y
AN
ADDRESS
TO
THE
TENANT FARMERS OF IRELAND.
BY
AN
IRISHMAN
FCR rHe
Q)
CD
DUBLIN:
HODGES, FIGGIS, AND CO.,
jo 4
G R A F T O N STREET.
AN ADDRESS TO THE TENANT-FARMERS OF
IRELAND.
G e n t l e m e n ,—
A s an Irishman, who has the real welfare
of Ireland and Irishmen at heart, I desire at this
time to say a few words to the tenant-farmers of
Ireland.
T h e importance and urgency of the
subject, it is hoped, will be deemed sufficient
excuse for venturing to submit these pages to
their consideration.
After a long period of almost unparalleled agri­
cultural and commercial depression, from which,
I will venture to say, no class of the community
has' been exempt, we find ourselves at this
moment passing through the crisis of a great poli­
tical agitation.
T h e design of the writer being to avoid entering
into any subject of a controversial nature, makes
it necessary for him to abstain from expressing
any opinion upon the merits or probable results of
that agitation.
4
H is object and desire is to speak of that time,
which must come sooner or later, when the turmoil
of agitation is over— when, awakening, as it were,
from some evil dream, we shall be compelled once
more to face the stern and sober realities of life.
A nd then— he wants to im press upon you this
great fact— the d ay of reckoning will come, as
surely as the night succeeds the day, or as harvest
follows seed-time.
Now, what is greatly to be feared is that, carried
aw ay by the excitement of the times, and relying
upon the prospect of some beneficial change in the
land laws, m any persons of the tenant-farmer class
are incurring liabilities which are likely to prove the
source of serious trouble hereafter.
“ Out of debt, out o f d a n g e r” is an axiom that
never deserved more serious consideration than at
present. Now, a man m ay get into debt in a
variety of w ays. H e m ay run up bills with shops
which he has not the means of paying ; or he m ay
(perhaps at exorbitant interest) borrow money
from money-lenders, to enable him to carry on the
business of his farm ; or he m ay get into debt with
his landlord, by falling behind in his rent, in the
hopes of obtaining an abatement, and so forth.
B u t every form of debt, no m atter how it is in­
curred, is likely just now to be equally ruinous to
farmers, and, consequently, of course, to their fa­
milies of helpless women and children. Most of
them are men of small means.
T h e y live in a
5
country where, let us blink it and bonnet it as we
will, the harvest is at all times somewhat pre­
carious, on account of the variable and uncertain
nature of the climate.
It is, therefore, the more important and essen­
tial that the farmer should not handicap himself,
to use a sporting phrase, with an extra weight of
debt— the most dangerous of all burdens.
Once for all, let no man imagine that he can in­
cur a debt of any kind, in the vain hope that he can
by some means manage to escape payment. P u t­
ting aside all questions of morality, or of religion,
depend upon it, sooner or later the evil day will come
when creditors will become pressing, and unless the
money is forthcoming, bankruptcy and ruin are certain
to ensue.
Don’t be deceived by the idea that the Govern­
ment, or a change in the law, can save you ; any
idea of that kind is likely to be one of the most
dangerous delusions which can at present take
hold of the minds of some of the less well-edu­
cated among the Irish tenant-farmers. No law
will absolve a man from his debts, so long as he
has property upon which execution can be levied.
T hese remarks, of course, apply equally to all
classes of the community, from the highest to the
lowest.
Suppose, however, for a moment, for the sake of
argument, that everything which Mr. Parnell and
the Land League profess to ask for were granted,
6
and that the tenant was made a “ peasant pro­
prietor,” he would still have to p ay the interest
upon the money advanced by the S ta te for the
purchase of his farm ; and if he had not the
means of satisfying his creditors, what would it
profit him ? H e would still be a ruined man ! ! !
N o change in the land laws could prevent the
landlord or any other creditor obtaining a decree,
and issuing execution upon it, and putting up the
tenant’s interest in the farm for sale through the
Sheriff.
