Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-09-04
THE FUTURE OF IRELAND.
1t Looks Brighter to the Farmers
and W0rkingmen of the EN-
erald Isle.
The Land Question Must Be Settled
on the Principle of the
Golden Rule.
The Rev. John Lee SAYS:

The Rev. John Lee says:
In any letters that may send to your
very excellent paper-a paper well known
and highly esteemed in Irland-it is not
my purpose to describe ruined castles. nor
to write about venerable cathedralS. and if
perchance | should visit that vale in
whose bosom the bright waters meet" |
will not utter one syllable concerning that
valley so sweet" which the genius of
Moore has immortalized and though have
walked around the walls of Londonderry,
looked at Roaring Meg" and gazed on
Walker Pillar. yet am not going to re-
peat anew the darling deeds of the heroic
defenders of the maiden city, which the pen
of Macaulay has made forever imperish-
able. As travel to and fro through my
native land shall attempt, as you sug-
gested, to describe the condition of the
people and what they are thinking and
talking about. " To describe their con
dltion may not be difficult; to relate what
they are talking about" will be easy;
but to tell what they are thinking"
about, how shall do that. for | am neither
a prophet nor the son of prophet, nor
have |, like Edgar. L. Wakeman, cultivat-
ed an acquaintance with the gypsies.
THE PEOPLE IN THE NORTH OF IRELAND.
feel very hopeful at present. This hope
fulness arises largely from the fact that
1890 thus far has been an unusually fine
season. A a farmer, IS years of age, told
me that never in his memory did the
crops look as we'll in the opening days of
July as they do this year. Here, as we'll
as In America, industry has its reward
The beautiful whitehorn hedges, the coy
and inviting homes, the neat well-culti-
waited farms silently yet eloquently tell
their own story. 1t is a fact; explain it as
we may-and for obvious reasons [ will
attempt no explanation-that wherever
Professionalism prevails in Ireland there is
a widely different condition of things from
what there is where Romanism exists.
Travellers have frequently observed this
Indeed, it very forcibly arrested the atten-
ton both of Macaulay and Dickens All
persons whom have heard express them
selves on this subject admit the existence
of wrongs in Ireland that need redress.
They are unit In asserting that in these
grievances
ROMANISTS AND PROTESTANTS
have been equal sufferers. Roman Catholics
tell me that landlords of their own church
have been even to them just as severe and
exacting and tyrannical, if not more so,
than Protestant landlords. The most
thoughtful people assert that the landlords
have rights which ought to be respected,
and that the tenants have rights which
ought to be ignored. To a farmer, and an
Intelligent one, | said, How would you
view the land question if your landlord
and you should exchange questions?"
Very differently indeed, was the reply.
Am then perfectly safe,' | asked, in
stating in one Of the columns of the great
papers of America that this long and ter
rible struggle can only be justly settled by
those who keep in view of Him who said,
to YOU. do you even so to them?'" With
marked emphasis he replied, "You are.
To attempt to settle it satisfactorily on
sured me that it was not question to be
settled by either landlords or farmers, ard
that on the part of those who will make
a final disposal of it there must be Justice
judgment and incorruptable integrity.
Much has been done for the benefit of the
farmers, and for this noble class of COM
munity there are, | am told, better days
yet to dawn. Il formerly paid 31s per
acre, said a farmer to me, pointing to
his we'll cultivated farm, land | now pay
It's I'd. My landlord is a good man. |
think a great deal of him and he thinks a
great deal of me. Of course he wishes to
receive as high rent as possible, and is
not that natural? | wish to give him as
low a rent as possible, and is not that nat
ural too? A reduction has been made and
we both believe that still further re1uc-
tt On will take place. The same farmer.
like great many farmers with whom |
have conversed, had
NO FAITH IN MIR. PARNELL.
In justice to this political character, who
is considered by a great many Irishmen to
be an enigma. | will wait until I hear
from all classes d free and full expression
of opinion concerning him. With a Ro-
man Catholic whom had known very IN
timatel Y some years ago and highly es-
teemed, | had a pleasant and profitable |
conversation, and though not Uuionist
yet he spoke with gratitude about the i'm
proved condition of things under the pres
ent government.
Almost every person in Ireland rejoices
that his island home is situated so near to |
America, and few sincerely wish it were
nearer still. | have discovered man who |
bClOuSS W ucIUIcl OIlc vi UusSc ClItSScS.
He affirms that Ireland is situated
TOO NEAR AMERICA,
and deeply bewails the fear why, my
dear friend" said |, ''has my adopted
countay. land of which | am proud, done
you any injury. Yes he replied a great
deal of injury. AS we'll might a child
compete with a giant as for us poor strug- |
Cling Irish farmers to compete with the |
great farmers OF America. There, your
farms are on a colossal scale, and, if | atn
correctly informed, you have the best ma
chinery in the world You have excel
lent steam plows, reaping machines,
brought to the greatest degree of perfec
ton, great railway system, and every
thing else in your favor, so that you can
easily deluge our markets with the pro-
duce of your Western States | could !
wish from my heart that one of two things
would take place; either that it were pos
sible to row the island little further away
from America, or that all the doctors of |
your great republic should unite in pro-
nouncing it
THE woRLD's sANITARJUM.
If the latter should take place it would do |
more for Ireland than Patrick did when
the saint banished the snakes He
declares that the sanitarium protest would
end forever Ireland's troubles and that
her days OF weeping would be over.
Walking to the ancient city of Armagh |
from the beautiful village of LoughgalI on
a recent Tuesday overlook midGle-aged
hoe bot of h,,ff |