126 THE IRISH AGRARIAN PROBLEM. 



and created a system of local government resting 

 on the peasant and tenant classes, so that in this 

 sphere too the landlord party was spoiled of its 

 traditional authority. The resident proprietor 

 was thus deprived of his last remaining oppor- 

 tunity for active work in his district, since he could 

 only sit in the local Council by the votes of the 

 tenantry, and he can only be elected if he sub- 

 scribes to the nationalist programme of legislative 

 independence for Ireland. So far he has not done 

 this, because Home Rule meant danger to his 

 property. When this danger has passed away 

 by the sale of his lands, he will be free to take 

 part in at least the local life of his country ; and 

 then a national sentiment may easily arise in his 

 mind. In the past he was always national in 

 feeling, so long as he did not see his interests 

 threatened by the masses of the Catholic and 

 Celtic democracy. But he could not sell his 

 estates unless he received a higher price than that 

 heretofore offered, and this higher price the 

 tenant, who is inclined towards land purchase 

 only in so far as it means a reduction in rent, was 

 not inclined to pay. 



By the downfall of the Liberal Party in 1895 

 Home Rule was, for the immediate future, put 

 out of the range of practical politics. The Con- 

 servative Government was ready to make all kinds 

 of economic concessions, but friend and foe alike 

 knew that for the time being Home Rule was 

 out of the question. 



This pause in the great, decisive battle was 



