AN ULSTER PROTESTANT VIEW OF THE NATIONAL QUESTION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 37, 2 January 1885, Page 7

AN ULSTER PROTESTANT VIEW OF THE NATIONAL QUESTION.

(From the Coleraine Chronicle.')

The National League has now the making of the social condition of Ireland in its hands. By inculcating regard for human life and private property, by fixing the minds of the people on practical and constitutional reforms, by elevating popular aspirations above the wild justice of revenge, ami concentrating them on principles and objects which may sililce command the sanction of religion and the policy of the State, the League may do great and beneficent national service. It is idle to ignore the hold which it has over the vast majority of our Roman Catholic fellow-countrymen. That hold may be made either a curse or a blessing. We would fain hope that it will be turned to the latter account. We certainly do not think the Nationalists axe beyond the persuasives of calm reason. Their tactics are not unfrequently marked by thoughtlessness and impetuosity, by lack of calculation of weans and ends ; but we have seldom found them indifferent to moderate outside opinion, whether expressed by Liberals or Conservatives. Any person who has watched the Nationalist movement must have observed its fascinating influence over the Roman. Catholic massed. Neither Liberalism nor Conservatism possesses such powers of fascination. Its leaders are men who seemj capable of swaying multitudes at pleasure. These multitudes will soon have the franchise. For good or ill, Nationalism is on the eve of acquiring omnipotence in Ireland. Some nervous people may be inclined te exclaim— Wh>it, then, will become of us ? We hope no personal harm will befall anybody. The Union between Ireland and England" will be preserved intact. Ihe British Government will be quite able to maintain order and administer law. But t'ne practical aspect of the situation is this — Ulster is again under & wave of agricultural depression, Not a single article of produce is bringing at the momenta high price, whereas there are many leading articles selling at very low pricts. Profit on grazing is almost nil. Oats are exceptionally low in pi ice ; i either in flax, pork, nor potatoes is there any counterbalance of gain. Farmers will find it as difficult to make up the November rents as in 1878 or 1879. There is no blame attached to the landlords now. They are passing out of the controversy. The qnesiion now lies between the legislation of 1881, and the land policy of the National League. Day by day, without hatred of landlords as individuals, without many public manifestations, without any denunciations of Liberal remedies, the conviction is growing stronger in the entire agricultural cla« th it nothing short of the occupier becoming the owner of his farm on fair terms can successfully solve the problem. Landlords and tenants are alike anxious that the Government should advance the money at as low a rate of interest as possible, extending the repayment over a sufficient number of years. These are some of the circumstances under which a revival of the land agitation seems inevitable. There is no hesitation in the Nationalist camp. The din of preparation betokens a battle for the land the like of which Ireland never before witnessed. We are simply calling attention to passing events. We ask the calm, thinking people of Ulster to look at them without either religious or political prejudice. The reduction of the franchise will make varicu-? important changes iv Ireland. Subject to the control of England and Scotland, the Nationalists are about to direct the destinies of Ireland in a far more effective sense than has hitherto been accomplished. Social discontent is conspiring with political changes to make the land policy of the National League a captivating object to both North and South. Whether a rival object will be set up by Conservatives or Liberals, time will disclose.