The daily gazette., 1880-12-23
From the N. Y. Herald.
IRELAND.

The Gladstone administration is
like storm-stressed bark on an un-
known and angry see. The coast
ahead is the coast of Ireland, The
waves drive it on and on
Fog, wind, rain, mist, and before it
the menacing shores! And yet when
the Gladstone administration set out
on its proud career nothing was SO
near to its hopes as the achievement
of good for Ireland. Tothat end men
who had said farewell to public life
came into the Cabinet. Mr.. Bright
threw aside the repose Of tranquil
old age for Ireland. Mr.. Forster took
a minor Office in the new Cabinet in
the hope that he might do good to Ire
land. Mr.. Gladstone avowed the pa
cincation of Ireland as the crown and
elimination Of his splendid career.-
The history Of constitutional govern
ment in England does not show a
Cabinet more kindly disposed TO Ire
land than the Cabinet Of Mr.. Glad
stone. And no government has met
with so many embarrassments. 1t
seems almost as if in dealing with
Ireland that the more you concede the
more you Will be asked to concede.-
In the end no government can live by
concession, for under certain cir
cumstances concession becomes a
crime.
During the war of the rebellion the
time came when the federal authors
ties were driven to extreme measures
emancipation, confiscation, martial
law, the suspension of the habeas cor
pus. 1t will be remembered that no
party was SO exacting and critical at
this time as the abolition party. The
moment it necame possible to achieve
by gentle and gradual measures, not
alone the freedom of the slaves, but
far more than a Phillips or Garrison
ever dreamed, the abolitionists took up
arms against Mr.. Lincoln. He was
old. He was feeble. He was half
hearted. He had not felt the mighty
heart of the resolute and loyal North.
The man for the -FOUR was Chase, the
same Chase who did not hesitate to
drag the ermine through the cutters
in the hope that he might become a
democratic, pro-slavery, anti-republi-
can candidate for the Presidency. 1t
is a parallel case with Ireland. MIR.
Gladstone no sooner takes office with
the avowed and earnest purpose OF
solving the Irish question and strength
ening the British Empire by doing
away with a system which has been
the weakness and the shame Of Great
Britain than he is antagonized by the
Irish party. He brings gifts in his
hands and is met with curses. He Of
fers any measure of reform consistent
with the integrity of the Empire, and
| is compelled to threaten martial law.
Those OF our readers who hoard the
eloquent and exhaustive speech OF the
Rev. DR.. Hepworth on Ireland, report
OF which we printed yesterday, will un-
dersland some of the difficulties attend
this complicated problem. DIR. Hep,
worth went to Ireland on an errand OF
mercy. He had no part or lot In Irish
questions. He was cold, calm locker
OIL, to whom Ireland was no mere than
Albania or Montenegro. He carried
with him the aims of great nation CIV
ell to relieve famine. He was full Of
sympathy for the sorrow which met him
for the want, the disease, the despair
which permeated Irish society. Yet
nothing was palmer to DR.. Hepworth
than the incapacity of the leaders Of the
Irish people to deal with the Irish ques-
ton. Ireland wants more than potatoes
and meal. Her people have within
themselves the power Of self-govern-
ment and developement. But the poll
cy of the popular leaders is to make
Ireland the mendicant Of nations
These leaders show the vices Of mendi-
caucy-arrsgance, insincerity and des-
potlsm. In legislation 1t 10 "obstrue-
Lon." In society 10 Is "Boycotting.'
Obstruction In parliamentary body
where we expect liberty, self-respect
consideration for tho rights Of Others
and desire to reach sound conclusions
in childishness. Boycottism means an
archy. In the presence Of obstruction
there is no parliament In the world that
would not fall back upon the supreme
lpheroet right OF self defence. Boycott
ting can only be answered by the sword
As Mr.. Lincoln taught us in the early
days Of the rebellion that while there
was nothing more precious in the sight
| of freemen than the habeas corpus, tht
habeas corpus should never be used Il
destroy the Republic. Government
means freedom, but not the freedom tt
commit suicide.
A government will meet difficulties
and yet not be swayed by them. Il
may be necessary to try Mr.. Parnel
and his followers-to put them il
prison and inflict upon them penalties
and indignities. 1t is necessary to Sc
cure Mr.. Boycott in his right to his
potatoes and cabbage, even if the Cold
stream Guards hold dress parade or
his fields. We can even see how a,
amiable Secretary as Mr.. Forster
may be compelled to proclaim martha
law and throw the leaders of the Lane
League into prison. This will not set
tie the irish question. Mr.. Gladstone
is said to favor large measure of aio
to emigration. But emigration does
not settle the Irish question. The
Irish have better right to IRELAND
than Mr.. Gladstone. 1t is their home
and the home of their ancestors. They
are bound to it by ties of peculiar af
fection. 1t is the home of warriors
poets and saints. 1t is not overpopu
lated, like China or Belgium, 1t is no
in an inclement and exacting latitude
like Alaska or Iceland. The soil il
rich. The scenery is as beautiful as 1
dream. Sunshine brings life, hope ant
desire. The rains dover it's valley
and hillsides with royal, enchanting