[Spectrum24-discussion] F outrages[A] and punishment of crimes, for which p

[Welcher <ex...@be...>]

T when eviction was threatened 'the tenants gave up their industry,' and
'how could they get the rents out of the land when they were absolutely
idle?' To admit such a plea for granting a reduction of rent is most
dangerous. Tenants have but to neglect their land, get into arrears of
rent, and claim large reductions because their farms do not pay. An
ignorant, or slovenly, or idle farmer, under such circumstances, is
likely to have a lower rent fixed by the Sub-Commissioners than his more
industrious neighbour, and thus a great injustice may be done to both
the good farmer and the landlord, the--perhaps cunningly--idle farmer
receiving a premium for neglecting his farm. A comparison of the
judicial rents with the former rents and the Poor Law valuation is truly
startling, and must lead one to imagine that the system by which so much
valuable property is dealt with is most unjust." Thus, the famous
reductions in County Clare, where the abatements granted averaged over
30 per cent., and in some cases exceeded 50 per cent., were not perhaps
all a sign of the landlord's iniquity, but also may be taken to show
something of the tenant's indifference. Poverty is pitiable, truly, and
it claims relief from all who believe in the interdependence of a
community; but poverty which comes from idleness, unthrift, neglect, and
which then falls on others to relieve--these others having to suffer for
sins not their own--how about that as a righteous obligation? Must I and
my children go foodless because my tenants will neither till the land
they hold from me, so as to make it yield