OTHER NEWS
The Kilkenny Independent,
Wednesday, May 30, 1827
ANTI-CATHOLIC PETITION- ORANGE
ARTIFICES
One important advantage attending the publication of Signatures to
Anti-Catholic Petitions, in the several Counties of Ireland, is the
exposure of the actual weakness and insignificance of the Orange party,
and of the artifices employed to give it apparent strength and
consequence. In the County of Kilkenny, for instance, the Orangemen
represented every Protestant to be hostile to Catholic Emancipation. But
how many, in fact, of the whole Protestant population of this County
signed the Anti-Catholic petition?- Twenty-five.
Again, what was the case in the County of Carlow? The whole number
of Protestants that could be found to petition for the continuance of the
persecutions of the penal code was only sixteen, tho' these conscientious
gentlemen contrived to swell their number to twenty-eight. By what
ingenious manoeuvre did they produce this apparent increase? To explain
the secret we must first give the names.
- * W. Newton, Bagnalstown House, High Sheriff,
- * R.S. Saunders, Saunder's Grove, Magistrate,
- * Thomas Dennis, Fort Grant,
- * J. Bennett, Magistrate,
- * Samuel Watson, Roseville,
- * John L. Watson, Kilconner,
- * John James Leeky, Ballymalley,
- * P. Whelan, Wathglass,
- * Thomas Watson, Lumdone, Magistrate
- * John Walker, Ballyknockan,
- * John Watson, Ballydarton,
- Samuel Elliott, Kilmeanny,
- * W.R. Steuart, Stenonts, Magistrate
- Walter Newton, Bagnalstown House, High Sheriff,
- R.S. Saunders, Saunder's Grove, Magistrate,
- Thomas Granite, Fort Granite, Magistrate,
- M. Bennett, Bewthut, Magistrate
- S. Watson, Roseville
- John L. Watson, Kilconner,
- Thomas Elliott, Racroge,
- P. Whellew, Rathglass, Magistrate
- Thomas Watson, Lumdone,
- John Walker, Ballyknockan,
- John Watson, Ballydarton,
- Philip Newton, Dunlukery,
- Jos. F. Duckett, Duckett's Grove,
- John J. Leeky, Ballyhenley,
- W.N. Steuart, Steuart's Lodge, Magistrate.
Of the above twenty-eight names the following twelve marked with
asterisks, are repeated twice, with some slight variation in the names or
residences, or descriptions, the better to disguise the repetition from
the superficial reader:- W. Newton, R.S. Saunders, Thos. Denis, J.
Bennett, Sam. Watson, John I. Watson, J. James Leeky, P. Whelan, T.
Watson, J. Walker, John Watson and W.R. Steuart. The following four names
are affixed to the Petition only once:- Samuel Elliott, Thomas Elliott,
Philip Newton and Joseph F. Duckett. The Orangement of this county are
extremely indignant with us for having presumed to publish the names of
those who signed the Kilkenny Anti-Catholic Petition. We promise those
gentlemen, notwithstanding, that we shall continue to publish as long as
they continue to sign; and while they shall have the fear of the Press
before their eyes, we are satisfied that the Orangemen of the County of
Kilkenny will scarcely have the hardihod to follow the laudable example of
their honest brethern of the County of Carlow.
Ballina Chronicle, Ballina, Mayo,
Ireland
Wednesday, June 13, 1849
EMIGRATION MEETING
A numerous meeting of the tenant-farmers and others was held in
Carlow on Thursday, for the purpose of establishing a society to organize
extensive emigration from this country. The meeting, which was got up
under the auspices of Father Mahon and other Roman Catholic clergymen,
adopted a series of resolutions-The following brief speech, delivered by a
comfortable farmer, sketched the whole case of the Carlow agriculturists:-
"Mr. John Hanlan, of Graig, came forward to propose the third resolution.
