The Irish standard., 1903-11-28

being the legal property of the tenant
who has banked in it his improve
ments, his money and his labors of his
life. When such class will not con-
tent themselves with the additional
five years purchase in one shape or
another which the state (and the, ten
ants themselves, through their repre-
sentatives) have provided them with
as the price of agrarian peace, but will
persist i'll demanding prices cut down
almost to the lowest penny of reduc-
ton the zones will authorize, it is
difficult for men who have made some
sacrifices for rational settlement to
restrain their indignation and disgust.
| All this folly would either have been
prevented altogether, or could be
most effectively, and with the ap-
plause of all men of common fairness
| in England or Ireland, put down, If
the policy suggested by the Directory
had been allowed to be carried stead
lily and prudently out The anti-con-
ciliationists on both sides have for the
moment succeeded, the blameless
masses of the Irish tenantry and the
still more blameless evicted tenants
being the victims. They may be con-
soled, as am, by the confidence that
after the fogs and heats of the present
controversies have passed away, the
Land Act, which cannot now be erased
from the statute book will, sooner or
later, be found the means of transfer
ring the soil of Ireland to the people,
free forever from the baleful shadow
Of landlord, agent or bailiff, upon
terms that will relieve the new pro-
prietors Of at least f1,5OO,OOO per an
mum of their present payments, and
without the loss of shilling Of addi-
tional taxation to any man in this
island. There is one further consider
alton. Hard a blow as has been
struck at Ireland's well-grounded
hopes of obtaining Home Rule in the
almost immediate future by the COM
mon assent of both the English par
ties, we may safely take it to be one
of the certainties of the future, for
Englands own sake as we'll as for
Ireland's, that it will be won by the
younger generation of Irishmen, born
in freer air, and strangers to those
| i,,E III
parliamentary party that has been for
twenty-five years in existence. In all
that l have written l don't desire in
the smallest degree to engage the re-
sponsibiiity of Mr.. Redmond, who, as
the type and embodiment of the unity
that cemented the former divisions,
ties of his own for keeping the party
and the national organization together.
am sure it is not necessary for me to
say that my confidence in Mr.. Red
mond's craftsmanship and in his
splendid capacities for leadership re-
mains absolutely unabated, and has,
indeed, been increased by his wisdom
throughout the searching ordeal of tile
last twelve months. Out of the evil
cometh good; and am persuaded that
upon whatsoever lines the energies OF
the party of the country may now be
directed, Mr.. Redmond's task will le
lightened by the reminder to the mem
bers of the party and to the country
that If in the future there is to be
found the moral courage among Irish
representa- tives to face Il terrifying
risk for great national purpose, it
can only be on condition that IL little
more patience, loyal cooperation and
fair play are given to the men who
have to bear the hard burden. l can
not trust myself, my dear Father
O'Flynn. to speak of my feelings In
making this great severance with the
kinlly-hearted people of Cork, whose
uncllanging fidelity and fond partial
ity toward my many faults will, to
my last hour, remain engraven on my
heart. l will only ask you and them
to be sure that my decision has only
been come to after painful reflection,
and with the certainty that my dis
appearance from the scene is the only
alternative to another period of ut
tcrly aimless strife and despair for
the country. | will consult the con-
venicnce of our friends in Cork as to
the particular day on which my appli-
cation to the chancellor of the eN-
chequcr will be forwarded; but, if
may be presunptuous enough to an
ticipatc that our friends may desire
me to reconsider my decision, l hope
that they and you know me well
enough to know that, SO far as l am
concerned, with this letter the discus.
. sion is ended. Believe me. my deal
Father O'Flynn, most sincerely yours
CIVILIAN O'BRIEN."