New-York tribune., 1910-03-21
LAND OWNERSHIP
Recent Political Changes IN
ireland.

noted the silent growth Of conserv,.
tism and tolerance and impaired 49,.
resources Of agitatOrs. The movem.-.
for placing tenants In possession !.
their land started under the Ashbou-,.
ect twenty-five years ago and receive
fresh impulse under the BaIfour -,
But progress was slow. since nubr,.
credit was lent for the purchase M, \,
large estates, but Of individual ho,s.
ings.
When the Wyndham purchase scha-.
was sanctioned seven years ago and a.
larged by the BlrreII amendments H..
year mechanism was provided FOR NJ.
gOtiating the transfer OF great tr..,,
from landlords 20 tenants Ab,-,
s275.OOO.OOO has been advanced bv N.
state for these land transfers fro-1
landlords 70 tenants. and agreemsr,,
have been made for supplying s2se
100000 in addition as soon a. ~,
money can be raised by treaurr-
guarantees. a third OF the aericultu-,f
land has become the property of f6r~s-
tenants, 100000 present owners han.
been created. and the number win n
doubled as soon as the settlements Il.
ready agreed upon are financed. I,nd..
the normal operation OF these purchas.
acts Il will not be many years bes,r.
three-fOurths Of the Irish Occupiers an.
in possession Of their own land. Al.
ready there is evidence OF reacto,
against political agitation and or in.
creasing good will between forms,
landlords and the new owners OF IRIS,
soil.
The revolt OF the O'Brien-Healy ~su
Irish eleven" against the Redmond.
Dillon machine has been an unansue-.
able proof OF the efficacy OF agrarla,
reform. Apparently a working Ar.
rangement for a coalition between III.
Liberal government and the National.
list party had been arranged bv M
LlOyd-GeOTge and Mr. r. r. O'Connor
The Prime Minister. az the Albert Han
meeting. pledged the Liberal party 70
take up Home Rule as soon as The
budget and the veto legislation should
be carried into effect. ard in National
lst manifestoes Irish supporters and
sympathizers in Great Britain were
ordered % vote for Liberal candidates
Hearty cooperation Of the allies hav-
ing been prearTanged, the eightv-two
Nationalist vOtes We're counted in ad-
vance for the budget. but as soon az
the elections began IN Ireland there
were unmistakable signs Of rebellion
u ri
ruptly, without money OF newspaper. as
a protest against whiskey and land
taxes and the Devlin machine rule in the
Nationalist Organiza tiOn. Wherever in
dependent candidates we're nominated
they received support from farming
land owners. PrOtestants and COnserva-
/ tives. Eleven members were elected
in opposition % the regular party or
ganization. and if there had been an
other month for effective canvassing
there would have been larger results
II was convincing demonstration
that a change had been wrought in Che
/ temper and aspirations of the Irish
people Oy the new agrarian conditions
This body OF 3OOO0O farmer land
owners, which will be doubled, and even
/ trebled. in the course OF a few years. IS
more prosperous than il has been as ten
antry at the mercy of landlords. The in
i staImeuts paid toward the purchase Of
their land are less than the 0ldtins
rentals. and now that the farmers are
their own masters they are more indus
/ triOus. get better returns in stock and
crops and are more cOntented with politi-
cal conditions If they are still poor and
i IN debt, they are not so impoverished as
/ they were
i As landowners and ratepayers they are
| sensitive to appeals 20 self-Interes~
| They have been prejUdiced against me
budget by the vague notion that the
land section imposed burdens upon them
ana that a revaluation Of the landed
property of the kingdom would be
I against their interests Barley is one o.
their principal crops and the increassa
taxation Of Irish whiskey has set then
/ against the budget. II the Nationals
appeal for Home Rule still influences
/ them powerfully. they DO not want 70
make any unnecessary sacrifices for 10 10
fresh liabilities % taxation. As tree-
+ holders they are no longer exposed %
eviction. the money paid for instalmenS
q purchase is their investment and thss
do not want to have the value impaired
/ by unreasonable agitation. and they have
come To regard the Nationalist methods
of organization and canvassing as hope
/ lessly out of date.
| The Oldtime landlords are also ahec'ea
7 by the altered conditions Of land tenure
/ They have either sold their surplus asT'-
cultural land. got the money for u anu
invested their fortunes advantaseous'''
or else they are IN the way OF dispos"s
Of il through amicable settlement an'
eEeatIy improving their fortunes ~
, tanning their own castles or residences
With gardens. parks and shootings. ane
eniOving complete immunity from 's
dangers and anxieties Of bOycottins' ou'
RACES. cattle driving. intimidation anu
evictions. thev are both more prosperous
and more tolerant Whether they he''
sold their land or have agreed 70 40 -
they get on pleasantly with thef
mer dependents. find it possible
about politics without IOsins their t''.P
crs. and even go SO far as TO eonceU1
practicablIitv OF Home Rule TOT ii'''
sunder adequate safeguards.
one of those safeguards na'ui""'
an upper house i'm which oalO"e,1
sit as Lords with lapsed family u'..s
vived. or wealthy prOprietors. WIN !.