T h e farm would then be sold perem ptorily under
an order of the Court to the highest bidder, sup­
posing the right of free sale to exist, or supposing
the tenant w as a peasant proprietor. In fact, any
change in the law of this kind, such as tenantfarm ers in general seem to expect and desire,
would rather facilitate this result than otherwise.
U nfortunately for the tenant-farmer, there is an
idea abroad that combination among themselves,
or joining land leagues and so forth, would assist
the tenant, because everyone would be afraid to
buy. T h o se who hold that doctrine, or who de­
ceive others by holding out any such hopes and
expectations, will soon be found to be the farm er’s
worst enemies ; because the only effect of a com ­
bination or conspiracy to prevent people bidding
would be to enable the landlord or creditor to step
in and buy up the tenant’s interest almost for
nothing, and so ensure the total ruin of the tenant ;
7
and, of course, if the landlord or creditor was afraid
to appear and do so in person, there is nothing to
prevent him bidding through a solicitor, or any
other agent appointed for the occasion, whose very
name may be unknown in the neighbourhood.
But, in any case, it is clear no L an d League or
combination could here assist the tenant ; they
could do him nothing but injury.
B u t there is another course which the landlord
or any creditor m ay take.
H e may decide on
proceeding in bankruptcy against the tenant. He
may issue a debtor’s summons under the bank­
ruptcy act, and have the tenant made a bankrupt.
All creditors would then be obliged to come in
and prove their debts, and the official assignee of
the court would proceed in the same way to sell
up everything, turning out the bankrupt tenant
penniless upon the world, and if the tenant inter­
fered or refused to assist the court, as required by
law in bankruptcy cases, he would be committed
to prison.
Remember, nothing can save the debtor but
payment of the debt a n d c o s t s . It is needless to
add that the more the debtor resists, and the more
difficulties that are thrown in the way of executing
the law, the greater will be the costs, payable out
of the debtor’s estate.
T h e only effect of a tenant-right bill, or a
peasant proprietary scheme— even if such were
passed through Parliament— will, therefore, be to
8
make the ruin of a defaulting tenant more certain,
by making his interest in his farm more m arket­
able, more easily got at, and more easily sold.
B u t besides the danger o f running into debt
through non-payment o f rents, there is another
most serious danger to the tenant-farmer likely to
arise out o f these L a n d L e a g u e combinations to
prevent landlords obtaining their rights, which it
is most important that all tenants who have any­
thing to lose should be made aware of, so that they
m ay not incautiously involve themselves in future
troubles which it is hard to see the end of.
T h e position of affairs between
tenant m ay be shortly summed up
T h e y are mutual contracting parties
contracts to let so much land to the
landlord and
as follows :—
; the landlord
tenant for so
much money, and the tenant on his part contracts
to take the land, paying a certain ye a rly rent
for it.
Now, if the tenant, in the face o f his own con­
tract, thinks proper to join a L a n d L eagu e, and
enters into a combination not to pay his yent as
contracted, of course he does it at his own peril.
Sooner or later, depend upon it, the law will
prove itself too strong for the law-breakers. T h e
reign of anarchy and disorder is like the delirium
arising from a pernicious fever, and at all times
and in all countries, it has alw ays proved but tem­
porary. E v il, indeed, would be the position of the
patient or of the country, if it were otherwise ! !
9
After a brief period of feverish unrest, exhausted
nature imperatively claims repose. Reason and
Justice resume their sway, and things revert to
their usual course. Ireland is not likely to form
an exception to the universal rule.
And then, what is to prevent the landlord from
bringing his action against the tenant fo r damages
caused by his breach of contract.
Now, let it be understood, that this is a matter
totally distinct from any question of rent between
the parties. T here can be no sort of doubt, as
farmers must very well know, that many landlords
have sustained very great pecuniary loss and
damage, in consequence of the non-payment of
their rents ; and there can be equally little doubt,
that those tenants, through whose default such
damages have been occasioned, have rendered
themselves liable in law to make good those losses,
even if it were to cost them the last shilling they
have in the world.
