ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN Production Note Unica Project Rare Book & Manuscript Library University of Illinois Library at Urbana- Champaign 2013 .,::. :t :. s. n. : fill ss :. .. t' x5 i* Ge* S, Von ° 1090 All x x, j' x Y't' tr xx x g- MM' r Pon AM; -'.9P r Q. Rom, f its": STY, x r.. x . x ' t". EM, a Q: too, Q. .0fe; .. -J -4f 1 x x. F r. MA Wt We"o x All To? T- 1 " s VIVO: it: 1.0 x ~, .. x. A REPLY '20 MRS JOEHN E CHRISTIANITY TES] AN IIIH CHFRJS lollm k if OflN ~ 3L0V038Th3. C - z But probably.:quite ucosionsly, h aor fication oft the many, by the rain of the . , andf the extenation of..crime. This is done, strange to see, in the name of C irist : The appeal~ is to Chritians, toIsin.eey it .peop;" tpeople whop sheallges "have a sincere desire' to be on the side of righteousness," and, wh emiti of violence and persecution. The writer gives us noxQ intimation as to, her views of. divine governent, though qoigscripr~te freely, and one cannot bt woder wheterohe is o..f the numnber of those who reckon: ...righteousnes acting through judgment'uo Uin.....n. of the. pillsars of.God's throne, or whether she considers God too 'loving ad'togr'acious8 t ttch erann *.penalties to permanent rebellio. ..THE 'L.AW.OF.MOSES. .eQ.this .as it ma,4hie the .~existing.coali.ti.noen m..enat lbe;r nig ht.an~d dayto giv~e effecot to .such ancient -precepts as ",Thou .shaltf do no murder tt."T.Ii.I-l 4 steal," Mrs Butler uses all her historical lore and ness of pen, to raise Christian opinion against them. is a clever pamphlet For while Irish Christians are galoud for justice. to restrain the hand of lawless ession, this writer interpreting Justice to mean ty to the majority to have their way, invokes the quality against that appeal .r reasoning seems to run thus :-Ireland has been mis- ened by England, the only reparation England can make is to let her govern herself in future. Justice nds this reparation, and Christian people ought to r the we.ght of their influence on the side of the masses in this demand. ANCIENT HISTORY reply to the.argument I do not propose to follow the >hlet through its dreary denunciations of England's eatment of Ireland during centuries past, although any oases it would be easy to show the transactions less prejudicial light. For, indeed, this method of nent is .grossly unjust inasmuch as its tendency, as as its intention, is to saddle the present generation the sins of its predecessors, with which it has in fact ng to do. The qustion for practical fair-minded and women is, Wh is the present attitude and aim reat Britain Ireland ? If the answer tothis o treat. her righteously, fairly, indulgent as a Mrs Butler says :-" Of the moral guilt implied ih the conscience of the people of England of today ought to be able to judge, in spite of the doggedly rooted opinion in certain easy-going classes that Ireland has suffered no wrong from her British, Rulers." In another place,she heads a paragraph with the words "Our Rulers ignoran. of History." But Mrs Butler is not ignorant of history, and yet in the above passage she directly suggests that the Penal Code was the work of the BritishRulers of Ireland.. Is this quite fair and quite just? The Penal Laws were all passed by the Native Irish Parliament in consequence of the refusal of England.to grant their repeated demand for a Union, and are .a direct' argument of a most weighty character against that Home Rule which the lady advocates, as showing the bitterness to which the religious bisection of the country leads, when uncontrolled by Union with Britain. But what was their origin and provoking cause ? As to this Mrs Butler gives us not a hint. Probably .it is overlooked by the majority of us all, who so loudly condemn them. Every member of both the Irish Houses who..voted for this dete table code of laws had been a witness, ifnot .a personal sufferer from the Catholic ascendancy that h4 6 but just passed away, under which system no less than 70 members of the House of Lords and the greater part of the House of