Outrages in Tipperary, Ireland

[...] We believe that little good – if not much harm – is effected by details of human guilt; and justice alone could force us to make the outrages of Tipperary the object of our comments.

Almost every hour brings intelligence from each section of this country of murder, assault, robbery of arms, and posting of threatening notices. The sensation produced by one series of atrocity has not subsided when we are stunned by enormities of a deeper and deadlier character. In fact crimes in this neighbourhood increase in fearfulness as they proceed, and multiply till they become almost too numerous to record.

[...] The source of crime in Tipperary is manifest upon the slightest investigation. The landlord, or middleman, finds his tenant unable to pay rent [...]. The task-master is determined that the amount of money due on his property must be paid, no matter how it may be procured. [...] A few days pass by and the tenant is driven from his home – his own home. Shame – hunger – revenge – these make the law terrorless.

[...] Even the wealthy farmers dreading the example made of their devoted friends by iniquitous landowners have recently deemed it prudent to abandon their native soil. Revenge or emigration are the only means now left for our peasantry;

[...] Formerly the persons wishing to seek in a foreign climate that happiness and prosperity denied them at home, were of the very poorest class in society, but at present the case is widely different. – Respectable and solvent farmers are now among the number of Irishmen about to emigrate from their native shores, having a presentiment that they would be unable to meet the exorbitant demands of the landlords [...].