Decline Of Landlordism In Ireland

Those who know anything about Ireland see clearly that landlordism is what makes the Emerald isle the "land of sorrows." Ireland is poor because of the monstrous assumption by a few hundred men of the right to ownership of the land on which the millions must get a living. Less than eight hundred men own half of Ireland. This monopolization of the landbringsgreat wealth to a few without labor, and almost irresponsible power. The Irish landlord vet has great political power, and he lives luxuriously without doing any work, but he is not in so enviable a condition as he was a few years ago, because the idea is gainingground that other people have the right to live in Ireland besides himself, and a right to live in Ireland of course carries with it the right to the soil. The English parliament, although dominated by lanulord influence, has several times found it necessary to step in between the tenunt and landlord and say to the latter. "Thou shalt not." Of course this takes away from the landlord absolute ownership' he caiinot feel the proud consciousness that he can do just as he pleases with his land. When the English parliament firet interfered in the matter of rents in Ireland, it struck landlordism a terrible blow. Rents have been reduced, arrears of rent wiped out, and some sort of fixity of tenure guaranteed, so that the 'enants practically are acknowledged by the highest power in the kinedom to be part owners of the land which they till. Before 1878, Irish estafes were favorite object8 for speculation. It was speculation in the life-blood of the people; for the power of absolute ownership gave the power of wringing great wealth from the people, and Ireland starved. But tb is power is pleasant to many people, and henee Irish estates were in great demand. Since 1878, however, there has been a great change. The present owners of the land no longer are able to find purchasers at anything like the old prices. As soon as it was discovered that there was nosuch thing in Ireland as absolute ownership of and, estates depreciated in selling value, and capitalists no longer consider them good investments, Tenants are about the only purchasers there are, and as there is nocompetition the landlord who wants to sell must do so at a low price and on long time. The landlords of Ireland are thus shornof muchof their power; but they yet draw, in spite of all this, enormous revenues from the Irish people without giving' anything in return. How long ■will Ireland endure it 't