The Northwestern standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1885-1886, 1886-02-13

1 experience of for thirty years
/ that the farms do not yield enough Il
/ pay the rents, and the tenantry havt
been forced into this movement to OBJ
/ tain from certain landlords, not all tn
landlords--I believe the majority OF TIN
Irish landlords at the present mo.
neglt are giving the reductions which
! the tenants are demanding LII order &
save them from extermination-but In
the case OF those who have strenu
ously refused ali abatement. UndoIbt-
edly there exists, at least in the case Of
a certain number of the tenants, a COM
! bination for the purpose OF attempting
to obtain reduction Of their rents.
| That would be found to be the whole
length the complaint could be stretched
+ 10. The house must know, composed
as it largely is of men from agricultural
districts, that this agricultural depress-
ion exists, and has sprung UP since
rents were judicially fixed for term OF
fifteen years. The rents are in many
cases impossible, and think il is no
discredit to the exertions made by the
right honorable gentleman, the mem
Der for Midlothian, to say that the
rents fixed under his act, owing to the
great falling Of prices and agricultural
produce. having become impossible,
that the purpose of that act has been
defeated owing to the fall of prices.
There are many examples I cotsad quote
as to these exorbitant rents. (At this
point Mr.. Parnell quoted a number of
such cases and proceeded.1 would be
glad if some proposition could be made
for dealing with the land difficulty in
Ireland. Sir, ] look on it as the real
difficulty (hear, hear,l and do not be
ieve there is any disposition on the
party Of the Irish tenants to refuse the
adoption Of just and fair concessions
{cheers.) [ am sure that the great
majority Of the people of Ireland are
most anxious that the landlords should
receive as fair terms and treatment as
the extremity of the times render at all
possible. Some. scheme of purchase
may be devised on the lines understood
to be suggested by that eminent statis-
tician, Mr.. Gifen, in a recent letter
under which it may: be, possible do
not pledge myself to the details--but
generally under which it may be posi-
BILE to purchase under a bulk sum the
land in the occupation Of the agricul-
tural tenants. It must BE recollected
that this is a limited question. would
be disposed to believe that the land of
ireland in the occupation Of the agric-
ultural tenants within the meaning Of
the Land act, and including the lease
holders, are bona fide agricultural ten
ants--I would be disposed TO believe
that this land, leaving demesne lands
and grass plains, would not amount to
more than five or six millions ofpounds
sterling; and taking that valuation as
the basis Of a fair rent-and certainly
you could not take a higher-you might
arrange, and it would be fair to arrange
such number of years purchase OF
the valuation as would fairly compen-
safe the landlords and enable them to
have something left outof what is GER
tainly very difficult and ssry disas-
trous position for them. The existing
prices render it very. difficult for many
tenants and for large number of other
tenants impossible to pay the judicial
rents. The situation demands, and
those of influence in Ireland are deslr-
Gus that some fair offer should be made.
If such a settlement We're arrived at,
and agreed to by all parties, / believe
that payment would be made to the
last penny by the Irish farmer CHEERS
] hope we may have further oppor-
tun1ty of reyerting to these matters.
We are bound to stand by our people
Irish cheers.l When it comes to be
struggle on the one-side between the
Irish landlords land it must come to it
aided by the government, and on the
other side the Irish tenants, whom we
and the Irish laborers, we have
no doubt as to which side we cast our
lot upon (cheers.) But we wish that.
the still small voice of reason should
prevail. We do not desire to bring on
a contest. We see in the present po-
sition desire and wish on the part |
of Englishmen to study and understand
with view to its final settlement
this great Irish question, and we are
that no extravaganza on our
part of action Or language will mar the I
chance we believe cur country possesses
now for the first time (cheers.)