Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-04-24
POLK COUNTY.
PoK REPREsENTATIvlcs.
Mr.. Balfour's Land BiII.

san francisco Examiner:
The Irish Land-Purchase bill, in.
troduced into parliament by Mr..
Balfour, appears at first sight, a re-
markable act of generosity to come
from a party who has devoted lts
energies for the lust three years to
the rigorous coercion OF the Irish
people. 1t proposes that the imper-
ial treasury shall lend a sum OF
thirty-three million pounds to en-
able Irish tenants TO become propri.
stors Of their holdings by buying
out the present landlords Never
theless the proposal appears to be
received With anything but favor
by those who are to be it's supposed
beneficiaries. Parnell and Davltt
have both denounced 1t, and we
have not far to look for their rea-
sons. The bill itself, we are told,
is Ia Its main features, an extension
Of the Ashb0urne Purchase Act, by
which ten millions were advanced
for similar purpose during the
last two years. 1t is coupled with a
remodeling Of the different Land
Courts, which in Ireland at the
present have jurisdiction over the
whole question of the rent to be
paid by tenants. At the passage of
Gladstone's land measure IL was lie.
gally recognized that the rents hith-
erto collected not only unjust, but
practically beyond tine resources of
the country to pay. The great body
Of the Irish landlords regarded
themselves RI class distinct from.
and hostile TO the majority OF the
nation, and hence rose the necessity
Of compelling them by law to make
reductions similar to those which
economic conditions alone had
brought about In England.
With the power of arbitrary evlo-
ton political sway which the land
lords had up to that time held In
Ireland disappeared immediately.
The Tory rulers Of the Empire have
been since trying 10 restore It by a |
system OF government which do
prives the people at large of all poll |
ticai liberty, so far Rs II eau be done. |
To break the spirit of Irish NJ tlonal- |
lty they have given the full force of !
the executive TO such landlords as
were found willing 10 defy public
by enforcing impossible
rents Ia the numerous cases where
no fair rent had as yet been deter
mined by the courts. To meet this
policy the Plan Of Campaign and
since the Tenants Defense League
were organized by the Irish leaders,
and these associations have hitherto
succeeded in baffilng any attempt
Il wholosaie clearances OF the popu.
ation such as were common forty
years ago Where evlctions have
been carried out the lands remain
iaoccupied and consequently the
bulk of the landlords. however hos
lie towards the people, are unwill.
ng 10 attempt sHch measures. In.
Iced they begin 10 realize that the
land system in Ireland Is
ioomed TO destruction by the force
Il events aud they are In general
most anxious to sell out their propri.
tary rights AT the highest rate.
The tenants on their part are not
ess anxious TO become owners Of
heir lands, hut they entertain wide. /
different ideas OF the price which !
honld be paid for them. The value ,
{ land has fallen enormously In ,
reland Of late years in an agricul.
lral point aud the cultivators know 1
lat to buy il at excessive rates
'ould only he 10 change the yoke 4