The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-05-31
From Our Own Correspondent
OUR IRISH LETTER
DUBLIN. MAY 10Th 1sz

DUBLIN, May 18th, 1874.
The prospects of temperance Legislation
during the existence of the present beer
! supported government, are extremely gloomy
Even so small a measure az that for closin,
public houses on Sundays in Ireland is not t,
be passed. This measure was first introd ucet
some two or three years since, and at once mel
with considerable support from the Irisl
members and of course with the most violent
opposition from the licensed vintners. These
last carry on their largest trade on Sunday
but it was not the loss of that trade they put
FORWARD as an argument for opposing the
measure. Not at all; they were dishonest
enough, on the contrary, to pretend that all
they were concerned for was the convenience
OF the public and especially of "the poor
working man." All their objections were
SHOWN to be groundless, and, as far as possible.
it was shown that the great majority of tn
Irish people were in favor of Sunday closing.
A week or two since deputation attended by
no less than twenty six Irish members of Par
Lament visited on the Chief Secretary for
Ireland (Sir Michael Beaoh) to urge on bim to
give the support of the Government to the
bill, and few days afterwards, when the
publicans went on a deputation to urge him to
take the opposite course, they could not get q
single Irish. member to accompany them. 1t
was thought that in these circumstances the
bill would pass but whom the evening came
on which it was to be read q second time. a
debate on some English subject was prolop ged
until after the time ut which opposed bills
can be brought on, and the second reading
had, therefore, to be postponed. The following
day it was seen that mo other opportunity
would be available this session for bringing on
the measure, and, accordingly, it was resolved
20 simply propose q resolution affirming it's prin-
ciple. This resolution was proposed and re.
jected. The Irish vote was "a for and 10
against, but the English beer interest, which
chiefly contributed to the establishment of the
was thrown into the Irish publicans'
scale in an overwhelming fashion. The broad |
'esult is that Sunday closing has been formally
iecreed by an overwhelming majority of Ire
and's representative, but is prevented by
scotch and English votes. And there is not
he slightest chance that this verdict will he
eversed until this Tory ministry goes ont of
,ffce.
The Galway election petition trial, which 10
o come off on Monday next before Judge
lawson, is likely to prove as notorious an aft
If as the Galway petition trial of 1872; and
8 1t was the presiding judge-tudge Keogh-
rho made the trial at that time remarkable.
8 it is the judge who is to preside ut the
orthcoming trial-Judge Lawson-who will
west this affair with universal attention.
his Lawson is n fierce bigoted Protestant. !
18th Orange tendencies; perfectly unscrupu-
us and thorough partizan and ready to
etray bis trust to any government who will n
him for nj Tba wi, 4;
veen himself and Keogh is that he is cautious .
the use of hislanguage and Keogh is not. t.
Ike Keogh, he waded to the bench by course A
treachery and chicanery. He started as a Il
'nservative, when the Conservatives were in ~
'wer, promising to support the Church es- O.
blishment and saying that to disestab1ish o
9 Protestant Church in Ireland would be, \
re matrcide in the eyes of the ancient law =,
yer, crime too awful to contemplate. Yet, a.
1en the Conservatives went cut of power 40
d the Liberals were in with . prospect Of q a,
'g term, this same scoundrel stOOd rs o Lib =,
Il for tho borough of POrtarlington which r.
bribed into 0leotiDg him, and voted for the
and diSendo wment of tho M
oteetant Church. In due time, this kind Of fr
ng conducted him to the bench, and once v
the bench he began to show himself in his br
10 ooIoFs. He has almost alwSys gone on in
Belfast Oironit along with Ksogh, and there H
hi" best on every occasion in party cases n
get the Catholic and the Home Ruler con hi
ted, and the OTangemen acquitted. At the
he Of the Galway position trial, the legal tr,
ostiOn whether Captain Trench, the Tory, di
'uld get the seat of which KeOgh had de- ca
we'd its riGbtful owner, Captain Nolan, was vi
erved for the decision of the Court of Com ma
n Pleas, Of which Lawson is q member. se