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THE BULLETIN
Fix this textVol. 2.—No. 91.—New Series.
Fix this textSATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1885.
Fix this textPrice—6 d.
Fix this textThe Bulletin.
Fix this textSATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1885.
Fix this textThe Land Movement in Scotland.
Fix this textAMONG the distinguished visitors -who have
Fix this textrecently landed on the Australian shores,
Fix this textone of the most noteworthy is Lord Mac-
Fix this textdon AM), of the Isles In view of the events
Fix this textthat are, at the present moment, occurring
Fix this textin Skye, where his Lordship’s estates are
Fix this textsituated, it might he supposed that he had
Fix this textconsidered it advisable for a time to put the
Fix this textdiameter of the globe betwixt him and his
Fix this texttenantry; but, of course, this is not the case,
Fix this texthowever plausible it might appear to be at
Fix this texta first glance. It has been announced that
Fix this textbis Lordship’s journey to the Australian
Fix this textcolonies has been recommended by his medi-
Fix this textcal advisers, purely for the benefit of his
Fix this texthealth, it having been found thaf he has not
Fix this textyet fully recovered from an attack of fever
Fix this textwith which he was sejzed at Nice in the be-
Fix this textginning of last year. From this it will be
Fix this textseen that Lord Macdonald’s absence from
Fix this textSkye just now has nothing whatever to do
Fix this textwith the disturbances and agitation- that
Fix this textprevail there. His interests meanwhile, it
Fix this textis, moreover, to be remarked, are being as
Fix this textzealously maintained by his factor and the
Fix this textjudicial and police forces that have been
Fix this textlanded on the island as if he were theie in
Fix this textperson to direct their operations. That
Fix this textLord Macdonald is to return to his an-
Fix this textcestral halls when health has been restored
Fix this textto him, and peace and quietness to his poor
Fix this textcottars, has been assumed by everybody,
Fix this textand the assumption is, doubtless, quite cor-
Fix this textrect. No report has. ever got abroad that
Fix this texthe intends to settle down amongst us, and
Fix this texttransfer his services as a landlord from the
Fix this textbleak and storm-tossed islets of Skye to the
Fix this textland where, as Gordon puts it, “insatiable
Fix this textSummer (frequently) oppresses sere wood-
Fix this textlands and sad wildernesses, and faint flocks
Fix this textand herds.” For our part, we are pleased
Fix this textthat his Lordship only |proposes to sojourn
Fix this textin Australia for a short time, notwithstand-
Fix this texting that many of our fellow-countrymen
Fix this textcan always derive a dear delight from the
Fix this textcompanionship of a lord of any kind, and
Fix this textwe certainly would never do anything that
Fix this textwould tend ;to deprive them ol this gratifi-
Fix this textcation.
Fix this text« * *
Fix this textIt is natural, however, that with Lord
Fix this textMacdonald amongst us, we should turn our
Fix this textattention to what is going on in the island
Fix this textfrom which he hails, and over a large por-
Fix this texttion of the inhabitants of which he exercises
Fix this textthe power conferred on him by the law as
Fix this textlandlord. As to the question of how his
Fix this textancestors and the other Highland chiefs
Fix this textacquired their titles to the land they legally
Fix this textowned and bequeathed, we shall only men-
Fix this texttion that they obtained them by betraying
Fix this textthe clansmen, whose trustees they were,
Fix this texttaking advantage of their ignorance of the
Fix this textEnglish language and law; thereby gradu-
Fix this textally depriving them of the right they for-
Fix this textmerly had to the soil. The chief was legally
Fix this texttransformed into a landlord, and the land-
Fix this textlord is now administering his estate with an
Fix this textexclusive eye to his own interests, and with-
Fix this textout the slightest reference whatever to the
Fix this textinterests or well-being, or even existence, of
Fix this textthe people who till his land and live upon it.
Fix this textOf the miserable condition of the crofters of
Fix this textSkye everybody is aware. Lord Macdonald
Fix this texthimself does not deny the state of abject
Fix this textpoverty in which they are sunk. It is not,
Fix this texthowever, probable, we think, that he and
Fix this textthe rest of the landlords will have been pre-
Fix this textpared to find that the marines who have
Fix this textbeen landed to suppress the revolt of the
Fix this textcottars, should have openly and practically
Fix this textsympathised with their sufferings. The
Fix this textnews from Skye is surely very significant—
Fix this textso significant, indeed, that one would sup-
Fix this textpose it to be impossible to misunderstand it.
