The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-04-02 00:00:00

Eke ,Stourbrikge

ebedier

SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 1887.

THE IRISH CRIMES BILL.

MONDAY witnessed the introduction into the
House of Commons of the Government
measure for the amelioration of Ireland's ills.
It is a strong measure, and though Ministers
have behind them a substantial majority to
support them in all efforts at legislation of
a vital sort, the unprejudiced and inde-
pendent politician will be very doubtful as
to the ability of Government to gat the
Irish Criminal Law Amendment Bill passed
without considerable modification, the more
so when it is remembered that Mr. Balfour
has announced his desire to have the sug-
gested drastic laws established upon a per-
manent footing. The new raeasuve has been
denounced in the boldest language by the
Nationalist party and Mr. Dillon, speaking
for them ii the House of Commons imme.
diately after tne Irish Secretary had intro-
duced the bill, declared, in the course of an
impassioned address that "if the people of
England were capable of passing such a law
he should give up all hope of ever seeing the
two people shake hands and be friends; and
if he thought they could accept such a
measure he would abandon public agitation
—for he would consider thate.a man had the
heart of a slave who would submit such a
matter to agitation—and he should do either
of two things: he would leave for ever a
country wherein no Irishman could live
except like a slave, or if the Irish people
were willing, he would be proud and happy
to lead them on to battle" Mr. Gladstone,
on the second night of the debate, denounced
the measure as only the figure of Coercion,
bare, gaunt, and bald, and announced th;
intention of himself and followers to oppose
the Government to the full extent of their
powers in the attempt to make law of a
scheme than which, in short, he did not
think the wit of .man could have . devieerl
aught " morel:11 ce aggravate every mis-
-e
enter existing in Ireland and stimulate every
rational hatred." But if the reception
given to the bill by the Parnellites and
Gladstouians was one of uncompromising
dissent, the support accorded Government
by the Conservative party as a whole, and
by the Unionist Liberals, has been solid and
staunch, and weighty words were uttered by
many legislators in strong commendation of
this newest attempt to solve the Irish
problem which so perpetually complicates
British politics. There are those who
as.ierted that a "cave "of Conservative Home
Rulers had been formed, who refused to
follow their leaders in the exhibition of the
iron hand; and that the Earl of Carnarvon,
whose action as Irish Viceroy and subse-
quent deliverances have shown him to look
rather more kindly upon Parnellism than
many other Constitutional statesmen, was at
the head of the new clique. But his lord-
ship haaenew eiven an unqualified contradic-
tion tor what he deseribes as "a very silly
simeell ,a 714
,the.political horizon is cleared
front thiFf threatening cloud. Mr. Goselien
maderec.v*e'powerfel defence of the Govern
ment-la feltowine; Mr. Gladstone in the
Hote4e on Tuesday, and averred that the new
bill wa.t net the Ministerial proscription for
cueing the diseaies,and disabilities of Ire-
had in a legislative sense 1 t't
e, ) i , only as 1
Nvere, a preparatory preparation of the
patient for a course of treatment. They
looked tcflaudele rislation as tli) true remedy
. , .
for Ireland, lint they wished o t "-pa ss th. ti
bill in order to frustrate designs which would
otherwise attempt to render nugatory the
very measures they wished to introduce.
The object of this bill was to secure liberty
to all classes of the population. _ It was de-
signe I to deal with the lawlessness and in-
timidation that existed. In the country
public opinion is very divided as tolthe merits
of the propesed measure. On the one hand
we are told that the Government has shown
at the outset of the straggle for the restora-
tioa of law in Ireland that they are
thoroughly inolaraest,. al. that the bill
i nperat vely required if that country is to
rinvtin vett a clei 71 hfel- cjin. in an ify, lot al o rid' '
an inte - al part`of 'OA United Kingdom.
On the Other hand, it-ii as confidently re-
marked that the proposals are ammo.o the
very worst ever brought int) Parliam,ant,
they are branded as a " Crazy efforY and
promised a gibtrill. failure. 'l.'he ehauge of •
venue clause, and that which 'provide, for
the transfer of comae. L'T imi xi 1 treats to
England, are the parts of the s.;heei). which
appear to evoke the o2psition. E.veu in 1
Janne influential qttarier3 \-Trie-i.o tile bill, as
a wholo is not regarded unfavourably these
provisiii)3 are lahelle.l "a clainsy expedient
at the 1.4t;.' and no a ..a516 oy_lr tncse par-
ti'eula:.s there will be lipic'i oratnical
wrangling. Another iniee. ta it pe.e»s .1
has been spoken of d2risive!y as tile 6tar
Chamber clause ;. we refer ti the expedieat
embraced by Ministers of seeki eg for po4er
to borrow from Scotch law, and so establish-
ing a plan under whieh it would be pes;ible
for magistrates to ex-thiihe persons on oath,
even where nry ode was charged definit_ ly
with a crime. This is a species of inquisi-
tion distasteful to the British mind, though
the Act of 7482 temporarily allowed it, and
el/041d fain see it let alone altogether.
ono
GovernFaenee however, hold tbat the exigen-
cies o f ". Irish_ alfai rs are such - as :to render
ex t,a)m ) d,tlings indispe,twable; Other
; retAiv!detilils Of the bill are those
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