166 A LIFE'S WORK IN IRELAND. 



less, is grievously large, and though some landlords 

 neglect their duties by not laying out money on their 

 land, the proportion of those who treat their tenants 

 with any harshness is very small. 



The Devon Commission in 1844 visited every 

 corner of Ireland and investigated every case of hard- 

 ship that could be heard of. The result was so trifling 

 that for a generation complaints of hardship ceased. 

 Lately such complaints have again begun, it is believed 

 with less foundation even than in 1844. Whenever 

 definite complaints have been made, they have been 

 shown to be untrue. One good of the new Com- 

 mission is, that it will test all such complaints. This 

 is the reason why it is objected to by the Land 

 League. 



We who live in the country know the men and 

 the details of the cases in our own districts that are 

 brought forward. I know the facts about two such 

 cases that have been the pretence for neighbouring 

 land meetings, and assert that, from first to last, they 

 rest on mere untruth. It is upon men in this social 

 and moral state that the franchise has been conferred. 

 They are placed in what is to them a constitutional 

 hotbed, with the same rights as sober, intelligent, 

 and educated men in England and Scotland enjoy. 

 A better illustration cannot be found than in the 

 Borough Franchise. In England in boroughs every 

 householder has a vote. In Ireland a 4 valuation 

 is required for a vote. If a household franchise was 



