The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-15
TIE CROFTERs OF LEWES.

IHE JhUF EIso Of IN W 10.
The poor croi,ers of the island Of Lewes
are at last making themselves heard and
felt. Their deer hunt on Lady Matheson's
5000 acre domain has had some effect,
experimenting it rs they did by driving
several thousand sheep into tho sea- Nut
ton is very good when well roasted or
boiled with turnips, as George iii. pre-
ierred it, but it ought not TO be cultivated
at the expense OF human beings. That
would be altogether too dear price. As
Cardinal Manning says, men, women
and children have the right to live,
and il they have no bread OF their
own they have right TO that which the
other fellow has. The Highland crofters
were reduced 10 starvation; they found
thousands OF deer in the park OF u woman
who could not have eaten them II she
had thousand years TO do il in, and they
selected and shot some Of the latest, ms
their fathers used 10 do in the good old
days Of the clans, and ask no mans leave.
and have been living on venison ever
since. Strengthened thereto by the same
philosophy they wanted land to cultivate,
on which TO grow food for their families.
They went to the owner OF great sheep
walk and asked him to rent some Of it to
them. Their fathers had made il what II
was, and they had right 10 it. lilo de-
clined. A few days after his sheep were
battling with the waves, under bectlng
aud overhanging cliffs, with no foothold
near. They persisted. A gun-boat
aud soldiers aud police were sent
from Edinburgh to look up the des-
pcrate fellows who did this daring deed,
but they have notbccn found. The croi,ors
mean 10 have justice by hook or by crook,
10y fair means or 10y foul. Nature planted
them where they are and they mean to
stay there and fight 1t ont with the owners
Of the deer parks and sheep walks. They
are willing TO work, they desire always 10
be within the law. arc frugal, industrious
and very loyal people. but even
the patient jackaSs may be so overloaded
that he will dump everything in the road
and lie down beside his burden. The
truth il, tho Highlandcrs have been too
patient. The life was almost pounded out
OF them in l7i5 by bloody Cumberland,
and they have been playing sycophani
ever since with their conquerors. They
have been ticklcd by the Queens patron.
age Of the kilt and the pipes, and their
vanity blinded them TO tho In
roads that were being made
upon their natural and inherent rights
10y the wealthy lorls and ladies who, like
Victoria, were taken with the wildncss Of
the scenery Of the Highlands and the half.
barbaric costume that goes with II No well.
ihNHN iolhn anu iahico hiaho hlc oHt iohk
holiday, are fond Of the picturesque and
bcmoan what they term the dcgcncacy
Of the Times which brings 20 the peauntry
Of Scotland. M well rs ireland and Eng.
land and the continent, the ready
made clothing Of one cut and fash.
ION that are now easily 10 be pur.
chased in town as well a. city. They miss
the picturesque national costumes. They
live In an artificial world. like actors Of the
stage, aud can only DO brought to their
senses by bloody uphcayal. They know
nothing oi the hard realities Of life and,
like Marie Anioinciic, wonder that the
people do not eat cake II they have not
brad. They arc ob,usc In their pride Of
birth and estate, and need now and then 20
be- taught lessons aud made TO realize that
they are human beings liktstho croitcrs,
and many Of them not 80 good In mind
or body. The croitcr Of Lcwcs have the
sympathy Of the American people. They
an gricvously Oppressed, and, being the
source Of law aud authority, should not
hesitate in the efforts they are making TO
put an end to an infamous system, the
offspring Of land grccd, which, when II
scilcs ON man OF woman, isan indispensable
craze that mover knows safety. The
crpiicu are in the right and they must
prcss their ease through Parliament, and
In the meantime study tho Irish method
Of dealing with landlords.