Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-24
WARM IRISH HEARTS.
Ex-senator Lee Is Delighted With His
Reception in Erin.
HOSPITABLE AND INTELLIGENT.
Labor Party Men Want an Opportunity to
Vote in November.
SHORT TALKS WITH PEOPLE We MEET

lied Europe are unknown in this coun try,
and to an observant American lawyer the
foreigners mode of living and his business
methods would be interesting subjects Of
study. This was ex-senator j. W. Lees
experience while on his recent trip to Ire
land on behalf of the John McKeown estate.
Mr. Lee recalls with pleasure his first visit
to the "auld sod," and he enjoyed it i'm
mensely. The Irish are a most hos
pitable people, and he says he found
them very intelligent, even where
they lived in small communities and were
not given to much travelling or blessed with
the best educational facilities
In one little town that he visited 1t was
necessary to take the testimony of some of
John McKeown's former neighbors Ten of
them were called in at random, and Mr.. Lee
adds that with the exception of one old man
they could all write their names. However,
the old man was intelligent in other ways,
and had accumulated considerable money
in building roads and contracting for county
bridges He had good business ability, and
was looked up to and respected by his fel-
lows in the town.
Looked = Great Deal Like Gladstone.
They all had good memories and answered
the lawyers questions promptly. Mr.. Lee,
in addition to their affidavits, secured their
photographs, and he prizes them highly.
He says the aged contractor bears strong
resemblance to Gladstone. but, of course,
the face of the English Liberal is stamped
with more intelligence than his Irish COM
patriots
What struck Mr.. Lee as the most interest
ing popularity Of the country is the entail
of property. There is no such thing as the
interchange of property In Ireland as in
America, and this fact MI. Lee soon dis
covered. His first object was to buy lot,
but he couldn't do it for love or money. He
finally leased one for 999 years from an
irish Earl, and he thought this would
suffice for the present generation
and numerous ones to come. The inability
to sell property in fee would puzzle an
American at first, who is always willing to
sell the shirt on his back if anybody wants
it, and he can get his price. Another feat
ure of Irish life that the ex-senator noticed
was that families for 200 or 300 years
had lived on the same land. Their children
had been born in the old house and they
had lived and died on the same farm. 1t is
quite different in America, where the aver
age citizen roams the country at will. If
he doesn't like one place he can move to
another. There is no restraint here. In Ire
land Mr.. Lee says families are compelled
BY force of circumstances to live on one
farm.
pimrult to Rent . Fsrm.
As rule they couldn't rent another one,
if they wanted to. The soil Is productive,
and BY careful cultivation many of the
farmers have managed to maintain their
families and live happily.
When in England MI. Lee says he visited
the House of Commons. He had the pleas
ure of sitting not far from Gladstone while
he was making speech. Near by on the
front bench was Sir William Harcourt
wearing high hat. Gladstone, he adds,
is still vigorous for his great age He is
large-limbed and sinewy. His frame
is rather spare, but his general ap-
pearance indicates bodily strength.
Mr.. Lee thinks the House of Commons is
admirably arranged for debate. Usually
the leaders of the parties sit on the front
benches, and their manner of haranguing is
much like the American. They 20 at each
other in hammer and tongs style, cross
question sharply, and resort to sarcasm and
ridicule just IS Democrats and Republicans
Lee visited the House of Commons the
question under discussion was q proposed
change in the conspiracy laws. 1t involved
the boycott and the plan of cam
paign. Gladstone spoke for the Irish.
Such lawyers as Sir Charles Rus
sell, Webster and Matthews were called
in and asked for their opinions,
which they gave freely. Mr. Lee said he
had often read in the American newspapers
of the plan Of campaign, but he never knew
what it meant In the course of the debate
the subject was unfolded to his satisfaction.
In Ireland the plan of campaign is where
tenant, m "a band together and place their rents
lords