Commons had been condemned to death, by the great Act of Attainder. Macaulay informs us that the numbers attainted and doomed were 2 archbishops, I duke, 63 temporal lords, 22 ladies, 7 bishops, 85 knights and baronets, 83 clergymen, 2182 esquires. The Protestants had been disarmed and excluded from the army, and the whole executive power placed in the hands of Catholics ; Protestant owners had been deprived of their estates, and, quoting Macaulay again, " a persecu- tion of Protestants as cruel as that of Languedoc " had raged in every part of Ireland which owned the authority of the Catholic Government. (See Ingram's "Legislative Union," pages 9, 10, 51.) The Penal Laws were the self-protective effort of a persecuted class who foresaw their certain extermination and ruin. But they were not England's work, they were "Home Rule" work; and viewed in connection with their cause and origin, abundantly prove what'the renewal of an Irish Parliament would inevitably lead to. Is Rome less dominant in spirit, more scrupulous in the use of means, than of old ? Or is Protestantism of the militant type at an end in Ireland ? If the answer must be, in both cases, a melancholy negativ,-Mrs Butler's argument is disposed of. Suppose the case ofa family with a dozen sons, three of whom are perpetually quarrelling, the parents in their exaseration at the co.stant strife. determine to send the 03 1 operation, it as no neea o rurtner aerence; yet rs Butler's account is so wide of the facts it seems necessar to refer to it shortly. Her sub-heading on page 2 her view in a single e Crruption of Irih Pali ment by the English Government." Then follows enumeration of the Acts. of Corruption complaineof. (1.) That public money was spent on the writing and publication of pamphlets favouring the Union. But surely this was an appeal to reason, intelligence and thought. Even Mrs Butler has written a pamphlet. There is no corruption in that. (2.) "That all officials under Government were expelled" if they would not support the Union. Well, there were some seven persons expelled. But this is strictly in accordance with precedent at all great political crises. It extended to the ladies of the bedchamber in Peel's day. And in America, that " land of liberty," it extends to every official great and small. (3.) "Unprincipled men were promoted at the Bar. This probably means that all Unionists were "unprincipled men." It is easy to bandy words like these. But they will stand for false charges till proofs are offered. (4.) "Out of 162 members who voted for the Union 116 were placemen." But that was the system of the day in England as well as in Ireland. "In England (says Ingram) 371 members out of 513 were nominated by the Government, by Peers and Commoners. In Scotland there was not a single free seat, the whole of the Scotch members, 45 in number, being nominated by Peers and infuential Commoners." (5.) " Bribery had its full share in obtaining the majority for the Union." Nothing is given for this statement except the payment of authors mentioned above. But an impartial searcher for truth might have stated that Bribery was, in several instances, used to oppose the Union, and that of Uniquist owners of seats were paid for the loss of them, so were anti- Unionists ; seats being at the time, strange to say, a recognised form of property in all three kingdoms. It is satisfactory to be able to give credit for what is not said, when condemning so much that is. Mrs Butler does not reproduce the exploded charge that the Union was carried by. the conferring of Peerages. Peerages are the usual reward of political party services in our British system; and they were not discarded in the hour of this great victory. If it is bribery and corruption to confer them, every Prime Minister for centuries back is guilty of these offences. It is impossible in this brief space to go at length into the story of the Union,. but if Christians will take the trouble to read it, Mrs Butler's charges will be found to be largely based upon "Nationalist " fiction. But I will quote the words of one whose opinion is supported "by. reference to authentic pul rords in each detail of his the reader to judge of the falsehoods and calumnies b which the opponents of the Union have sough to ft ther case. It is greatly to be feared that in credulos adopting and circulating afresh these invetions, M Butler will do a work against truth and justice ver from her intention. The fact is that the Union was carried by a clear majori of Catholic votes in the counties ; for while as to nomine and placemen the Irish Commons were no worse than tl English, in one respect Ireland enjoyed a measure emancipation which was not conceded to England ti 1829. By the Act of 1793, seven years, that is before tl Union, all Catholics and Dissenters obtained the Pa liamentary Franchise, and the electorate was at a strol tripled in number. CATHOLIC EMANCIPATION Such being the state of the Irish Electorate it.my wondered at that while Catholics in Ireland voted. Union in 1800, many of them should now so v m oppose it as they seem to do. But when it is remembered that theRoaCt Church had laboured in vain for full em is for the right for Catholics to sit 10 concession from the Irish Parliament, and that Pitt had proined to grant it, wonder ceases, and the Union is explained. We have referred to the Catholic persecution of Pro- testants under James II., and the Protestant persecution of Catholics under Queen Anne as its consequence. Co .ing down to 1798 the rebellion and massacre of Pro- testants adds another link to the chain of religious strife, and is mainly explained by the refusal of that full eman- cipation which the Protestant Parliament of Ireland dared not grant under pain of their own annihilation. It may. be truly said that but for the Union Emancipa- tion, in the full sense, including the right to sit in Parliament, would not now be the law in Ireland. But the Church of .Rome.having employed England's sense of liberty of conscience to gain this' right, would use it now to mount the throne of ascendancy once more and in an independent native Parliament re-impose the broken chains of religious servitude on all who question her claims and authority,'and therefore, though far from unanimously, she now labours for Repeal. Passing over then with these brief notes the historical arguments of this lady I shall proceed to dispute. her statements of fact, so far as they relate to the present century and the prsentituaion,. and to show that even were they true the conc.lusion that nothing. but Home rAe sentence is as arot one ouV1t i: svery compreneaw. St ;is ntru the. whole: of the argument goes ;bythen .For Irish Christians contend thaMthougb d[11tn< less England did .m*isov~*en Irean in he - ph; n since Whe Union, altered Iher whole attitude n .4 p treatment, and has under ria adiitain ao steadifly and courageously to remove... evr ra glj. and to do justice to Ireland, and that having pirsuedi .course with signal success, this is no time to ak throw up'the reins of government on the groiln&~ *j*me misdeeds. I shall, therefore, seek to investigate thee chtrgdlc.or statements and find out which is true. flNGLAND MAKES REPARATION. Since the Union England has conferred upon Ireland the full measure of Catholic Emancipation, while every vestige of .the Penal Laws so eloquently. poryed . Mrs butler has long since disappeared. The Franchise has been extended downward.s by.u-: cessive Acts, until every householder has the right .to- vote on a level with the best of Ireland's eitizens.' By the National system of Education * every, chil4 can receive at the expense of the State as goo an.-du .ton as in any other part of the kingdom. *The effect of this to> satlon is that while in 1837 there woereIn" frelad 198 National Schools, twA'169,54S pupils, ad reoewulr t6x,0 in atSp m 18SS the schools had rien int nutober to 7,W,. the pup to .1,0756 pad the- grants to ASIL*OB. The curio of British RTleo is' shown by the del;i tha. .ubesof illiterate, pe.on. fromt.5$ per psat. oftbe pop.1latini .34, o.3 per cent. in 1881. B The~ (3Ug &Mynooth- received an enorm ous annual rant: from the S8tate for .the education and supply of RobAm esta foit' every parish A-n' Irelabd, until it was .xwgted'rdi.18.69.