New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-18
Law IN IRELAND.
". Bence Jones an Macmillan.

No Trishman ever breakg the law without having
one eye watching over his shoulder to DE sure his
way of escape is open. l remember when / first
went over, a characteristic story was current.
man was under sentence of death Tor some bad
crime gentleman whom he used to live near
Glanced to know hat the man had meant to shoot
him. He went to the jail the day before the man
was to be hanged and said to him You might rs
well tell me- Pat, since 1t can now make no diner
ence TO YOU " by you did not shoot me for know
YOU meant to do it," The gentleman was capital
Shot and always carried arms and was known TO
be very resolute. The answer was: well, your
honor it's true it will make no odds TO me now 50
III tell ye had We covered twice from behind %
ditch and us | was going TO pull the trigger the
thought went through my head: by -, II miss
Whenever the law is enforced it is vastly pow
erfu for good, all appearances to the contrary not
Witbstanding The common saying among them
selves when quarrelling and before 1t comes to
blows: d" III forgive you the law, II you'll strike
me us conclusive proof bow strong deterrent the
law Is and how every keeps II before his ey es
The influence in his neighborhood Of an active mag
istrate who is just and determined, Is another
strong proof. The unlnixed and unyarying hatred
shown in Parliament by all Irish patriots to the law
and police and TO all that helps to make these ell
cent, shows that they knoS VINO are Their real
enemies. The curious readiness TO go security Tor
neighboss who borrow money, etc. comes from TINS
same clan feeling 1t is nothing short OF Jolly, anu
ends in the ruin of numbers. ,
1t is sadly certain, too, that untruth toward all
the rest of the world griev0usy prevails IL Is
the painful part OF living IN Ireland liz meets
one at every turn and among all sorts and classes.
One is forced To become as nara as the nebHer null
stone and simply believe nothing at all, II one
would not be the prey of every schemer. No
doubt there are individuals who speak the truth
God forbid there should not be. And there are de-
grees of truth Tor unruthl that one learns TO recog
nZe There is a common expression. which can
never hear without laughing. When any one
wishes To convince you that another may be be-
eyed about something lin which his interest is not
concerned he will say: -" You know, Sir, Jack is q
man who would not tell We lie for nothing"
There Is no doubt distinction in this, though the
moral attainment of Jack may not be of very high
value. One has to Judge mainly by probabilities
liz is not only the deliberate falsehOods but the
reIableness throughout, that has to be met. There
is an atmosphere of .untruth and half-truth sur
rounding everything SO that those who are true
themselves, but have been brought up in this at
mosphere seem unconscious OF 1t, aud treat want
of truth with forbearance 1t does not deserve
Nobody seems TO expect that truth and right shall
prevail. When, magistrate, one has decided
against q man. there is no wonder he should think
YOU have decided contrary to truth and right but
when one has decided In man favor, 1t is hard
case when he meets you, and says: God bless
your honor it was only through You got the
better Of that blackguard." The man does not be-
lieve in the truth aud right of his own case, and
thinks he won by favor