New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-11-30

them, and in so doing shoot down volunteers who
have turned out for the defense OF their own hearths
they have nothing but a short shnt to hope for
from us II would be we'll If your politicians
and journalists could find it IN their hearts
to treat this Irish question with more candOr and
honesty. | can appreciate the temptation OF bid
for the Irish vote at your elections; but the real
leaders should be proof against such temptauon-and
confess that the tone of even the best Republicans
on this question is a of much humiliation to
your most firm friends here. Even in your own col
umns see Ireland classed in the same category with
Poland and other oppressed nations, and this without
any proof or argument which would not have applied
with at least great weight to your own Rebel
States-fOr it all comes to this, even assuming your
premises to be true that a considerable portion of
the people of Ireland wish to sever their connection
with England. There is no distinction whatever, in
any part of the British Empire, between the English
man and the Irishman. Wherever there is a differ
ence it is in favor of the weaker people They are
less heavily taxed in their own island Every career
in England is perfectly open TO them. At our bar
they share the highest prizes. Sir Hugh Cairns who
has just been promoted to the Cmei-Justlccshlp III
our Court of Chancery, is an lrishman. There are
three lnSbmen among our common law Judges, ana
hosts of lrishmen practclng with success NJ our
bar while there is Engishman on the Irish bench,
or so far as know in practice at the lnsh par In
the church and the army the same rule holds ana IN
the medical profession there are many lrlshmcn our
leading physicians and surgeons. State education IN
ireland Is on lar DctlcT loollnE IMAM III
in this respect but for the nenecne quanes OF the
churches and sccts there would be nothing more TO
be wished or fought for The only real grievances
which reman-the established church and the system
of land tenures-would be abolished in session, but
for the opposition Of Irishmen themselves. And
cannot but believe that all men among you who are
entitled TO speak on these subjects, know all tins as
well as We. At any rate, we know 1t well, and,
knowing IT, shall fight hard You did in your great
Rebellion TO prevent the nation from being broken up,
in vla fara MIA fba 40
and against all corners, and the Republican party III
the States ought 10 be the first to under
stand and sympathize with us in this resolve.
To turn 20 pleasanter subjects, the Reform move
ment is taking a new development though one which
fear is likely to hinder rather than advance the good
cause. Hitherto. the agitation since the recess has
been carried on chiefly by the Reform League, whose
programme is, residential manhood suffrage and vote
by ballot. The strength of this organization lies
among the uneniranehised classes, the artisans and
of the great towns. 1t is they who have
sweed the great meetings IN Lancashire, Yorkshire
and Scotland during the past three months Oh
politicians of standing they have few with them: but
Mr.. Bright, Mr. Foster, and others of the advanced
retOmcrs have attended their meetings and expressed
with them without ndOrsng all their views
Meantime another organization, the Reform Union
has been growing into prominence, comprising a
large number Of the foremost Liberal members and
having It's strength in the middle classes. This
Reform Union holds its first great Congress at
consider the points which shall be embodied
in the next Reform bill, and the best means
Of keeping up the agitation till Parliament meets.
Nothing could be better if the Reform Union,
respectable and virtuOus il is, TO all
lppearance would only make common cause with the
Reform League as far possible not accepting their
programme, but welcoming them as fellow workers.
But il seems that this will not be done. The leaders
Of the League are as yet, not eysa iAy4d e the
conference, aud il is stated that d protest will be
IL - th.sx I,s, Nriear
counses prevail the cause Of Reform will be hndered
rather than helped by the Manchester gathering. ~
doubt this unlucky division in the Reform camp
s discussed in the meetings of the Tory Cabinet,
which are being held daily. The result may very
possibly be, that they will bring in no bill at ALL to
the infinite content of Squire Archy and Mr.. Lowe,
who has lately been driven TO the of very strong
language in denouncDg the supposed intention OF
the Government TO trucke TO the popular cry, and
desert their old principle Of opposition TO the smallest
surrender of power by o. privileged classes. Many
advanced Liberals deci. nat this Manchester demon
sration will be somewha; in the nature of the great
wigwam, which met with such flourish of trumpets
the other day at Philadelphia, and ended in such I'M
expected and undesired results for its conyeners and
supporters. And they can certainly point to a num-
Der Of honorable gentlemen who will figure at H.
whose zeal for reform is of the very mdest kind.
On this point, however, / hope TO advance you
further next week
The Jamaica Committee have during the past
week, given public notice that they have Instructed
their solicitors 10 proceed with the indictment against
Mr.. Eyre for the wiful murder of GOrdon-thet
being, in the opinion of counsel, the only form IN
which the proceedings will lie. Of course the chance
of conviction is far less under these circumstances
than if he could have been arraigned for Illegally
putting to DEATH or in fact if any milder form could
have been bit upon That the acts committed amount
10 willful murder technically speaking few lawyers
here doubts but it is almost ont Of the question TO
expect to find special jury who will face the verdict
Of guilty on this count in such case. An ordinary
man can scarcely master the doctrine of criminal
law that where the act has been illegal the question
of motive is not one which is TO DC taken into con-
sideraOn the main question of guilty or not guilty,
though il may well be used in mitigation Of penalty.
The defenders Of Gov. Eyre have meantime gained
small triumph at starting by upsettng the retainer OF
the Jamaica Committee 20 Mr. COlendge the mem.
Der for Exeter who is the most eloquent of all our
criminal lawyers. The solicitor for the Committee
had carelessly given the retainer in the name OF the
Jamaica Committee. The solicitor for the Eyre de-
tense fund gives q retainer himself and objects that
his opponents retainer is bad, the ground that the
Jamaica Committee have no legal existence, that
they not corporation, nor have they any other
status enabling them 10 be sued, and so cannot
retain. The point has been referred TO the new AttOr
neyGeneral, Sir John Rot head Of the bar, as is
the custom on all matters Of etiquette. He has de-
cded that the Jamaica Committees retainer is bad,
and Mr.. COleridge has bowed 10 the decision. The
general feeling at the bar far il has been as yet
pressed IS that the AttOrDeyGeneral Is wrong but it
is said there will not be any attempt to upset his de-
decision so far as the present trial is concerned.
Talking Of the bar reminds of the representative
Of the profession from your side of the water who
still among u.s. though regret to say, only for few
more days. He has won golden opinions on all sides,
even in this most conservative OF professions, and
really think has done more good by his short stay
here than almost any American can remember.
hope he has even succeeded in helping on the Of
codifcaton which drags very much in these lattudes
There il something abOut him particularly attractive
20 the British mind. This charm take TO be partly
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