The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-25
CAPTAIN BOYCOTT.
How and Why the English Agent Was
Prosecuted by Irishmen.

How and Why the English Agent Was
Prosecuted by Irishmen.
Chicago Times-Herad.
Captain Boycott, whose death was an
nounced by cable Monday, was responsible
for the addition of the word boycott" to
the English language. Descended from a
long line of Englishmen, who believed that
duty to those whom they served should be
the line of mans action he undertook
in the fall of 1880 to enforce the collection
of rents from tenants in County Mayo,
Ireland for several landed preprietors
whose agent he was. In that year crops
were small and the peasantry suffered.
AS means of protection, and partly out
Of revenge, they refused to gather his
him supplies for his table and they enticed
his servants away. He was the first among
the factors and agents in Ireland to feeF
the effects of this powerful weapon in the
hands of the common people, and the new
process of ostracism took its name from
him In recent years the feeling of OPPOSE
ton and hatred among the tenants changed
to admiration and confidence, and he was
urged by many to stand for Parliament y
Obstinacy characterized Captain Boycott
and his forbears back to the days OF King
Henry His family, who lived in Essex for
many generations originally spelled It's
rs time had a historic quarrel with that
learned monarch. King Henry ordered
Bgod to set forth on an expedition which
did not meet with the approval of that
brave and stubborn knight. Playing on the
name of his subject the King exclaimed:
or hang!' to which the obstinate but fear
less soldier retorred: by Cd, Sir King,
l shall neither go nor hang!
And he did neither
The word boycott is less than seventeen
years old. 1t was invented by Father John
OMaliey of the village of Deenane in Con-
nemara Ireland James Redpath, who was
travelling through that section addressing
the poor people. was at a loss for word
to express social, political and personal
ostracism which the peasantry had adopted
against harsh agents and factors as the
only lawful means of protecting themselves
from eviction. "Ostracism'' was too learned
for the average tenant, and Father O NAL
ley, to whom Redpath applied for a SIM
pier expression instantly suggested boy
cott."
1t was at once taken up by the London
papers and spread over the world with the
In the fail of 1880 Captain Boycott was a
small squire in the wild Connemara section
of County Mayo He was also factor for
several landed proprietors, notably the Earl
of Erne
At that time he was about fifty years DID,
well preserved, vigorous, obstinate and ag-
gressive. Poverty had overtaken a great
majority Of the peasants and most of themy
were unable to pay their rents, especially
those in Boycotts immediate neighborhood-
But he regarded it as his duty to collect
the rent at all hazards. His persistency
CRY peasants and his name became SYM
onym for rackrenting. Threats against his
A crisis was precipitated by the laH
Charles Stewart Parnell, who in a speech.
pie of Ireland to abstain from agrarian
crimes and adopt instead policy of send
ing landlords, agents and bailiffs Ito Cow
entry" which is the old form of express
ing what is meant by the modern word boy
colt: The idea became popular at once and
the first victim was Captain Boycott. Here
is the story of the original boycott as told,
by Boycott himself:
Il was warned that If l did not cease
acting in the interests of my employers
should be let severely alone. This did not
scare me, and continued working as be-
vest was late that year, and when | tried
to hire harveSterS / was met everywhere
with refusals. Not man in my parish or
barony dared TO work for me-
1.-The corn remained standing. But this
was not the worst. Ny servants ieft me
in a body, and my wife and children We're
obliged to do all the housework. Then the
village grocer and butcher refused to sell
me provisions In neighboring towns and.
villages tradesmen also declined 10 sell me.
their wares. But would not give IN. Inihgs
went from bad to worse. There was no
fuel i'm the house. Nobody would cut turf
or carry Goals for me had to tear up my
floors for firewood. Finally sent my fam
lily to friends in Dublin, and prepared for
people who sympathzed with my posi-
ton formed an association known as emer-'
gency men" They gathered together q.
score of stalwart harvesters and marched
them under police protection to my AID
That irritated my Mayo friends more than
ever and constant attacks and sallies be-
came the order of the day and night.
"Finally a detachment of soldiers came
from Castelar, to our aid, and the belatad
harvest was reaped and garnered. We had
10 guard our corn with fixed bayonets re-
volVers and blackthorns to keep our ricks
w IT6nr OeiAsi imported from England werers
frightened away, and We once more had TO
do our own cooking.
and Ireland. but it did not come near re-
imbursing me for my loss and worry. AT
that, time argarian boycottng was vas NOT nc,, IL
act Of 1887 BY that time the system had
become so widespread that 1t threatened 70
sap the whole social condition or ireland.
1t was indeed, a most powerful and IN
sidious weapon. as / am now free 70 own.
MY Christmas apd New Years day or
1Ss0-Sl were anything but enjoyable feasts.
Not a day scarcely an hour, passed with
out a fight or a personal encounter between
nudding was sent by admirers from Lon
douderry packed In a mail sack. The be-
siegers respected the mails, and we enjoyed
"At LAST in the spring of 1881 an armistice
was declared. / was left with my armed
guard however and all my provisions were
sent from Belfast or Dublin by rail. When
had time to take breath ana read the
papers, / discovered that my name h 1as pc
come a household word, though did not
imagine ii would ever be embodied IN
dictionary. -, -. s
more popular men in County MAYO man
CAPTAIN Boycott. This popularity came
about from the secret pleasure wien lhe
peasantry found in fighting against 80
brave and straightforward an enemy. More
over, the captain treasured no malice
against his prosecutors, and some OF ms
best friends were those who boycoued MN
in 1SSO-S1 At the famous Dublin horse
show his venerable figure was Iamlliar
one and he generally attracted applause4~
Another cause for his recent popularity
Law in the fact that he embraced the new
authorization clause in Ireland measure
into which Lord Maurice Fitzgerald heart-
lily entered. Captain Boycott had attained
such hold on the respect and commence OF
the peasantry of Mayo that they urged him
Ia stand for Parliament, but he declined.