Telegram-herald., 1890-11-16


ed the new burden, struggled along un-
der increasing arrears, and MAS finally
evicted, securing no compensation what
ever for hls Improvements. II he ell
tered the presence OF the factor or agent
with MS hat on, nis hands IN hls pOck-
cts, or left the door open, he WAS
fined. The rent OF every tenant on an
estate has had ms rent raised because
the first tenant calling with his money
Was few moments late. Sons, on at
talnlng tneir majority, could Only re-
mann upon the estate on the written
consent of the proprietor. CrOfters
were liable 20 prosecution for using any
road or fOot-path not prescribed by the
proprietor. An entire page OF this
paper might be filled With truthful
recount OF similar tvrannles and grley-
ances. But organized agitation IN be-
half of the crOfter, similar to that
adopted 10y the Land League for
| Ireland, at last secured the con-
cessIOn of Royal Commission OF
| inquiry into the condition OF the
| III ghlands. Although, from the
| fear OF reprisals by landlords and fac
| tors, not one-hslf the wrongs of these
| people were made known, n condition
| OF things was brought 10 light which
/ shocked the country. 1t must also be
| borne ID mind that the constitution OF
| that commission Was essentially con
/ servatiye. But these disclosures had
salutary effect. In 1886 parl lament
! passed what is popularity known as
! 'Thc CrOiters Act" TINS fixes, 10y
! royal commission whose members travel
| from point 10 point receiving evidence
. and making adjudications, what are
| called far rents" 10 which both pro
pretor and crOtter-tenant are bound,
! IN all cases or crOfters paying an an
nual rental OF $50 or less. The com
| mission also mas power TO deal with
| ARE ars.
The terrible odds against which these
| helpless people tor more than century
| fought for mere existence is clearly
/ shown by the outcome of the annual
| proc cedings of this Crofters' Commits
SION. In July of the present year, on
| the estate of keIss, near Wick, the
crOfters securedan average reduction Of
| "a per cent; while 70 per cent. of their
| arrears were Cancelled. In the Island
| OF StrOma, lying IN the Pentland Firth,
| opposite John O'GrOats lu-e, the
same reduction and caDcclat ON We're
! made. On one estate In Caltnness rent
reductions have been as great as 90 per
! cent, while 80 per cent. OF arrears have
1 been Cancelled. Perhaps one-half OF the
/ entire territory OF the northern and west
j ern Highlands has been already adludi-
/ Gated upon by the commission. On an
average "far rents" hSve been estab-
( lshed at a reduction of 40 per cent.
| The infamous inquity and injustice of
| former years have been illustrated and
! partially stOned for by the commission,
/ in an absolute cancellation or more
than One-fOurth of existing arrears, and
/ q reduction or cancellal on of fully 10
per cent. of the remainder. A far
greater good has also been accom-
! plished. Under the CrOfter's Act,
"Poor Donald" is today pretty nearly a
free man.
Under the old conditions ne could
never pay his rent. "It was not tx
/ pected be would, factor confided to
me. "He was more manageable when
/ you could hint of a notice and re-
/ mOval." In other words, landlords,
| while certainly rapaCIOus for the last
! farthing that could be pInched out OF
the crolter, IN cold blood actually cal
I cu!ated upon certain percentage OF
arrears pllng up against the terrified
! crotter, 20 that al slavsh commando
| were quickly assented to and additional
| burdens were imposed without protest
Outrages under this form of duress
! were countless. But under the Croft
ter's Act the crOfter "a absolutely indie
pendent of proprietor or factor, a.
long as ne pays the "fair rent Fixed hy
the commission. He may vote a. ne
pleases, pay his rent with his hat on
ms children may remain at home, OF
even marry, without the proprietor
/ written consent, and, marvel OF land
law progress. he may worship az the
Established, the Free. or at a Catholic
Church, without the vengeance of q
bigot master OvertakIng him.
All this, IN degrre, j. hopeful and
good. But I fear heip mas come to the
Crofters too late. They possess many OF
the noblest characteristics OF the noble
Scotch race. Their home life. of which
I shall speak in the next srtiCle. and
their sOcial bettermsnt. barely possible
I under new although wholly msdequste te
I conditions, would seem 20 give no good
ground tor encOu agement. There are
too few Of them. Those who Temalr
sre buddled by propr etors into crOttei
[ settlements. and there restricted fron
the full development Of their klndil
instincts and adm rahle energies bs
nisershly insufficient ar "a oil iand. n
brief. me landlord class practical Us *
tirpsted the crofteT class before thes
would permit the enactment a
laws 70 protect the latter It was Ike
spec fic lsw sgalnsE SPEC Sc murder
sfter the killing had been committed
over five-Sxfhs Of the entire area O..
the northern sad western Scottsl
III ghisnds are now in sheep-w8lks ca
Crane preserves snd prncpalv ths
= ter. can tase you scross -cotisn1
through the shirss of Inverness snd
Ross. from Beauty 90 StroTs and vor
nav cs mb every m0uuta peak -
tween. without v0or he nE shIe to coun'
two-scor4 crofter tIIIers e. the col A
land hss become desc ste indeed when
its roads and by-p paths are traasf0Tue6
inf0 paths for deer ard oouTses fol
hounds. and She blscse1ed walls o.
once hsppy homes Hto lslrs iCz foxe.
aaa EoLsEs-
EpeAs L. WAKExAx.