The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-06-29
British Coercion in Meath.


British Coercion in Meath.
NAvAN, June IS, 1870.
have already stated that throughout the entire
county OF Meath the Coercion act Is IN full force,
and 1t now remains for me to show the condition TO
which 1t reduces the people and the feeling enter
tanned regarding it, In the first place, let me say
that all found out OF their houses after sun
set liable to be brought before magistrate. and
II they are unable to satisfy his worship that they
were out on lawful business they liable to be sent
to jail for six months. People in other parts OF
Ireland say that this provision Of the act is undoubt
edy severe, but that it is never enforced being
merely intended to keep bad characters quiet and
never nterferes with honest and respectable men.
wherever the act has not come into operation this Is
the prevalent opinion, and indeed 1t was my own
opinion also until came to the county Meath. But
personal knowledge has since convinced me that
such IS not the fact; that all took quite too
cfu view of the measure: for good and bad alike
are met upon the highway, and are either searched
or Intercepted by the police. ! can assure you
that neither their pos ton nor their previous good
character is able to save them from this treatment;
the mniOns OF the law may sometimes be satisfied
with hypocrtcal display Of innocence on the part
Of the supposed culprt; but no honorable man would
resort to such an artce to escape The enanglements
and the consequences OF the law.
The police are paradng the roads at all hours OF
the night; every person they meet whom they do
not know Is certain to be asked some very unpleas
ant questions; should any OF the officers have a
grudge or Ill VIII against him he will pass the re-
mainder of the night in the police barracks; and The
next day ne must prove his innocence before
a magistrate or go TO jail for six months. With the
exception Of the arstocrats the whole population of
Meath are at the mercy OF the police ana even the
aristocrats, when unknown, are not unfreguently
subjected to the same treatment ordinary MORALS.
may however, say that an Irish policeman is pecu
liarly quick In discovering those who ought not to
be arrested-that is he knows who are able and VINO
are likely to be of use to him in the way OF obtaining
promotion, and these, OF course, are not only not
made amenabe to the Coercion act, but are fawned
upon In the most crouchlng, slavish manner.
THE IRISH POLICE
The Irish police are either "bullies' or sneaKs'
and their power at present, formidable 1t is, is
well calculated to make rogues and hypocrites Of
the people. In some cases the law is too vigorously
enforced; in others it is not enforced at ALL Inno
cent persons are sometimes punished and punished
severey the guilty not unf equenly escape. JUS
tice Is not administered with an even hand; crime
is not punished, nor honesty rewarded. The prying
vigilance and INSCRIPTIONS conduct OF the police
may perhaps, for while be successful in suppre S.
ing crime, bal am very strongly inclined to think
that their vigilance and unscrupulOusness WILL
before long, have very Injurious effect upon the
peace OF the country | may, of course, be astray
j
1 may be; bat 1t strikes me. as it must
strike any one, that noeest and respectable men.
well known in this country, who have lived all their
lives in it, viii not submit to be questioned, day after
day and week after week, either by the magistrates
or the ponce.
What is your name Where did you come from
What are your Where are you goingf What
know any respectable per IN the neiehborhoOdY
Have you any iters or documents about your Show
them. These are few, and only few OF The ques
snn
set 10 obliged TO answer; whatever letters and docu
ments are found upon his person are read;
rest him or set him free
the great evil OF The Coercion act, as have men,
toned in former letters, IS that it coniOuns the IN
former are Iar more likely to suffer under the act
than the ,ater Honest mea WIZ 60 IN the lawful
rouglfares at midnight as well a, at MONDAY, fearing
neither the Coercion act nor the police; but the
knayes, the disoyal persons, OF whom | am per-
suaded there are a large number in Meath VIII Sc
ect the by-ways, and SO escape the law and the con-
stabuary. The police merely walk the pubic roads
and guard such houses as are considered 70 be In
danger OF visit from 'Rory OF the Hs.'
l. appears to me they might be amusing them
strnmenlal in bringing so much as one criminal 10
justice. But as they are pnd, and well paid. for
present is comparatively easy, they must try TO
make tile puohc believe that they are doing some
thing TO earn the LIBERAL stipend allowed them by the
State.
The act Is, know from experience, peculiarly Sc
we're with egard TO strangers. They, 100. are liable
to be questioned by the police, not only should they
happen TO be outside after sunset, but at all
able to give an account Of them
selves SO as to satisfy the magistrate that they
are In the district or as in the present instance in
the county, on lawful business, they are liable to be
sent to jail; but even il they allowed remain
at large they must procure some respectable house
hOder to go bail that they will conduct themselves
properly while they continue In the district An
American is certain to excite the suspicion of the
vigant cOnstables, who watch the coming ana the
departure Of every tram with all the eagerness with
which the vultures and tile harpes eye their prey.
Friday last a most respectable gentleman from the
United States, whose name was unable to ascer
tain, received visit from a large party of police,
headed by the sub-inspector, al hotel in this
county.
Tue stranger had Just retired to rest when his
visitors entered. When they opened mis- chamber
door, the atrrghted gentleman started up rather
quickly, and the cowardly crew. thinking he was
about to produce revolver rushed out Of the room.
AS soon as they mad recovered consciousness they
t,ously with their opponent. They began, l am
told to ask him some foolish question or other, with
the view OF elciting from him reply. They next
opened the door, still taking the utmost precautiOn,
and finding TINT the stranger was unarmed they
proceeded TO interrogate him In the usual manner,
and were answered with great candor and frank
ness. Having searched his box and hnding nothing
therein showing that he had come to the country on
unlawful business they went away, giving this
native Of free America the first taste he probably
ever received of the sweetness OF British rule In
Ireland.
In this very hotel two gentlemen belonging to ,he
Irish Court OF Chancery were stopping few weeks
ago. They came down along the bogue on fishing
excursion Before they were an hour under the roof
OF this hotel their baggage was ! understand,
searched by the police, bat they found that 1t con-
tanned nothing but fishing net and few other SIM
pie little things.
These petty miserable attempts on the part OF the
police TO obtain promotion, in the majority OF
instances, come TO naugnt. What break-heart 10
must be that so many opportunities for preferment
only TO make the asplrantS more RIDICULOUS.
'.AFrERn THE HERALD WRITER
This morning they gave your correspondent sur
prise. When had written somewhat more than
nan letter to the HERALD the hotel was sur
rounded by party of police, while the inspector,
and few OF his men, with two government spies,
made their way to the apartment IN which was at
work. The inspector roughly asked me what busi-
ness had in this nelghborhood had any one TO
30 hail for me; or had l any proof to snow that
was there upon lawful business.
must say that considered this most unwar-
rantabe stretch OF authority both upon the part OF
the oncer and his men; particularly so, as after my
arrival III town the inspector and the ponce
were the first persons called upon, and this
was the reply made TO mis- inquiry. called upon
them, as indeed, call upon ali likely to give Inc In
formation TO the actual state OF the country, and
on that occasion told them VINO and what l was.