19 SEPTEMBER 1891, Page 2

The "Irish Landlord" who recently promised us a second letter

on the concession of Local Self-government to Ireland, sent his letter, under a mistaken impression, to the Scotsman. Itssubstance is, that there should be simplicity in the local administration of Ireland, and that the County Council should absorb all the powers now possessed by the different local bodies, the rates in all cases falling upon the occupiers first The landlords, it must be remembered, are now only rent- chargers. The ratepayers would then be spending their own money, and the Councils would be steadily guided and con- trolled by the Local Government Board, as the Grand Juries are now. These latter bodies are only independent in regard to assessments for malicious injury, and the "Irish Landlord" is convinced that this power may safely be committed to the Councils. That seems to us very doubtful. We are willing to yield to the experienced, but we should have thought that the war of classes which rages so fiercely in Ireland would be /ought out round this question of compensations, the Red party desiring, if possible, to grant nothing.