One hundred years ago
ON Saturday last, the Irish Viceroy, speaking at a public luncheon at Belfast — at which he announced that the Queen had conferred upon Belfast the dignity and honour of a city — dealt at length with the improvement which has taken place during the past year in the condition of Ireland. While in the year ending August 31st, 1887, there were 590 agrarian outrages, there were dur- ing the year ending on the same day of the month in 1888, only 425 agrarian outrages, or a reduction of 28 per cent. The figures as regards boycotting are even more satisfactory. On July 31st, 1887, there were 870 persons wholly boycotted, and 3,965 partially boycot- ted, in Ireland. On September 30th, 1888, the number of wholly boycotted persons was only 79, and of partially boycotted only 1,093. In other words, in one year the wholly boycotted persons had decreased in numbers by 901/2 per cent, the partially boycotted by 72 per cent. As to the taking up of evicted farms — i.e., farms under the ban of the League — the returns showed that 160 of these holdings have been re-let, and that 'this movement is steadily progres- sing'. We have dwelt upon the signifi- cance of these facts elsewhere. Certain- ly, if they are taken along with the virtual failure of the 'Plan of Cam- paign', they afford very strong ground for confidence in Mr. Balfour's ability to re-establish law and order in Ireland.
The Spectator, 20 October 1888
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