The Carlow Tenant Farmer Meeting
This
article first appeared in the
BALLINA CHRONICLE
Wednesday, June 20, 1849
On Thursday the above meeting was
held at the rear of the Hotel in Burrin-street, on the extensive premises
the property of Mrs. Purcell, of Halverstown. We are not acquainted with
one resident proprietor who has not, during the last six months, given the
claim put forth at the meeting the utmost attention, and who are not
willing, so far as reasonable means will permit, to meet the claims in a
spirit of justice and generosity- Mr. Pat Lalor of Tinnekill, prepounded
the extravagant opinion, that if the "land of Ireland" were given free to
the occupiers they could not sustain themselves.
Mr. Wilson Gray, of the Freeman's Journal, who
resided in America for several years, gave a more apt illustration of the
consequences of the light of men, by honestly stating, from practical
experience, that before the tenants or middle classes even with a fair
capital could expect to realise a livelihood, they should become
labourers!- in other words, to begin as Irish paupers do in America, with
strong bony hands, to work out a living, which may be enjoyed by their
posterity! This intelligent gentleman, who travelled through the far West,
never held one single prospect for the farmer beyond that which arduous
labour opens to every man, whether on the prairie, in the forest, or on
his own farm in Ireland.
The Rev. Mr. Maher-A fact which was anything but
encouraging to emigrants of small capital, who may be sufficiently foolish
to expect to live in America without labour!! Although an enthusiast he
would not undertake the responsibility of removing a single man from the
country, unless that man had made up his mind, and effected his
arrangements calmly and deliberately in his family for emigration.
America is not the best country for the farmer,
unless he make up his own mind to face the perils and the hardships of a
new position in the wilderness, with a surrounding population going a head
ready one day to cultivate Indian corn and the next to cut to California-a
population ever restless, ambitious and possessed of the cunning and
over-reaching qualities ascribed by Milton to Satan. Against such a people
our quiet and unobservant farmers would be no match, for an honest man is
a century behind a rogue and a cheat in America.
We have no doubt whatever that the landed
proprietary of Ireland will employ every available means to sustain the
honest, improving and industrious farmer in his position. The landlord, if
upon no other ground but that of self interest, will co-operate with the
tenant, and thus check that mania for emigration which has unsettled the
public mind. The motto of both will be "live and let live?"---Carlow
Sentinel.
Source:
http://www.irelandoldnews.com
Carlow NewS 1859
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