°by a liberal lump sum in compensation. .]..tteas a~eed that .as> 10.ong as' the Protestant.Church .,..d 1the~e....r ents, and the status o.£ an Establish- men..t.=Roman.Catholics suffered wrong and injustice, or it.JI xweeiaibit' to -a sentiment of jealousy on account of .t....g lJt burdens of Prdtestants.. .T Irish Clinroli was .pronmptly disestablished and dcis- endowed. Thirty -threesr iilions of money have'teen advanced out of the Imperial ,Exchnefor public works in Ireland:, of which -over. seven miillions have been forgziven. .J...will not.pau~se tO poin.t to the provisions for inter- mediate and higher education, the Qu"een's Colleges, and the... coyal Univ.ersity, an.d the ii'dmiss.ihu of Catholics to all the prizes, of Trinity' College, Dublin; on equal trmns with Protestsntse.but at ontcepass on toc the L-and,. TEME TREE .RE.AT LAND.AW.. Mrs 4Sutler draws binentab le pictares of sufferin, f4ne anid evicin s all her inomi non -these, xar'*rn c' n ''Mi~frnv :s A 1'' ii1 '4k' ua nriitfldtasc~vt n'... i r 2e +.. AN .I..RI.SH.. .TENA..T'S. PI......VI.L.....~... . The privileges of. Irish Tenant-Farmersad f 1 growth, and date from various Acts 'of. Parliamnont T,$ hate, however, -inf recent- yeans,. bee : lagl.'xeddb three gret measures :-TLhe Land Ac9t of17 J:teLn Law Act, 1881 and the Land Purchase Ac,18& twl then; be convenient to consider these vaneousprvil.... in chronological order. 1.-PRIVILEGES ACQUIRED PRIOR" TO 1870} No Tenant can be evicted for non-payment of renrt UTNLESS ONE YEAR'S RENT IS IN ARREAR. .Even when evicted' for non-payment of ren.V-". A, Tenant can RECOVER POSSES, SIQN within.6Smonit.s by payment of the amount duge, and in t4ase The Landlord MULST . PAY. to the Tenat the~c amoutnt of.any pro~fit he coudhave. made. out .o..the :lauds. while the tenant was out ofpossssio. The Laandlord m~ust .pay.HALP the.Poor-Rlate- If th~e Government Valuation of a holding is £4 or. upwards.. The Landlord must pay the.UENTIRE Poor-la.e-If the. Governmnent lauation i~s un or £4. HL-.PRIVIL.EG.ES.UN.DE.R. THAl..0.'.E.870. A Yearly Tenant who is disturbed in his holding."b t..# act of the andlo.d.for causes.other than non.-paymen. rent, and t~he Giovermn Vaution of woeholdina dossa 40ot eeed £100 pe annum, must be. paid by his Landlord n~ot only- Full: compensation for all improvements made by him~self ,or his predecessors, such as unex- hausted manures, permanent buildings,, and .reclamation of waste landcs ; but also as Compensation for disturbance, a sum of money .which may amoaunt to seven years' rent., .sF.-Under the.Act of 1881, the Lanudlord's power of disturb- ance ispractically abolished. A Yearly ;Tenant, even when evicted for non'payment of rent, must be paid by his Landlord- C0ompensation for all improvements, such as un- exhausted manures, permanent buildings, and reclamation of waste land. An~d when his renut does not exceed .£1:5 he must be paid in addition-- A....of money which may amnount to seven years' rent, if the Court decides that the rent is exorbia. No -.Until the. co utrary is p oed,.the.mrovement ar.Ipre-. simned to. have been made by the tenant, .!'e te.nt bah makte his~olaim for copensation.immdately on1 iiutieto quit being serveaf.....not b.e eited. util the empn astw is #pai. .**Yea.rly....ant, e wh.en.T . .v9L U.SA.ILYa.RN.!.- OtN his farm, niust Sther he paid by Landlor - ompensauou wr urnburuance. The Act of 1881 gave three additional privilees tothos who avail themselves of them- 1. FIXITY OF TExURE.-By which the tenant remains in possession of his land FOR EVER, subject to periodical revision of his rent. NOTE.-If a Tenant has not had a fair rent fixed, and his Lando proceeds to evict him for non-payment of rent, he can apply to t Court to fix the fair rent ; and meantime the eviction proceeding will be restrained by the Court. 