The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-04-07
Preserving Peace.

| preserving Ee1Ccs
Queen Victoria has signed the bill for the
preservation of peace in Ireland commonly
called the Irish Force bill; but the utterances
OF the press, both English and Irish, do not
show any marked confidence in its efficiency,
or in the wisdom of attempting to crush out
BY brute force long standing disafrection.
The London Times, which deftly trims its
sails to the changing winds OF popular opln-
ion, fears that the means proposed by the
government to restore order and peace to
Ireland may prove little more than monu-
ment of goud intentions. They-it says
will give occasion to as great an outcry on
the part of the dsanFectcd as if the suspen-
sion of the Habeas Corpus Act had been
recommended, and yet, while incurring n
full measure Of odium, they may not secure
the object they desire.
The Standard, the Tory organ, thinks that
the government might have brought the
Nationalist press to justice for the offence
it committed ''in the advocacy of insurrec-
'tion, and says that, if it was the best pol
icy to take no notice of such publications,
it is very hard to find any good reason for
special legislation against these newspapers.
The Standard charges that Agrarian out
RACES and what it calls "the Fenian spirit OF
''insurrection" have been stimulated by the
speeches and writings of devoted supporters
:'of Mr. Gladstone" and the Liberal Cabinet.
Theirs is the responsibility, and now they con-
fess their failure by passing what it terms
Coercion bill. Mr.. Bright, says the Stand
ard, is compelled to govern Ireland by those
means with which, as he scornfuly said so
short time ago, "anybody might govern /
''that unfortunate country" The Irish pa
The Dublin Eceatng Mail pointedly declares
tina. sin truth, No suspension of the consti-
'tulion is required for the security OF life and
property in Ireland, but simply suspension
''of incendiary proceedings on the part ofthe
government; discouragemento OF such pro-
'cecuings on the part of persons more or
''less under the influence Of the government,
ssand an honest execution of the law as it
''exists." And the same paper concludes
forcble article on the subject in these words:
'.H'hile the promised provisions for coercion
"appear to US to be worthy OF the most des-
s'po,ic government in the world, we do not
"believe they will produce any good effect
Sin repressing disorder or healing strife.
"These objects might be obtained dy gorern-
"ment; they are beyond the reach OF legiSla-
sHon."
The Londonderry Journal takes the same
line, and says: "The exercise of coercive
measures and the empowering OF unlimited
"means to the magistracy and police will go
"a very little way in stamping out Agrarian
"murder. We are rather inclined to prefer
'the means indirectly intimated by the late
speech of.Mr. Connolly, and endeavor, by
'the dispensing of justice, to prove to the
s'people that the law is their friend-instead
''of impressing them more strongly with the
''idea, by the adoption of almost unprecc-
s.deutedly severe measures, that it is made to
''harass aud Cypress them. Ii thctwcnty-four
country gentlemen who, on Saturday, grasp
'ed SO eagerly at the notion OF having the IIa-
'beas Corpus Act suspended and a sort OF po-
''lice dcspotism established, would be equally
'.zealous in acknowledging the rights of their
dependents, the fear OF the receipt OF a
threatening letter, or the dread of a bullet
'.from behind hedge, would not perturb
'their cQuanimity. 1t is not TO be thought
'that we see no reason for some extra facil-
''ities being given to the police and magis-
''teral authorities. Quite the contrary. But
1--WE are surprised to see gentlemen sanction
$50 cmphatically and strongly the exercise
'of powers the most unlimited and rigorous
'that could be devised, without having re-
''course to martial law-and for what? to
''prevent the continuation Of condition of
'things Which has been brought about, in u
'great part by the unscrupulous and un-
s.justlable acts of the very class to which
'they belong"
These extracts show the tone of some of
the leading organs of public opinion. 1t is
proper, however, to add that tile Saturday
Rerie,o is sturdy advocate OF the policy
of Sword and Gibbet, and that many influ-
ential papers and many prominent men pro-
fess to believe that it is easier to coerce
people into sullen submission than, by JUS
tice and fair dealing, to win their confidence
and love.
T:.c Columbia Elections.