so Hr On these e
IT, sSstassfs Is ,Sas q tSs x1rsa
these hardy. laborious. and frugal toilers have
labored to make every patch Of ground that
the poor-lnw valuation of these farmsteatis is
lar, Tar above the utmost they can produce
moro thnn tho lntter's sweat and unrnmitting
and it is. ntolerable hardship and injustice
hS very I9 ns9v nj Inc Eran,S rGc is Of the
only a tax Tn ills Industry. '"A' .'A' Is
=, M. Redppth can explain to the readers Of
n pHn Su Eod h}w the poor farmers dr2m Con-
TO go over TO England to help gather in the mar
Ses vest there ohd thus return to their own bleak
from them and WHICH has ' Ssen a o,herwss
ants of tho Marquis Of Waterford have. as the
yearly dues to him. to work at the granite
9uarrl1s on the mountain side. The tenants
have to pay ssHainto rent for these 1,iarrics,
but by lint OF industry and sef-denial these
descendants OF the old Irish stock manage to
satisfy tho landlord and to keep body ard soul
together. And here let mo remark that it is
not buck rent which is alleged as the motive
Tor eJectinG them from tho hillside farms to
which they and their ancestors have chung SO
fondly through centuries OF oppression.
have hero to tell y tale OF wrong,ioing on the
part Of one OF hat class OF agents or midi em"n
who. K" the Thompson OF Galway fame ha,e
been the bano OF every locality to which thor
inilncnce extended. Above the lowIands Of
Ba'iyknockcn and Ba'lynastokGn the mountain
region Is utterly UNIT for culture. From time
immemoria II has been devoted to shoo graz
Ing. each OF the little farmers in the lowands
being n lowed to send into this common u num-
Der OF sheep proportionato to his holding. This
was another resodrc. 10y which the poor cot .rs
supplemented their other industries There
had beon no trouble under the former proprI-
etors. who allowed tho cottcrs to manage 'his
she"p grazing among themselves. They
resnlated, the numter OF animals to
which each had Il right, aud appointed men to
brand the sheer and % keen thrm In, 1898