Fix this textNot only are the factors finding that they
Fix this textcannot obtain more than a mere fraction of
Fix this textthe rents from a small portionof the tenantry,
Fix this textbut the poor rates are being withheld as
Fix this textwell. A few convictions for assaults on the
Fix this textpolice and sheriffs’ officers have been ob-
Fix this texttained, and the culprits have been sentenced
Fix this textto brief terms of imprisonment. The
Fix this textislanders have a decided aversion to the
Fix this textconstable and the process-server, but they
Fix this texthave shown quite a respect for the marines,
Fix this textand the marines have most cordially reci-
Fix this textprocated this good feeling. One day there
Fix this textwas a shooting match between a dozen
Fix this textmarines from H.M.8. Assistance and an
Fix this textequal number of the Portree Volunteers, in
Fix this textwhich the latter were successful. The night
Fix this textafter, the officers of this vessel gave a con-
Fix this textcert in the Town Hall in aid of the Portree
Fix this textSoup Kitchen, which proved a great success.
Fix this textInstead of cursing, the marines, officers and
Fix this textmen, have actually set themselves to bless
Fix this textand succour the poor people, and are be-
Fix this texthaving towards them in a most brotherly
Fix this textand unsoldierly fashion! This is a nice
Fix this textstate of affairs. No wonder, though, the
Fix this textdisaffection is spreading. In Lewis, the
Fix this textmessengers-at-arms have absolutely refused
Fix this textto serve writs and interdicts, and have left
Fix this textthe island, it having been intimated that no
Fix this textfurther attempts of that kind would be
Fix this textmade in the meantime. On the mainland
Fix this textthe fire is catching, and Caithness and
Fix this textSunderland will, to all appearance, shortly
Fix this textbe in a blaze." In these circumstances, efforts
Fix this textare being made to get the Government to
Fix this textintervene in an effectual manner to prevent
Fix this texta serious outbreak. The Scottish Land
Fix this textRestoration League has addressed a me-
Fix this textmorial to the Lords of the Treasury, advising
Fix this textthem “ to refrain from the use of all physical
Fix this textforce until the truth has been ascertained
Fix this textby other than the usual functionaries, and to
Fix this textintroduce a Bill during the present session
Fix this textto stop all evictions until there has been
Fix this texttime for the required thorough legislation
Fix this texton the relations of the people generally to
Fix this textthe soil and their native land.” Even more
Fix this textpertinent and decided were the resolutions
Fix this textpassed at a public meeting held in the very
Fix this textFree Church Assembly Hall, Edinburgh, in
Fix this textwhich deep regret was expressed that the
Fix this textGovernment had been “induced to send
Fix this textarmed forces to Skye, instead of proceeding
Fix this textto remedy acknowledged evils by a just re-
Fix this textform of the oppressive land laws,” and ask-
Fix this texting that, pending legislation, a Suspensory
Fix this textAct should be passed to stop further evic-
Fix this texttions.
Fix this text* * ♦
Fix this textBut the action that is being taken by the
Fix this textScottish Farmers’ Alliance furnishes a still
Fix this textstronger evidence of the progress that has
Fix this textbeen made in regard to the land question
Fix this textin the northern portion of the United King-
Fix this textdom. The General Committee of that
Fix this textorganisation, embracing delegates from
Fix this textbranches in every county in Scotland, met
Fix this textrecently to consider the report of a deputa-
Fix this texttion sent to Ireland to examine the working
Fix this textof the Irish Land Act, and to revise the ob-
Fix this textjects and rules of the Alliance. Among the
Fix this textresolutions that were adopted by this in-
Fix this textfluential body, the first calls for the institu-
Fix this texttion of a Land Court in each county in
Fix this textScotland, to regulate the conditions of oc-
Fix this textcupancy of the soil, and to deal with the
Fix this textallocation of allotments of land to working
Fix this textmen in town and country—a measure that
Fix this textobviously would very materially restrict
Fix this textthe power which the landlords at present
Fix this textexercise. The abolition of the game Laws,
Fix this textso far as arable land is concerned; the
Fix this textrestriction of the areas of deer forests,
Fix this textgrouse moors, &c.; and the rating of all
Fix this textheritable property, plantations, shoot-
Fix this textings, and fishings included, at its fair
Fix this textannual value, whether let or unlet, are
Fix this textamong the objects towards the obtaining of
Fix this textwhich others of these resolutions are aimed.
