New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-17
LIZ pnucESSEN ~ LRLLANN.


Ordinary processes OF law count FOR litilc in
hrland. At the Cork A ,siZes two Of the agi-
ta;ors have been acquitted. They had been
charged with irtimidating farmer VINO had
taken lease after the previous tenant Lad
been cvi,ted and as their speeches had been
publish Il ana as the farmer himself made o.
rec. accusations against them, the evidence Tor
the prosecution WIS very strong. Inc
pressure of the Land League has eva
IDENTITY been brought TO bear upon tn"
main witness Tor the prosecution, for be
has h,tly coutradict.d his own deposition,
and the jury, after an hours dehbcrd'ion,
have voted Tor an acqultal. in second
case the result is even more noticeable a
prisoner charged with folciby entering Il
house from witch the tenants had been
cvicted and Sitting the cars Of the balm IN
charge e,rapes without punishment, although
he WAS positively identified ~ the assaiiant
aud his guilt was proved II is probable
chat the iurics winch brought in these ver-
diets were drawn NANNY from the
tauant-larmer class, and that taey had
been warned beforehand that they
would incur heavy penalties by opposing the
popular cause. Whether they dreaded tue
consequences OF independent action III the
iury-box or seized the opportunity OF promot-
jng the interests Of the Land League, they
played fast and loose with the facts OF the
case.
While these acquittals clnnot fail to affect
the main prosecutions which the Government
have ordered, il would be premature to assume
that break down is inevitable. Dublin Is far
more conservative than Cork. MOre than
once has it been proved that Ma
tional movement whIch was creating in
tense enthusiasm elsewhere was looked upon
with dstrust and indifference by large and IN
nuential classes in the capital. The Arch
bishop Of Dublin has openly opposed the land
agitators at various stages Of the movement,
so that the final decision of Che jury may not
be c1lorod by religious prejudice. y jury Of
tradespeople would be ap, to think Of their
ills ami vote so as to please their best GUS
toners and NJ the same time relieve gen
eral business from the Gistracting effects OF
continuous agitation and disorder. The poDu-
lar movement has been resisted and convictions
have been repeatedly secured in Dublin, even
when the excitement has been as great ia II
Is at present. The collapse OF the Govern
mapt prosecutions therefore, although hishly
probablc Is not to be looked upon as a fore
gone conclusion
Meanwhile, thc temptation 20 resort to the
Old methods of coercion is gradually overcom-
ing the scluples of the Liberal Ministry. Such
! a policy would command at once large majority
IN the Commons for the Conservatives w0uld
not OppOsc il and the Radicals would htsltlte be-
fore voting with the Home Rulers. TIE English
garrison in Ireland has been already rem
forced and suspension of habe5s corpus VIII
place all the leaders of the land movement
at the mercy Of the Government. What was
done so successfully in ISIS, when john
Mitchels revolutionary call brought 10000
! English soldiers into the island, and was twice
rcpcatcd during the period of the Fcni.n
| brotherhood, can be attempted again without
endangerng the prospects OF the party IN
power. The writ of habcas corpus can be
suspended, and at the same time remedial
legislation Of wide scope can be proposed. In
| this way Wing and Radical may be alternately
! apreased and both sides OF the House, and
possibly both Houses may be brought into
harmonious relations. Mr.. Forster Las Shown
in the past remarkable facility for performing
feats of political management, but he has
never undertaken anything SO difficult a. thai
of recOnciing the advocates Of Force bll
and OF Land Reform.
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