It seems likely that the Irish Land League, in refusing
to place any evidence before the Irish Land Commission appointed to inquire into the working of the Land Act of 1870, has played a bad card. In Ulster, at all events, that bad advice is to be generally ignored, and the evidence of witnesses is being arranged for in all parts of the province. Even in North Tipperary the farmers are doing likewise. The Free- man's Journal still recommends the policy of giving every aid to the Commission, and Lord Monteagle, in an admirable letter to that journal, has pressed upon its readers the fact that new -evidence does come up every year which is of the greatest weight, and which was not really brought to light by the Devon Commission at all. To refuse to put the case fully before the new Commission is, says Lord Monteagle, like " refusing to eat your breakfast because your dinner may be too late," and he in- sists especially on the fact that the condition and number of the migratory Irish labourers, who earn their living in great measure by harvest work in this country, has only come out fully within the last few months. Even in Cork, a member of the Land League has tendered his evidence to the Commission, and has refused to apologise to the League for this sensible act. It is said that if, after a week's consideration, he perseveres, he will be expelled. The Land League cannot do better than eliminate in this way all the good-sense it contains; and then, for want of that very necessary leaven, it will go to the bad.
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