Fix this textIn order to give effect to their demands, the
Fix this textScottish Farmers’ Alliance desire, further,
Fix this textto secure a national combination of all con-
Fix this textcerned, to protect and advance the general
Fix this textinterests of agriculture in Scotland, and to
Fix this textbring their influence directly to bear on
Fix this textcandidates for the Parliamentary represen-
Fix this texttation of Scotch constituencies. That the
Fix this textmovement, of which the crofter disturban-
Fix this textces in the Western Islands and ’.Counties of
Fix this textScotland, and the proceedings of the large
Fix this textfarmers and general public at the meetings
Fix this textto which we have referred, is assuming for-
Fix this textmidable proportions, and has a very definite
Fix this textaim before it, can hardly be doubted ; and
Fix this textit is plain that its success would immediately
Fix this textand most materially affect the land system
Fix this textnow in operation in the Australian colonies
Fix this textand other portions of the British Empire}
Fix this textfor radical changes effected there, would in-
Fix this textevitably reproduce themselves here. It is,
Fix this textsurely, only prudent for us to keep a watch-
Fix this textful eye on the progress of doctrines relating
Fix this textto the land question as radically conceived ;
Fix this textor, in other words, which propose bo alter
Fix this textthe relations in which owners of the land
Fix this textstand towards it and the rest of the commu-
Fix this textnity, even although there is not yet much
Fix this textevidence that these doctrines have taken
Fix this textany deep root in Australian soil, unless we
Fix this textexcept South Australia, where there is a
Fix this textLand Nationalisation Society, which, both
Fix this textfrom the number of its members, and the
Fix this textable and devoted character of its action,
Fix this textpromises to exercise a potent influence, not
Fix this textonly in that colony, but throughout Aus*
Fix this texttralia as well.
Fix this text• • •
Fix this textWe are not surprised that o’ur contempo-
Fix this textraries have neglected to keep their readers
Fix this textinformed of the doings in the old country
Fix this textwith regard land. It is quite possible
Fix this textthat they do not fully appreciate the im-
Fix this textportance of the movement that is on foot,
Fix this textand its bearing upon us; and it is certain
Fix this textthat they, or most of them, dislike it as far
Fix this textas they can understand it at all. The Syd-
Fix this textney Morning Herald, for example, may
Fix this textbe pardoned if it considers ignorance of the
Fix this textassault that is being made on the citadel of
Fix this textland monopoly as bliss, and we may depend
Fix this textupon it that it will hug this ignorance to it
Fix this textbosom as long as it possibly can. Whether
Fix this textthe blindness is perverse and voluntary, or
Fix this texta misfortune for which it is not responsible,
Fix this textmatters little; the sufferers from it will alone
Fix this textbe those who do not use their eyes, or have
Fix this textnot got their use, and those who are blind
Fix this textenough to be led by the blind into the ditch.
Fix this textThe time has come when the people of every
Fix this textcolony in Australia should direct their atten-
Fix this texttion to the position in which they stand
Fix this texttowards a land system which they adopted
Fix this textfrom the mother country, and which is there
Fix this textvisibly and rapidly tending towards what
Fix this textseems to be nothing short of a total collapse.
Fix this textA breach of a serious character has been
Fix this textmade in that system already in Ireland, and
Fix this textit is becoming evident that the Irish Land
Fix this textAct can neither be restricted within
Fix this textthe confines of the Emerald Isle, nor
Fix this textthat the of the powers
Fix this textthe] landlord once possessed there, which
Fix this textTHE LATE MR. RETER C. CURTIS,
Fix this textIt's easy and takes two shakes of a lamb's tail!
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http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-239530879
(1880). The bulletin Retrieved May 23, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-239530879
The bulletin Sydney, N.S.W: John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, 1880. Web. 23 May 2025 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-239530879>
1880, The bulletin John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, Sydney, N.S.W viewed 23 May 2025 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-239530879
{{Citation
|
| title=The bulletin.
| year=1880
| section=105 volumes : illustrations (chiefly coloured), portraits (chiefly coloured) ; 30-40 cm.
| issn=0007-4039
| series=John Ryan Comic Collection (Specific issues).
| issue=Vol. 2 No. 91 (7 Feb 1885)
| location=Sydney, N.S.W
| publisher=John Haynes and J.F. Archibald
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-239530879
| id=nla.obj-239530879
| access-date=23 May 2025
| via=Trove
}}
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