THE IRISH TENANTS' DEFENCE LEAGUE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2206, 22 August 1889, Page 2

THE IRISH TENANTS' DEFENCE LEAGUE

The formation of an Irish Tenants' Defence League was annonnoed a few days before the departure of tbe last mall. The best explanation of the causes which led to the foundation of this league and Its objects are set forth In the "St James' Gazitte," whioh states that on its formation the Plan of Campaign will disappear. Serious differences cf opinion are said to have atiaen between Mr Parnell and his most trusted lieutenants with referenoe to It, the member for Cork refusing to g».ve his eanotlon to principles which ho held to be illegal. It was therefore felt absolutely neceaary to abandon the P.ao, end Bet up In Its place something that Mr Parnell oould publicly approve; of. Dl-eot negotiations were openei soma time ago with a view of finding auch an alteroatlve, Mr W. O'Brien taking the lead In these negotiations. More than one English Radical sympathiser was oon.ulted, and when a dt finite scheme was precipitated by the Scclth-Barry combination ie was sketched out and was submitted to Mr Parnell, who at onoe gave It his approval. The league Is to take the form of a tenants' protection association or agrarian trade vi lon with an executive and a snstentatlon fund. Its primary object will be to defend tenants thraatened with eviction, for the nonpayment of rent, a&4 by litigation and other constitutional methods to make the lives of the landlords as miserable as possible, Amongst the Irish Unionists the new departure is regarded as an indication that the Plan of Campaign has broken 6, jwh, and as a proof thereof they point to the fact that the Ken__are tenants are paying their rent, and, further, that new tenants are being planted on the Massereene estate and at Ooolgreany, and that there are indications of a settlement*