PLAN OF CAMPAIGN.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2477, 26 May 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

PLAN OF CAMPAIGN.

The Plan of Campaign was originally propounded in the columns of United Ireland in October, 1886. Shortly after

its appearance Mr Parnell made known through the press that it had been drawn up and published without his knowledge, and that he was in ignorance of it until he read it in the newspapers. The Plan may be generally described as a new attempt to organise a strike against rent. The watchword is the union of the tenants on each estate against the landlord ; and the machinery by which they operate upon the landlord's fears and his sense of self-interest constitutas the great novelty of the plan. It sets forth that the tenants on every estate are to assemble and choose a chairman—a priest if possible, or, if not, " an intelligent and sturdy member of their body ; " and a managing committee "is to be formed, which is to take charge of the half-year's rent of each tenant should the landlord refuse it. The tenants are then to pledge themselves to abide by the decision of the majority, to hold no communication with the landlord or his agent except in the presence of the body of the tenantry; and to accept no settlement for one which is not given to all. Having thus taken the pledge of union they are to make up I their own minds how much rent they will offer, to proceed to the rent office in a body and offer it; and on no account to confer with the agent individually. If the agent refuses the offer, the money is to be paid into the hands of the managing committee "for the purpose of the fight," that is, to support the tenants who may be evicted or sold up. The landlord with his powers of ejectment, sale, distress, etc., is to be met with the whole forces of the combination. " Every legal and constitutional obstacle which could oppose or delay eviction should be had recourse to." All kind of devices are to be used to defeat sales, each case of distress is to be carefuliy watched, and the law is generally strained in tne interest of the tenant, as far as ingenuity and persistency can strain it. Lastly, the usual appeal is made for public sympathy ; for crowds to be present at every eviction, and for the machinery of boycotting to be used relentlessly, and with more science than before. Not only are farms from which tenants have been evicted to be left

" severely alone" but "no laudlord should get one penny not anywhere or on any portion of his estate so long as he has one tenant unjustly evicted." Such in a concise form is the Plan of Campaign as it originally appeared. It was nothing before it was put into operation, and proved to be a perfect god-send to dishonest tenants whose cupidity it seems to have been framed to gratify. So monstrous and immoral and illegal a system no Government could permit, accordingly it was proclaimed on December IS, 18S6, in the following terms:—" Whereas certain persons have for some time past, in promotion of a movement commonly called the Plan of Campaign, combined and conspired together for the purpose of interfering with the Queen's subjects in the free exercise of their lawful rights, and especially in Ireland ; and whereas

the persons aforesaid have sought to effect their business by soliciting and inciting tenants to refuse to pay the rents to which the landlords are [entitled, and to pay the same into the hands of strangers and others who have no right thereto ; now we warn all persons that tho said movement hy whatsoever name it might be known, or by whatsoever means it may be carried nut, is au unlawful and criminal conspiracy.