Now, the great object of this address is to cause
the tenant-farmers of Ireland, in their calmer mo­
ments, to pause and think. Are these things so or
not ? L e t the farmer take this little book in his
hand, and sit down by his own fireside one of these
long winter’s evenings, and say to himself— Is it
wise to mix myself up in this sort of thing?
T h a t is what the writer wants him to do. Then,
at least, if he decides on repudiating his liabilities,
he will not have it hereafter to say, “ W hy wasn’t
I told this before ?”
10
Ju s t think : it would be a m elancholy ending to
all your hopes, and to all schemes for making
peasant proprietors, if the moment the tenant had
laid out his money in buying up the landlord’s in­
terest, he found him self involved in a lawsuit whose
consequences would probably be ruinous.
T h e fact o f his having, when too late, paid up
his rent and arrears, would in no w ay save him ;
and the landlord, o f course (in the case of a peasant
proprietor), having been paid for his land, would,
to use a law yer’s phrase, be “ fighting upon vel­
v e t.” It would be a case for this tenant o f “ heads
I win ; tails you lose.”
T h e landlord could enforce paym ent o f every
farthing due as rent ; but if he has been dam aged
by the non-payment and by the tenant’s deliberate
refusal to p a y rent, now unfortunately of such
common occurrence throughout Ireland, he could
still proceed to recover for the loss occasioned by
the breach of contract.
Now, let the tenant remember this. T h e a t­
tendance o f the unfortunate tenant at land m eet­
ings, the fact of his having been a member of
the L a n d L eag u e, of his having refused, when
called on, to p ay more than Griffith’s valuation,
and so forth, would of course, all, be so much evi­
dence o f his wilful and deliberate breach of con­
tract, created against himself.
A ll his foolish speeches and actions would, it is
to be feared, then rise up in judgm ent against him,
II
and he would have bitter cause to regret his folly
in joining an agitation of this kind ; nor does it
require any profound knowledge of law to see that
it is evident this must be so.
No doubt, agitation, in itself, is not illegal ; the
illegality consists in the fact of the tenant’s refusal
to perform his contract : and is it not plain that to
hold the landlord’s land, and refuse to pay rent
for it, can never be defended when the day of
reckoning comes ? W h y refuse to see what is so
palpable ? Unless it be that people have allowed
their passions to get the better of their calmer
judgments.
There is also this serious question for the tenantfarmers of Ireland to consider. Is the plan of set­
ting themselves in violent opposition to the law,
calculated to serve their own cause ?
A little reflection ought to make it plain to the
mind of any reasonable man, that acts of violence
and making impracticable demands can only serve
to complicate matters. Irishmen ought to remem­
ber that such a course is turning public opinion in
England, among many of their best friends, against
them, and that it is certain to delay, and possibly
may even altogether prevent, any settlement of the
land question.
T h e solution of this matter is by no means so
easy as some persons may be disposed to imagine.
It involves many difficult problems which will re­
quire careful consideration, otherwise a hurried
12
and imperfect “ settlement ” m ay prove to be no
settlement at all, and m ay actually tend to make
matters worse. Su rely, therefore, in a serious m at­
ter o f business o f this kind, people ought to act
with prudence and discretion.
T h e Governm ent have pledged themselves to do
their utmost to settle the Irish land question dur­
ing the Parliam en tary Session of 18 8 1 ; but, of
course, if certain people in this country are deter­
mined to act in such a w ay as to render all legis­
lation on the subject impossible, it cannot be
helped.
A ll I can say is, the tenant-farm ers o f Ireland
will know who they have to thank for it. B u t that,
of course, is their business, if they choose to sup­
port a line of conduct calculated to produce those
results.
