The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1902-02-15
LANpIoRD1sm IS DOOMED.

As@sASDASSASDASA AZ OoOAADs
The Orange Tory element in Ulster,
upon which the British government
has always depended for support, has
recently undergone great transfer
nation. The Orange farmers have
at last awakened from a lethargy Of
two centuries to the realization of the
fact that landlordism has proved to be
curse instead of a blessing to them;
and they have resolved, in spite of all
opposition, to overthrow it once and
forever in the fertile province given
to their forbears by James 1. of
felonious memory.
The British government has habit
ually coddled the Orangemen by rep
resenting them as superior in every
way to the rest of their countrynen;
as composing the Anglo-Saxon ele-
ment in Ireland; as being most loyal
and true to Protestant principles and
to the British crown; and as being
thoroughly reliable in every emerg-
ency to oppose any movement inaug-
urated by the Papists for the better
ment of their condition. They have
been encouraged to perpetuate deadly
strife by celebrating annually the bat
tie of the Boyne which was fought
in 1890. They have been told to curse
the Pope and insult their Catholic
neighbors. When in their fanatical
hate they went forth to Stay the Pa
pists and destroy their property they
We're acquitted by a jury of their Or
ange peers in accordance with the in
structions of a Protestant judge, and
instead of being looked upon as muir
derers and marauders ever after they
were lauded to the skies as heroes and
patriots.
More than fifty years ago John
Mitchell addressed letter to the Or
alise farmers and pointed out their
folly. He told them that the Pope
collected no rack rents in Ulster nor
served eviction notices on them. He
said their "loyalty'' consisted in hat
ing the Papists and despising the
French and that the grandmasters of
Orange lodges We're merely using them
for tools. He wrote to them at great
length, saying in part:
II should like to meet the northern
farmer, or laboring man, who would
tell me in so many words that he pre-
fcrs dear government to cheap gov
eminent; that he likes the House of
Brunswick better than his own house:
that he would rather have the affairs Of
his country managed by foreign noble
men and gentlemen than by himself
and his neighbors; that he is content
to pay, equip, and arm an enormous
army, and give the command of it to
those foreign noblemcn, and to be dis
armed himself. or liable to be dis
as you are, my friends, at this
l should like to see the face
of the fisherman who would say
plainly that he deems himself unfit to
have IL voice in the management of
his own affairs, the outlay of his own
taxes or the government of his own
country. III any of you will admit
this. l own he is Il loyal man, and at
~ f.ln1 IN III s4,,t
and l wish him joy of his loyalty
and a good appetite for his yellow
meal. Irish landlordism has made
covenant with the British govern
ment in these terms: Keep down for
me my tenantry, my peasantry, my
masses, on due submission, with your
troops and laws; and l will garrison
the island for you, and hold it rs your
liegeman and vassal for ever Do you
not know in your very hearts that
this is true; and still you are loyal
and attached to the institutions of the
country!"
The Orangemen Of his day paid no
heed to Mitdhers admonitions; in their
blind bigotry they hated the Papists
to their dying day, boosted of their
loyalty to the British throne and per-
mitted the landlords to rob them with
out a protest. At the opening of the
twentieth century the Orangemen Of
Ulster are dropping the scales from
their eyes and at last they see Irish
landlordism in all it's hideous features.
Another Mitchell has arisen in the
person of r. w. Russell, who tells
them that they ought to get rid of
landlordism, root and branch, and
own the soil they cultivate by the
sweat Of their brow. He is advocating
wholesale compulsory land purchase
for the whole Of Ireland, with a view
to dispossess the entire landlord class,
and the Orange farmers are standing
by him to the CONSERVATION of the
government. They recently reelected
him to parliament by a large majority
to cooperate with the Irish National
lists in demanding the abolition of the
present land system. They elected in
the strongest Orange center in Down,
by an overwhelming vote John Wood,
in preference to his opponent, Col.
Wallace, landlord candidate of
Orange ascendancy, to support Mr..
Russell at Westminster. A new era
has dawned in Ireland, and Orange
and Groom will Drox,o x,,oA,.,.