A LAND LEAGUE IN THE HIGHLANDS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VII, Issue 408, 4 February 1881, Page 19

A LAND LEAGUE IN THE HIGHLANDS.

At last the long and sorely tried patience of the Scottish High* landers seems to be thoroughly exhausted, and by all accounts they have evidently made up their minds, following the example of their brethren in Ireland, to take some vigorous action against landlordism, and, if possible, " keep a firm grip of their homesteads." It is true they have been very slow in coming to this resolution. For generations they have been quietly submitting to the extermination of their people, and the gradual extension of deer-parks and game-preserves over lands which were once the inheritance of a brave and industrious race. The Argyles and the Sutherlands, and others of their class, have been for many a long year doing what they liked with " their own," until at last the limit even of Highland endurance is reached, and the plundered and persecuted crofters cave turned round and presented a bold and determined front to their enemies. Mr Pirie, paper manufacturer, of Aberdeen, is entitled to the distinction of having brought matters to a crisis. In a former letter I gave some particulars of the manner in which this individual exercised his proprietorial rights over the unfortunate tenant* on the Leckmelm estate, of which some time ago he became lord and master. Now, there are some good and patriotic men in the neighbourhood of Leckmelm, and amongst the number is the Rev. John Macmillsn, Free Church Minister of the parish. This gentleman has for some time been agitating almost in the true Irish Land League fashion. Ha has been writing letters to the papers, addressing meetings, and otherwise endeavouring to rouse public indignation against the persecutor of his people, and to a great extent he has succeeded. On Wednesday of last week a large public meeting took place in the town of Inverness, specially convened to hear an address from Mr. Macmillan ©n Leckmelm evictions. The meeting was numerously and respectably attended, several bailies, merchants, and farmers being present on the platform, Mr. Macmillan was loudly applauded while he eloquently described and denounced in unmeasured terms the wrongi inflicted on the Highland crofters by the landlord class. At the close of his address a resolution of sympathy with the Leckmelm tenants was unanimously passed, and an influential committee was appointed to watch, not only the interests of the tenants referred to, but to keep an eye on the proceedings generally of landlords throughout the Highlands. Irishmen will naturally regard with feelings of strong sympathy the progress of this •' Land League "in the Highlands. Already the recently formed Glasgow Irish Land League has issued a declaration on the subject. At its meeting in the Home Rule Hall on Sunday, a resolution, proposed by Mr. O' Sullivan, and seconded by Mr. O'Hare, was agreed on, expressing unqualified disapproval of the conduct of Mr Pirie in " clearing " the Leckmelm estate ; thanking the Rev. John Macmillan for his praiseworthy efforts to put an end to rack* renting, eviction, and landlord oppression, and to establish small proprietors in the Highlands ; and tendering hearty sympathy to the evicted tenants of the Leckmelm estate. Oar fellow-citizens — the men of our own race — in the Highlands will thus see that Irishmen, while struggling for their rights, have sympathy and words of encouragement for the friends of justice and freedom all over the world. — Nation.