The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-02-12 00:00:00

THE STATE OF IRELAND.

The Dublin Correspondent of The Times, writing on the
tth, refers to the present state of Ireland in a letter from
which we make the following extract :

"No more remarkable contrast can be imagined than
that which has been presented between the excite-
ment in the House of Commons and the calm
which generally prevailed in Ireland. It is a curious
and interesting political study. The country which
a few weeks ago was lashed into fury and ready to do
any desperate act is now silent and motionless, as if
under the influence of some mesmeric spell. It is
hard to realise the fact that so great a change has been
effected in so short a time, but the fact is incontest-
able; it impresses the senses by visible and tangible proof
which will stand the test of the keenest scrutiny. . . .
There can be no doubt that the Bill for the protec-
tion of life and property, which is watched with in-
tense anxiety by all parties, is exercising a prospec-
tive power which to some extent may anticipate its
retrospective action. It is a bill payable at sight
which is being discounted with salutary effect. Ac-
counts from every every part of the country concur in
representing that a very decided change for the better
has taken place. The village despots begin to feel
that their reign will soon be cut short, and that the
sceptre is already falling from their hands. The
honest farmers over whom they lorded it begin
to look upon them with less awe as they know
that the days of Land League omnipotence are num-
bered. . . •

"Some landowners and agents have been agreeably
surprised within the last few days by receiving the
amounts due, and in the case of some, against whom
proceedings were pending, the solicitors have been in-
structed to pay the amount, together with all costs.
Some of the tenants have asked to have the fact of their
payments kept secret, as they are still afraid of the Land
League ; but the Bill which is now before Parliament
will deliver them from all apprehension and enable
them to breathe freely again. Pending the grant of
extraordinary powers, however, the Government are
not relaxing their efforts to enforce the existing law,
and much of the salutary change whieh is apparent is
probably due to this fact. At the same time, private
organization is at work for the relief 'of persons who
are suffering from the terrorism of the League. The
Emergency Committee of the Orange Soeiety have
sent men this week to occupy Ebor-hall, the residence
of Lady Mountmorres, in place of the police, who are
withdrawn; and means have also been found te serve
writs in the western districts, where process-servers
feared to venture."

A marked change is reported to be observable in the
Cork district. Crime and outrage have disappeared,
and with the exception of some irritation created by,
recent events among certain classes, things are assum-
ing their normal condition.

Most of the Land League meetings announced to
take place in Ireland on Sunday were prohibited by
proclamations. It was intended at several of these
assemblages to have proposed strong resolutions con-
demnatory of the action of the Government with re-
gard to Davitt's arrest on his ticket-of-leave. At the
meeting to be held at Causewap, near Tralee, thou-
sands assembled. The people were counselled by the
priests to go home, but they persisted in staying.
Ultimately the Riot Act was read twice, and the
military and police charged the people several times
until they withirew. Several persons were arrested,
and two or three were wounded.

At Balla, on Monday, a largely-attended westing of
the ladies of Balla and the surrounding district was
held for the purpose of establishing a branch of the
Ladies' Land League. Miss Walsh, of the Dublin
Ladies Central Committee, addressed the meeting.
Mr. J. P. Quinn was also present, and addressed the
meeting at great length. The following resolution
was passed with acclamation :—" That we look upon
the despotic action of the British Government in
arresting Mr. Michael Davitt as barbarous and un-
precedented, and called upon their countrymen to
arise from their slumbers and aid Miss Anna Parnell
in the patriotic work she has undertaken, and pledg-
ing the meeting to do the utmost of their strength and
power.

The branches of the Irish Land League in New
York and elsewhere held indignation meetings on
Sunday to protest against the Irish policy of the
British Government.

It is rumoured that it is not improbable that some
of the Coastguard stations on the Irish coast will be
"Boycotted," all supplies of provisions and other
stores being prohibited at the neighbouring towns and
villages. If this should be carried out, a further
number of steam launches will be required for that
coast, and larger vessels, too, to act as depot ships.