The Irish mess
Sir: Congratulations on your Edi- torial. I agree that it is time we left the Irish alone to play their tribal games in peace. I thought the fol- lowing quotation might be of in- terest to you, bearing in mind the proportion of Irish among council tenants in London, Liverpool and Glasgow, where agitation against any rent increases is most rife.
'Besides, in many cases the ten- ants hope by agitation and outrage to acquire more than they at pre- sent possess. They have great poli- tical power, and are able to reward the agitators who inflame their passions or their cupidity. They are taught to believe that it is in their power to acquire the absolute ownership of the land which they have hired for a limited period.
Their well-founded complaints are mixed up with the most unreason- able demands; and by skilful sophistry and metaphorical lang- uage they are almost led to believe that murder may be justified when it is committed from motives of avarice or revenge. Before we en- deavour to draw a distinction between the lust and unjust de- mands of those who call themselves the tenants' friends, a question may be asked. 'Will outrages against life and property cease when everything that justice requires shall be con- ceded?'
Systems of Land Tenure pub. 1870 Irish chapter.
Mrs A. C. Bramwell 18 Finborough Road, London sw10 Sir: Twice in your leading article 'The Irish Mess' you use the phrase 'British troops and English money. As the Welsh and Scots pay taxes at the same rates as the English, I would be interested to learn what you have in mind.
William Glashan 44 Glenburn Drive, Inverness
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