The Irish standard., 1903-10-17
The Irish Party in the House of Commons
Displayed Great Discipline, Skill
and Statesmanship.
Tenants Acting Under the Advice of their
.<1ss5zAa .<11s5M Leaders Have Been Slow in En-
tering into Bargains.

The first declared that the new land
act was the most substantial victory
for the reconuuest of Irish soil thai
had been gained for centuries; that
the successful working Of the new
measure required unity. discipline
and sclf-sacriice,' and while the now
act falls short in many important par
ticulars and cannot, without amend
ment, effect the entire extinction of
landlordism, yet they acknowledge tho
wisdom, loyalty and good will of the
government and the high public spirit
with which the Liberal party resisted
the tempta ton to make political capi-
tai of the situation. These resolu-
tions disclose the spirit that animates
the Irish leaders and the attitude they
intend to assume toward the govern
ment which until recently they have
regarded as hostile, and this concilia-
tory disposition is very gratifying to
all concerned. The remaining reso-
lutions are addressed to the people,
urging tenants not to allow them
selves to be hurried into hasty action
| or agreements under the terms of the
| law which may prove hurtful to them
selves and the Irish tenantry as a
class. Wherever landlords show
themselves ready to sell on reason
able terms the committee suggests
that the negotiations should be con-
Quoted in the spirit of the utmost
friendliness, but without haste, and
that unity of action with regard to
terms is also very desirable. Thus
far, however, there has been but one
estate sold. The law went into effect
on the 14th Of August vet Il large
number of landlords have already en-
pressed their willingness to make rea
sonable terms with their tenants
The tenants, on the other hand, are
anxious to buy. but the time has been
so short that little could have been
accomplished, and the advice of the
political leaders expressed in the reso.
lutions l have quoted has restrained
negotiations until a general policy can
be adopted. Nhe only sale so far re.
ported has been the estate of Mr..
William Brown, Killeen's Close, Coun-
ty Wexford, in which the tenants ac-
cepted a proposition to buy upon an
appraisement based upon the rents
they have been paying, and the land
lord accepts mortgages running twen-
ty-six years. The new law provides
that the actual tenants. the sons of
active tenants, or persons who have
been tenants within twenty-five years,
may purchase all the land they occupy
or desire at prices varying according
to the locality and condition of the
property, to be paid for upon the in
stallment plan, the seller accepting a
mortgage for term of years to be
guaranteed by the government at the
ruling rate of interest. The law,
however, is not compulsory. 1t per-
mits free bargaining between the
landlord and the tenant. The land
lord does not have to sell and the
tenant is not required to buy unless
the terms are satisfactory. All the
| government does is to say to the con-
tracing parties who have been fight
ing for century, If you can't agree
upon terms I will be glad to assist
you, and if you arrange a sale will
furnish the credit and become respons-
ible for the payment of the price, A
court or commission has been appoint
ed to administer the law; the treas
| ury department is authorized to fur
nish whatever money is necessary to
carry it into effect and issue bonds to
obtain it. Only small amount will
be necessary to begin with. Very lit.
tie is paid down and the mortgages
are very long, with the government
standing IS the indorser. That is
William Brown sells his lands to the
tenants who have been cultivatine
them and the government guarantees
the payment. Mr.. Brown gets in eX.
change for his land mortgages. upon
which he will be receiving interest fol
twenty-six years. 1t is a great ad-