New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-08-18
RKNEANIsn AND THE BRITIsH Gov
ERNmENT

There has boon lengthy debate in the British Par
Lament on the state of Ireland in connection with
the Fenian movement and the Government proposal
10 continue the suspension of the Habeas Corpus IN
that country. Parliamentary reform, it has been
said is the rock upon which every English Ministry,
no matter what the complexion of its politics, is sure
to split SO Ireland il the great difficulty oil every
Administration 1t is, in fact. heritage OF trouble,
regularlv handed over every Government with the
seals of Office The transference has just been made
TO the Tories, at whose hands the burden of Irish
grievances not by any likely to be lessened
Whatever the term of office of the Derby admnistra
ton, their successors certain TO receive. along
with other responsibilities, this white elephant"
In the debate in question it admitted by those
who spoke for the Government that Ireland is at
present remarkably tranquil But it was asked, never
theeS that the suspension of the habeas corpus should
be continued on the ground that elements of danger
were still lurking in the body polite in the shape of
latent Feniansin Here we have palpable oonradic-
tion Sedition, we are assured. has been crushed,
and British statesmen felictato themselves on the
achievement; yet the Government asks for continu-
ance of those extraordinary powers with which the
suspension of the habeas corpus clothes the author-
ties The truth is, that the who speak OF tran
guilty do not really believe in its existence in Ire
land. They know, on the contrary that disafection
to British rule is deep and widespread feeling
in that unhappy country and their conseienees must
tell them that there is good cause for the feeling
The necessity for the frequent suspension OF the
Habeas Corpus in Ireland is scandal to England. No
fewer than nine times has this extreme measure been
resorted to since the Union; but the troubles of Ire
e r. 70 fhav u-are
sixty wears ago The mischief is that the rulers of
that illated country themselves more about
the means of compelling false peace by stringent
measures than OF insurng real and permanent tran
guilty by meeting the just demands OF the Irish PEG.
pie The land questionis permanent source of cruel
suHerings to the Irish; yet no attempt is made to
apply remedy. The Irish Church Establishment is
a monsrous grievance to the Catholics OF Ireland;
yet English legislation systematically and persstenty
ignores the complaints of the aggreved. That legis.
lation has never, gone further In the way OF re-
dressing the crying wrongs of Ireland than TO offer
petty measures of relief 1t has all along lacked bold
ness and comprehensiyeness; and it has been want
ing in these simply because it has been Obvious Of
the claims of justice in the OF the Irish. As long
as this state of things lasts, long must Ireland con-
an accidental development of the feeling to which We
have alluded, and which has now become chronic.
That feeling springs from a sense OF injustice; and
not till the Irish people obtain their rights can it be
expected to pass away. 1t is vain for English states
men to imagine that Fenianism will die out, from
the discouragements which it has to meet with
But even should the present organization, known
by tina. name, collapse something else Of
the same character will be certain to rise
in its place. The remedy for Irelands ills
the short sure way of giving her lasting peace and
prospentyis for England to do justice to her chill
dren. The hope, however that this etfectual method
of Cancellation will be adopted seems, at present. to
be rather distant. And why should the British Gov
eminent trouble itself with the task Of reconstructng
Ireland, when so potent means of silencing the
voice of an outraged people protesting against the
wrongs heaped upon them is available as the SuSpen
sion of the Habeas Corpus