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| MARCHING TO EVICT, CO. CLARE. -The scene of the foregoing sketch is in the county Clare. The armed men, on foot and horseback, in the highroad are "Royal Irish" constables and English infantry and hussars. Are they going to fight some foreign invader? No-not at all; but they are going to put some of their "fellow subjects" out on the roadside by force of arms, if necessary, at the behest of the sheriff, who is the tool of the evicting landlord. The people crowded on the banks by the road, and in the road itself, are unarmed. It is a penal offense in Ireland to possess arms or ammunition, of any kind, without a government license. Neither are the people permitted to drill or be drilled, unless they are in the British service. Nevertheless, some bloody fights have occurred at evictions in this county-notably at Bodyke early in the 80's. What a noble occupation evicting the helpless people is for British soldiers! How proud they must be of their fine uniforms and their "humane" and "enlightened" government! "But the people should pay their rents." Even so, but how can they pay more rent that the product of their land warrants? The landlord will make no reasonable reduction. The tenant cannot pay what he hasn't got, and, therefore, the battering apparatus ready mounted on the cart, will be applied to his door. It may rain or snow. What matter! British "law" in Ireland must be upheld, even if the evicted creatures should starve or freeze to death. "Forward the Light Brigade!" The Irish have no batteries and must get out. |
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