A member of the Cabinet, speaking at a public
meeting in E n glan d some time since, pointedly
alluded to this matter. H e stated that the G o ­
vernment had over and over again declared that
they were ready to do what they could to settle
this question, but (he added significantly) i f the
Irish people won't allow us to settle it fo r them, it w ill
be so much the worse fo r themselves, and so much the
worse fo r the Government.
It cannot, therefore, be too often repeated that
the only way tenants can keep themselves safe in
these perilous times, is to keep themselves quiet
and keep their rents punctually paid.
I f the
13
tenant does that, no matter what happens, he is
all right. I f he fails to do it, he is all wrong, and
the man who tries to persuade him to the con­
trary is not his real friend. It is very easy for
platform orators to make fine speeches, and per­
haps still finer promises ; but be assured of this,
there is no enemy so dangerous as a false friend.
Unwise or dishonest advisers have led many and
many a man to ruin ; and what is greatly to be
feared is, that this agitation, and the L an d
League plan of withholding rents, will end in the
ruin of thousands of tenant-farmers. T h e dan­
ger is that many faimers will be induced to
spend the money that ought to have paid the rent,
and then, all these evil consequences, which it is
the object of this address to point out, are sure to
follow. Once in debt, a poor man will find it very
difficult, if not impossible, to get clear again.
B e a r in mind, also, that another of the disas­
trous effects of this agitation is that very often
money is not to be had on any terms. Formerly,
there was little difficulty in obtaining a loan to
enable farmers to tide over any temporary difficul­
ties. B u t now the banks have refused to make
further advances. Private individuals are equally
cautious in lending money on Irish securities.
T h a t state of things, depend upon it, will do more
to impoverish Ireland than many bad harvests.
E v e ry class of the community will be sufferers by
it ; and it is to be feared that, from this source
H
alone, widespread distress will ensue, and m any an
honest man, who can give what would formerly
have been considered good and sufficient security,
will be ruined by it.
Surely, therefore, apart from all questions of
honesty, religion, or m orality, this is the strong­
est possible reason why it is fo r the tenant-farmer's
own interest to pay his rent, and w hy he should on
no account get into debt, either to his landlord or
anybody else. A little consideration, it is to be
hoped, will make this evident even to the dullest
understanding.
T enant-farm ers o f Ire la n d ! depend upon this
as a true saying, and one worthy o f all acceptation.
I f you want to be in a position to profit by any
beneficial change in the land laws (should any
such be made) , if you wish ever to have the chance
of becoming a peasant proprietor, and of being
your own landlord, then Don't get into Debt.
W e appeal to your own reason and common
sense to say if it is not manifest that if there is
one thing you ought to avoid more than another,
it is to cripple yourselves with debt, just at the
moment when you are hoping for a new start in
life.
B e well assured of t h is :— Should Parliam ent
make a grant of money to create a class of peasant
proprietors, and should you at any time have an
opportunity of buying up the landlord’s interest in
your farm, the Government will lend no money
to a man who is already in debt and insolvent ;
and if they did, it would do him no good, for
though the unfortunate man might struggle on for
a while, and strive to pay the interest on his loan,
the first bad year or two would break him down ;
and after a painful struggle with adversity, he
would see his little place and everything he had
sold up, and himself and his family left beggars.
Therefore, if you don’t wish to see yourself like
that, be wise in time. Don’t listen to bad advisers.
P ay your rent honestly, and don’t get into debt.
B e prudent and industrious ; and in these danger­
ous times, avoid doing anything foolish that might
compromise your prospects hereafter, always re­
membering that honesty is certain in the énd to
prove the best of all policies ; and if this address
should prove the means of impressing this great
truth upon one tenant-farmer, and of rescuing even
one family from the downward course that leads
to ruin, the end of the writer will have been more
than answered.
I remain, gentlemen,
yours
Faithfully you
AN IR IS H M A N
P o rtco n s A G ib b s, P rin te rs , D u b lin .