The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-01-05

The well known Ulster Unionist, II.
w. Russell, M. p. who was dismissed
from the ministry because Lord Sails
bury could not "under the crcumstan-
ces" permit man of Mr.. Russelrs
views on the land question to remain
in his administration, made Il spirited
and logical protest against land rob
berry in Ireland in an address at Bally-
money few days ago. The settlement
is Of vital concern to the people of the
country. and the agitation is being
watched by many people in all parts
of the globe. who, while they have no
Irish blood in their veins, are never
theless hopeful that the unjust system
under which the Irish people suffer
shall he brought to an end. The views
of Mr. Russell. who has made the
matter II life study, are, therefore, of
widespread interest. In his address
he spoke III part as follows:
The issue to be discussed is vast, II
many and diverse considerations, But
the solution is not impossible, and Il
just and final settlement of the Irish
land question is essential to the public
well-being. am, as everybody knows.
strong and convinced Unionist. Il
stronger Unionist tonight than | was
in 1885, when first entered parlia-
ment; but ! never was n Unionist. |
and l am not Unionist now, for the
purpose of maintaining an unjust and
ruinous land systcm-a system that is
paralyzing everything in the country
and wearing out the lives OF the people |
in hopeless struggle. am Il Unions
list on entirely different. and, let me
add. much higher grounds
Let me point out that the work we
are met to promote is one of great
magnitude. 1t is neither less nor more
than to change the fee-simple of Il
country, to change it. not as in France
by a bloody revolution, but to change |
1t honestly and fairly as Il question of
high state policy. Our work is to con-
vince the parliament of the United |
Kingdom and to prove to Irish land |
lords that the demand is not Utopinn, |
but possible of achievement and even
cXpedicnt for them. Having said so
much by way of Introduction, let me
now proceed to close quarters with the
question itself.
Why have I raised this issue Mt the
present time in Ulster? There are
many reasons why have taken this
serious step. and the first is because
of the utter breakdown of dual owner
ship and the administration of the land
tenant are on common ground. There
is absolutely no controversy. The
landlords in and out of parliament
have assailed the land commission.
They have secured commissions and
committees, and challenge and over
haul its work. The tenants, on the
other hand, declare that their prop
erty in and upon the soil is constantly
undcrcstimatcd, that the commission
Is hostile to them and their interests,
and that they are being ruined and
robbed. This is the position. And
surely no argument is required to
prove IL perpetual lawsuit between
landlord and tenant going on in every
parish year in and year out say II
requires no argument to prove that
such Il state of matters is fatal to
peace and destructive to industry.
have given a good deal of consid-
GRAFTON to these land courts, and as a
member of the Morley committee
had a full opportunity of studying
their work. And | state here delibcr-
rately that, In my opinion. the land
commission has never faced the reali |
ties of the situation. am fully aware |
of the gravity of this statement, but l
do not make it rccklessly. shall be
asked have considered the fact that. |
previous to the act of 1881, and us it |
stands today, after the second fixture |
under that statute, the average reduc- |
ton has been AZ per cent. Yes. !
have considered this fact But let us
think it out. What was rented in 1880?
The tenant then undenably paid rent |
upon what was morally his own prop |
crty-i. G.. the house he built, fencing
and improvements he had effected.
And the main object Of the land act
of 1881, as / have said elsewhere, was
to discriminate between the property
of the landlord and the property Of
the tenant. and rent the former and
To exempt the latter.
This ought to have been the real