John Mitchel

“ The farmers of the other three provinces, without a shred of law or custom on their side, are, it is true, here and there making out a law for themselves; but, on the whole, they are yielding, sinking, withering off the earth. From north, south, east, and west, comes a terrible cry of terror and of agony—Spare us, spare us our lives and lands!
In this crisis comes in the ‘Government’ with a ‘Bill to ameliorate the relations of landlord and tenant.’ A fine phrase! a liberal and conciliatory phrase! But the bill, the bill! Surely it legalizes tenant-right at last? ”

“ In one word, land is life: and for the possession of land there is now a deadly struggle going on in every part of Ireland. The farmers of Ulster are in utter dismay, seeing their ancient tenant-right slipping away from them day by day, and the monster pauperism coming nearer and nearer to the door. ”

“ With the ruin of the tillers of the soil, all is ruined —in vain shall you adopt manufacture pledges—hold meetings to develop resources—form companies—make speeches—insist upon National rights, a National legislature, a National flag;—once let the farmers be swept off this Irish soil, and there is an utter end of us and of our cause. ”

“ But let the tillers of the soil be once uprooted,—let the forest be cleared, and the prostrate, withered nation is fit for railway sleepers; the living forest is dead and gone;—the living nation is undone for ever, and the peace that knew it shall know it no more. ”

“ As to the southern farmers, if they have capital; and can employ lawyers; and ejectment do not overtake them in the meantime,— they are expected to lay down their guns and proceed quietly to get estimates and specifications prepared, put themselves in communication with the Clerk of the Peace, and begin at once to invest the capital they have gathered through the three famines in thorough-draining according to the Deauston system, and building cottages ornees with mitred eaves and Tudor gables! ”