The land purchase problem

Abstract

It is a far cry from the turbulent scenes in the Legislative Assembly of 1790 to the quiet, almost dull, offices of the Estates Commissioners in 1906; and yet the changes that in the one case were effected with noise and bloodshed, and those that are taking place in the other with calmness and goodwill, are very similar in their character, and are likely to have many resemblances in their results. The peasant proprietary that is at present being ground out slowly but surely by the mills of the Estates Commissioners, is likely to have many of the characteristics of, and something of the same destiny as the peasant proprietary that was the direct result of the Revolution in France; and I think it is no exaggeration of language to suggest that at the present time a Revolution is taking place in this country?silently, peacefully, effectively?which is bound to bring about tremendous social and industrial changes, and which, in my opinion, is fraught with the greatest good to the people of Ireland.