No Rent Manifesto facts for kids

Quick facts for kids No Rent Manifesto
Authors	William O'Brien
Signers	Parnell, Thomas Brennan, A. J. Kettle, Thomas Sexton, Michael Davitt, Patrick Egan, John Dillon
Purpose	Effectuating a rent strike during the Land War

The No Rent Manifesto was an important document released in Ireland on October 18, 1881. It was written by leaders of the Irish National Land League who were in prison. The manifesto asked all small tenant farmers in Ireland to stop paying their rent. This was a way to protest and get lower rents. They hoped to show that a new law, the Land Law (Ireland) Act 1881, wasn't good enough. Farmers wanted "fair rent, fixity of tenure, and free sale" of their land.

Why the Land War Started

After the terrible Irish Famine, Ireland needed a new direction. In 1870, the Home Rule Party was formed by Isaac Butt. This group wanted Ireland to govern itself. While many people supported them, they weren't very active. Most Irish people, especially farmers, cared more about their daily lives.

In the late 1870s, crops failed, causing big problems. Wages dropped, and more farmers were being forced off their land. Farmers began to demand lower rents. This led to the start of the Land War in 1879, which lasted until 1882.

The Land League Forms

The Home Rule Party wasn't strong enough. This brought a young landlord and Member of Parliament (MP), Charles Stewart Parnell, to the front. He saw the party's weaknesses. Unlike Butt, Parnell was more forceful. In the House of Commons, he was known for slowing down laws he didn't like.

In 1879, Parnell met with Fenians John Devoy and Michael Davitt. They decided to combine the fight for land rights with the Home Rule movement. This was called the "New Departure." In October 1879, the Irish Nationalist Land League was created in County Mayo. Parnell became its president. Andrew Kettle, Michael Davitt, and Thomas Brennan were secretaries. The Land League brought together all the different groups fighting for land and tenant rights.

The government had passed some land laws in 1870, 1880, and 1881. But these laws didn't really help the farmers. Parnell, even though he was close to strong Irish nationalists, made sure to keep his good standing in London.

The Land League is Banned

In 1881, Parnell decided to directly challenge the government. The Prime Minister, William Ewart Gladstone, had made a new Land Act. It was supposed to help Irish demands. But the law had big problems. It let judges decide what a "fair rent" was. Also, farmers who already owed rent couldn't use the "fair rent" part of the law. For Davitt, the only fair rent was no rent at all.

The United Ireland, the Land League's newspaper, quickly showed the law's flaws. William O'Brien edited the paper. Parnell and O'Brien believed farmers should not go to court for rent reductions. They thought the law would not change most rents. So, Parnell and his team strongly spoke out against the law. They told farmers to stop paying rent.

Gladstone's government decided to arrest Parnell. He was put in Kilmainham Jail on October 12 for "sabotaging the Land Act." Two days later, the Land League was banned. Other members of Parnell's party also went to Kilmainham Jail. O'Brien was arrested three days later for "treasonable practices" with his newspaper.

The No Rent Manifesto is Issued

While in jail, Parnell decided it was time for a "no-rent" campaign. He asked O'Brien, who had just arrived in jail, to write the plan. Parnell told him, "O'Brien, of all the men in the world, you are the man we wanted." O'Brien then wrote the "No Rent Manifesto."

It appeared on the front page of The United Ireland on October 22. It was also published in The New York Times. The manifesto had the names of the League's leaders. John Dillon signed it, but he wasn't sure about it. Michael Davitt's name was added, even though he was in jail in England and thought the idea was too late.

O'Brien's message in the manifesto was:

NO RENT MANIFESTO

‘FELLOW-CITIZENS: The time has come to test your courage and keep your promises. The leaders of the National Land League have decided to stop trying to test the Land Act. We must now tell the tenant farmers of Ireland to pay no rents to their landlords from this day on. Do this until the government stops its unfair actions and gives back the people's rights. Don't be scared because your leaders are gone. Don't let threats of military force frighten you. It is just as lawful to refuse to pay rents as it is to receive them. The military has no power against a whole population that refuses to act. Money will be given freely to help anyone who is forced off their land during this fight. Our Irish brothers in America can be trusted to send millions of dollars, if needed. They have already sent thousands to fight landlordism and make English rule give in. You just need to show that you are worthy of their great sacrifices.

One more big fight for your land, your homes, your lives! This fight has all the memories of your people, all the hopes of your family, and all the sacrifices of your jailed brothers.

Stand together against the cruel,

cowardly enemies of your people !

One more fight where you have the hope of happy homes and national freedom to inspire you. One more brave effort to destroy landlordism. The system that has been a curse to your people will be gone forever. Stand together against the cruel, cowardly enemies of your people! Pay no rent for any reason! Stand quietly, strongly, and bravely. While the armies of England fight their hopeless battle against a spirit their weapons cannot touch, the government will learn this winter how powerless armed forces are against a united, determined, and independent nation.

CHARLES S. PARNELL. THOMAS BRENNAN.

A. J. KETTLE. THOMAS SEXTON.

MICHAEL DAVITT. PATRICK EGAN.

JOHN DILLON.

The Kilmainham Treaty

The leaders of the Catholic Church in Ireland, like Archbishops Edward MacCabe and Thomas Croke, strongly spoke out against the manifesto. Newspapers like the Freeman's Journal and The Nation also disagreed with Parnell's plan.

Because of all this opposition, O'Brien's newspaper, The United Ireland, which he edited from prison, had little chance of getting national support. The "no-rent" campaign largely failed.

However, violence on the land increased a lot. So, by the spring, Prime Minister Gladstone decided to talk directly with Parnell. This led to the Kilmainham Treaty on April 25, 1882. In this agreement, the government agreed to change the 1881 law to help farmers who owed rent. They also agreed to stop using harsh laws. In return, Parnell agreed to take back the manifesto and stop the violence. This agreement was not popular with everyone. It shifted the focus from radical land reform to a more peaceful movement for Home Rule (self-government for Ireland).