§ MR. A. M. SULLIVANwished to put a Question to the Prime Minister with reference to an answer given by the right hon. Gentleman to the hon. Member for Carlow Borough; and, with the indulgence of the House, he would preface his Question with one or two observations, which would be confined within the narrowest possible limits. He desired to make a suggestion, or, rather, an appeal, to the Prime Minister with reference to the present lamentable state of things in Ireland, as to evictions on the one side and as to the retaliatory spirit in which the Land League was resisting them on the other. He could say that there were some Irish Members who deplored both of those evils, and who were honestly desirous of seeing some truce established which would spare the country the horrors which were now being enacted. He would, therefore, appeal again to the Prime Minister, Whether it would not be practicable to do something whereby the rush of evictions could be eased, and at the same time the people could be called upon to discharge their honest obligation to pay rent where they could? He was the ambassador of no one; but he could say that there were some Irish Members cordially acting with their Colleagues round about them in his part of the House who would heartily throw themselves into an effort to effect, in the interests of peace, an honourable adjustment of the terrible state of things prevailing in Ireland.
§ MR. T. P. O'CONNORasked the right hon. Gentleman whether he was aware that at the meeting of the Land League held on Tuesday, the list of evictions for the past week was larger than any list made at any previous meeting of the League; also, whether his attention had been called to a statement in The Irish Times and Freeman's Journal that the Lord Chamberlain (the Earl of Kenmare), the Earl of Arran, the Earl of Courtown, the Earl of Charlemont, the Earl of Granard, Bishop Alexander, Sir W. M'Mahon, Sir Nugent 1334 Humble, and Lord Cloncurry wore among those who were pushing things to an extreme against their tenants; and whether he would endeavour to establish something like a truce between the relentless landlords and their impoverished tenantry?
§ MR. MITCHELL HENRYwished, before the right hon. Gentleman replied, to ask him whether he was aware that at the meeting of the Land League which the hon. Member had just referred to, the gentleman who was in charge of the League (Mr. Kettle) suggested a propaganda for the non-payment of any rents whatever; whether he was aware that many persons had refused to pay any lawful rent, though admittedly well able to do so; and also whether he was aware that the evidence given before the Richmond Commission by Mr. Kettle showed what was the position he held as a tenant farmer.
MR. GLADSTONEIn answer to what has fallen from my hon. Friend the Member for Galway, I have to say that I heard with great dissatisfaction and pain generally, though not in the precisest terms, of the announcement at the Land League meeting to which he has referred. Every such announcement, of course, adds to the difficulty, not only of governing Ireland, but likewise takes away from the chances of bringing that country to a state of peace and prosperity. I have not received the particulars mentioned by the hon. Gentleman opposite (Mr. T. P. O'Connor). It may be my fault in his opinion, but I am not in possession of the most recent details on the subject; and I would suggest that, as the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant will be in his place on Monday, the hon. Member should postpone his Question till that occasion.
§ MR. T. P. O'CONNORsaid, he would sooner make the appeal to the right hon. Gentleman himself. He asked him whether, in his opinion, the number of evictions by landlords did not largely increase the difficulty of governing Ireland at the present moment?
MR. GLADSTONEIt is extremely inconvenient that I should be called upon to give any answer with regard to the particular character of any set of evictions unless I had an opportunity of examining into the circumstances in detail. Harsh, cruel, and needless evictions are at all times most censurable, 1335 and now more than ever. But, on the other hand, it is impossible to expect or to ask that a class of men invested with legal rights, and believing that others are withholding from them dues which they are able to pay, should refrain from enforcing the rights which are given to them by law.