New-York tribune., 1903-01-22
IRISH REFORMS.
LAND RENTS IND T44ES
Royalty and the Conterence-Re-
dcmpfion Outside the Land.
London. January 10.

thar the King having interyened before the
coronation in the interest of peace in South
Africa is equally anxious to effect reconclila-
ton of races in Ireland The current reports
that he has taken active interest in the SET
tler1ent of the land question may be as untrust-
worthy as the Nationalist contention that nus
friendship for Mr.. Gladstone was carried 10 the
fuii length of conversion to the Home knie
Parliament II is known, however, that he con-
sders IL expedient if not necessary, TO Visit Ire
land either this year or the next: and 1t is a nat
ural surmise that he hopes that something may
he done to bring the irreconciable conflict over
the land TO an END so that he may be welcomed
as a peacemaker. That would, at least, De a
noble ambition, and a censorious world woulo
have no fault to find If there were 'unmistakaple
evidence that Mr.. Gladstone's royal friend. who
stood by the statesman's grave in the Abbey
and bent reverently over Mrs Gladstone's hand
as though she were a widowed queen. were III
spired to bring his influence TO bear In favor OF
reconciliation and peace in the unhappy, I'M
poverished island.
The Land Conference report is a proof that
powerful influences have been employed III
bringing together representative landowners
snd champions of the tenants The proposals
for an exchange of views were regarded al the
outset as chinerical; but Mr. George Nyndham
1ersexered in encouraging them, and both the
TO discuss them as practical measures. The
landlords convention meeting Tot long ago in
Dublin rejected the plan outright; but there
was 8 resoiute minority which did not know
that tt was beaten snd negotiations were con-
riuued with unahated ardor. 1t has been
chsrged that the minority brought about
sham poll sad. under cover OF It, appoin'ea
delegates without adequate authority or justifi-
cation from the main body Of landowners. Inc
conference was held, two Irish peers and TWO
land holding con1moners taking their places at
p round table with Mr.. Redmond. Mr.. O'Br1en
Nr Harrington and Mr. Russell; and a report
was agreed upon. The executive committee OF
III. Landowners Convention has accepted this
-enort in a reasonable spirit. and rebuked ex-
trernists like Lord Erne, who condemned 1t as
an inpracficahle compromise. The Duke OF
ahercarr, the Earl Of westmesth. the Earl OF
Droeheda Lord Inchiquin and other representa-
tive landlords have united in a minute COM
mending various suggestions for bringing 'he
Land Purchase act into more general operation
on the voluntary principle. judgment is re-
served on several points, but the proposals are
welcomed as likely TO be widely acceptaole 10
landlords and the government is congratulated
rnon having in its possession ample Information
respecting the views held by all parties IN ire
land. The Nationalists for their part are ez-
,,1,snt over the work which they have accom-
,,lished on behalf of the tenantry, and MI Rus
sell who is as sincere land reformer as them
selves is convinced that a settlement Is "iIhlh
the range of practical politics
Vyhen landlords and tenants are alike able to
find in this tentative report evidence that thelr
principles have been taken up and faltnlullS
presented q new era of good feeling seems close
AZ hand. There dissenting voices some OF
then, uitched high: hut there is fairly general
a,,FS a.16rl rlOilt
that a government measure based upon this
report would take the land question out Of poll
Tics and bring about in due time complete set
Element of a wearfsome controversy. 1t Is not
p miracle Of grace. 1t is a matter of pubic
money The Irish landlords while resisting
strenuously the principle Of compulsory sale
have never concealed their willingness to dis
pose Of their estates. if they could get fair
rrice for them. The tenants in their turn
have not shirked the responsibilities OF pur-
chase provided the terms made sufii-
GENTLY easy at valuations which they couio
afford. Between the sellers reasonaole
,rrice" and the buyers equally reasonable
offer~ there was a wide margin. The con-
ference report does not these precise terms
lint that is the practical reduction OF the
whole matter. The British taxpayer is lnNlteo
10 make up the difference between the leas'
which the landowner thinks he ought TO get
and the most that the tenant thinks ne ought
20 be asked TO pay. The Land Conference pro-
r,osals may involve a grant of S2ooVoo'ouo from
+he State as the cost Of completing system of
purchase by which the landowners will relin-
ouisb their estates and the tenants will be put
a.. ,ovsass,on of them Some estimates are
,spher and others are lower; but it is matter
o< q enod many millions Of hard cash. Peace
Vas nurohased in South Africa in the last re-
.o-t and possibiy reconciliation of races can be
brought about in ireland by similar means
The alternative to land purchase seems to
9be the disappearance Of the irish peasahus
with the suspension OF agricultural industry.
The census for the four provinces decaoe after
decade has shown steady decline OF population
north south. east and west. There are 1air m
.reases in population in Dublin and Belfast, but
outside the few large towns the tenanfry mas
been driven back upon the soil, starved out
and compelled to emgrate James Mccain is
one Of the most trustworthy statisticians In
ireland and his estimate is that there are now
10000 acres under grass, with an average
return of So and 100000 acres under tillage,
with an average yield OF $40. This makes up
.r ,ncoroe of SI53 10000 from agriculture for a
farming population Of 10000 The bulk OF
this population, at least 100000 occupies hold
.ngs valued at 500, with a rent Of $50 or s4o'
.nd an income of 500. When these figures are
scrutinized the cause for wonderment is not
that agriculture in Ireland has declined, out
that anything is left of it. Rents and taxes
could not be paid If there were not large remit
.ances from America. Canada and Australia and
tf there were not temporary migrations of Ia
borers and peasants 10 England from seedtime
20 harvest
I-nauestionabiy. land purchase on the basis
Of the conference report will be a consideraple
gain, but it can hardly suffice to enable The
.no...,,rr thrive and prosner as peasant pro-