New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-09-17
The SCOTCH LAND QUESTION.
LEGISLATIVE INTERVENTION NEEDED.
LgAsEnOLDERs IN DANGER OF IMPovERIsHMENT
AND FINANCIAL RUIN,
tBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE. I

AND FINANCIAL RUIN.
tBY CABLE TO THE TRrBrNE.1
Copyright; 1886 North american cable Ne,os Co,
LONDON, Sept. 16.-The agitation for the relief OF
the Irish tenant is bearing fruit in directions
Peter Essemont, member of Parliament for Aberdeen,
one of the most active Scotch representatives has
given notice that the earliest possible day of next
session he will that in consequence of the altered
circumstances of the country legislative relief ought
to be afforded to the Scotch agriculurists holding
under leases Mr.. Esslemont has given THE TRIBUNE
representative the following statement:
"About tho year 1924 time following upon the
French war and bad harvests the North of Scotland
was in a state of cxtreme poverty. The population was
comparatively sparse and good deal of land went out
of cultivation. period of rest from national strife
and military operations cnsued The people of the
Lowands took to husbandry. Here there little or
none of the tribal rights and customs which prevailed in
the Highlands. The land was really nominally
owned for the most part by the lards who either had
got land by grants from the Crown had purchased
at what would be now termed nominal prices. Any
sections not so owned known as commontics or com
mon lands were gradually absorbed by agreement
among the neghboring proprietors The larger farms
had buildings but in many cases the people settled
down. erecting houses for themselves and had appor
toned 10 them q specified number of acres The value
Of produce gradually increased and consequent rise
in the value of land followed Fixed periods of tenure
were sought for by tenants and offered by propretors
in order that by bringing waste lands under cultiva-
ton an opportunity would thereby be afforded the
tenant to recoup himself for his labor and outlay.
The system of nineteen-year leases became almost
universal. Land hunger increased with the popula-
tion The value of land increased about per cent
ner annum. or one-half from 1927 to 1877. Under
the circumstances the tenant was induced IN order 10
obtain preference to offer high rent, because he
expected that during nineteen years the current
increase would accrue to him. The landlords took
advantage of this and almost invariably made it con-
dition that all improvements reverted to the propre-
for This stipulation often induced the tenant to sub
NIT to the increase rather than forfeit the Improve
ments American competition mainly has brought
change from about 20 TO 35 per cent in value OF agri-
cultural produce and consequently the ieasehoiderS
who have still from nine to eighteen years OF the leases
to run are gradually being drained of their savings ana
capital and will inevitably be greatly Impoverished
and not few be financially ruined unless the Legisa'-
| ure intervene and afford them some relief.
NV main Argument for proposed interVehlloh -
that the fall in prices was unforeseen ana couiu No,
| have been anticipated by any calculations iounueo
unon nast exprience The strongest objection to TINS
scheme il the we'll known OF the inviolaDlily oi
| contract as between and man, as free agents
| We demur to this dogma and deny that tho tenant
under the Scotch law free agent But apart
from that good government must have in view the
greatest good for the greatest number and cannot
restrained by any law because regarding all material
things it must be held that any law which inhicts
hardship on the people for whose benefit it was OF
ought to have been enacted should be abolished II
must be borne In mind that all land capable OF proht-
able cultivation has been already taken advantage o
| and there is no elasticity in this direction"