He said it was impossible for this country, with the principles of free
trade in operation, to compete with the countries that had neither rent,
tithes, poor rates or other taxes to pay (hear). Those other countries
were as prosperous as this, yet hand none of those charges to contend
with. How, then, was it possible for the farmers of Ireland to compete
with those of other countries, the protective duties having been
withdrawn? (hear). He thought it was quite impossible. The consequence of
free trade, however, just it might be in the abstract, and he did not deny
its justice, would be to bring prices here to the same level as in America
and other countries, which had scarcely any rent or taxes to pay. The
result must be that the money of the country will be all abstracted to
America, and the people will all be reduced to even greater poverty and
distress (hear, hear). And if the gentry did not come forward to assist in
applying a remedy to the wretched state of things in this country, they,
too shortly would be reduced to the most miserable condition. In fact, it
would be only a day later with them (hear). He had received a great many
communications from America, and he found that corn could be raised at a
very cheap rate. Besides that, the repeal of the navigation laws would
enable the produce of America to be brought to this country with greater
facility and at a cheaper rate. Wheat from America could be probably sold
in Ireland at 20s the barrel. How could Ireland, then, compete with that
country? (hear, hear.) With present rents and taxes, how could the Irish
farmer exist after the reduction that must take place in prices? Unless
the landlords came forward to assist the tenants, it was impossible that
they could live on the land (hear, hear). For himself he was glad to say
that he had a good, considerate landlord-the Earl of Besborough-who was
disposed to encourage the tenant, and not drive him from the country. He
(Mr. Hanlon) would not advise his fellow-countrymen to leave Ireland, if
they could remain in it; but he thought that under present circumstances
it would be impossible that they could do so, unless they desired to live
in the poor houses, or as the miserable serfs of men who would do anything
to encourage them (hear, hear).
Ballina Chronicle, Ballina, Mayo,
Ireland
Wednesday, June 20, 1849
THE CARLOW TENANT FARMER
MEETING
On Thursday the above meeting was held at the rere of the Hotel in
Burrin-street, on the extensive premises the property of Mrs. Purcell, of
Halverstown. We are not acquainted with one resident proprietor who has
not during the last six months given the claim put forth at the meeting
the utmost attention, and who are not willing, so far as reasonable means
will permit, to meet the claims in a spirit of justice and generosity- Mr.
Pat Lalor of Tinnekill, prepounded the extravagant opinion, that if the
"land of Ireland" were given free to the occupiers they could not sustain
themselves. Mr. Wilson Gray, of the Freeman's Journal, who resided in
America for several years, gave a more apt illustration of the
consequences of the light of men, by honestly stating, from practical
experience, that before the tenants or middle classes even with a fair
capital could expect to realise a livelihood, they should become
labourers!- in other words, to begin as Irish paupers do in America, with
strong bony hands, to work out a living, which may be enjoyed by their
posterity! This intelligent gentleman, who travelled through the far West,
never held one single prospect for the farmer beyond that which arduous
labour opens to every man, whether on the prairie, in the forest, or on
his own farm in Ireland. The Rev. Mr. Maher-A fact which was anything but
encouraging to emigrants of small capital, who may be sufficiently foolish
to expect to live in America without labour!! Although an enthusiast he
would not undertake the responsibility of removing a single man from the
country, unless that man had made up his mind, and effected his
arrangements calmly and deliberately in his family for emigration. America
is not the best country for the farmer, unless he make up his own mind to
face the perils and the hardships of a new position in the wilderness,
with a surrounding population going a head ready one day to cultivate
Indian corn and the next to cut to California-a population ever restless,
ambitious and possessed of the cunning and over-reaching qualities
ascribed by Milton to Satan. Against such a people our quiet and
unobservant farmers would be no match, for an honest man is a century
behind a rogue and a cheat in America. We have no doubt whatever that the
landed proprietary of Ireland will employ every available means to sustain
the honest, improving and industrious farmer in his position. The
landlord, if upon no other ground but that of self interest, will
co-operate with the tenant, and thus check that mania for emigration which
has unsettled the public mind. The motto of both will be "live and let
live?"---Carlow Sentinel.
Auburn Daily Union 1860
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