2. FAIR RENT.--By which any yearly tenant may apply to the Land Commission Court to fix the fair rent* of his holding. The application is referred to three persons, one of whom is a lawyer, and the other two inspect and value the farm. THIS RENT CAN NEVER AGAIN BE RAISED BY THE LANDLORD. 3. FREE SALE.-By which every yearly tenant may, whether he has had a fair rent fixed or not, SELL HIS TENANCY TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER whenever he desires to leave. NoTE.-There is no practical limit to the price he may sell for, and 20 times the amount of the annual rent has frequently been obtained in every province of Ireland. Even if a Tenant be evicted, he has the right either to redeem at any time within six months, OR To SELL HIS TENANCY WITHIN THE SAME PERIOD TO A PURCHASER WHO CAN LIKEWISE REDEEM, and thus acquire all the privileges of the Tenant. * The Stock argument now used to prove that Irish Landlords are extortion- ers, is that the Land Courts have found it necessary to make large reductions in their Rents. Examine this argument a moment, and it collapses. The Land Court have reduced Rents on the average less than 20 per cent. Prices on which all rents depend, have certainly fallen in the like proportion. What the Land Courts have done is to register for 15 years the abatements freely given by the great majority of Landlords to meet the falin prices.Exceptional oases prove nothing, excpt that tte are black se .amn Iish. Landlords; and even Communists will admit that In their own ranks some such may be found. 16. .VW....-.I.L...$U DE... THE LAND. PURCHASE *ACT.. OF .1$5 . .I. .aienantwish-eato bufy his holding, and~ arranges with his landlord as a terms, he can change .his position from that of a perpetualtlmu.V payer into that of the payer of an annuity termina.bleat heend of 49~ years, the Government .upling imawith theentire purchae-monyt be re- .pMd :dring thoase.49.ygearsat 4 per cen...This annual .pay...ment -of.£x4.ifor.....ry £100 borrorwed covers both .rincipal an~dintarest~.Thus if a enant already paying a sta tntory rent...ofW.50.ageesto bu~y from his landlord at 20 .e.rs'. uchase,.(o~r £1.,00.th.Government will lend him .emoneyisrent will atonce.cease, an.d he will pay, not 5.%,.lint~ £40.yearly., for 49.years, and then become the .wner of his ho.lding, free~of rent.It is hardly necessay .to.p.oint ot that.,'as these.49~ years of payment roll~ by, the interest'ofa.. th tenxarit i-. his holding i-nceasesa rapidly in valu. ..B.Th~e bill which halaly been introduoed' by th.e present Orent gives, to* Lea shle. all.the adjua.eeerted bove as.co.are thi Ap .81.'Ij0 uteantn.fromw....toy. .It°rnxt also be rema tiere that 14e. prnvileges cited in this summary.,tog th...e m.os.important, rehy. .no.mean ..bt entire of the leia vilegea of the .Irish tenant. pksisect are tnoase, wnorr 4V..s JStlarteSces ifl 41rg .E1 And inct are so.f the. constittil pk vnb which E~ngland bas made, jar. the Irish people, .wt... Butler .talks of England's "deni i oIreland qf a nzaq tionaltweapons by which to defend henseif from 4ta:g 'UEngland's , "long continued. reftw02 l'o meet the trouie O Ireland with any other measu*res thati those. involving tom: suspension. of every. charter and eve ry right," '(ag...e ) and .persists that "the story, of .Ireland sine .the. Union is one of uninterrupted (mark the 'word) misgovornien, :&c. The story. of Ireland since.theUnion must: berea~d in the. light of the. above enumeration, of, laws if we woul4 vead.,it aright, and the reader must. say whether.o-, o England has :.displayed a wish. Ao rectify.: wrongs remove grievances, and secure the poor if not the rich -in' his .propert.; to protect the. weak anid to 'deal out; justice. to ,the masses.-with .a generous'hand. But .not: only ~" uninterrtpted m xisgoveni nient," but "sorrow: and sufferin" also. have, in MVrs Bntler6'view, .ollowed .the Union.Mr -Gladstone differs .fromh. And this is what he says in ibis, spoech at 1H411 lith.:...1 "fiAmongst the scenes ;that .are "now 'uuihAppily. h~