The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-11-11
Darker Clouds Gathering Over ireland
Ny. Herald.


compromise Tor sympathy between the
government and the agitation, Dir. Par
nell, who only the other day was the
leader of faction which was the mockery
of the Parliament and the derision OF the
people, now advances to the position held
byO'ConuelI as theilesder.of the:trlbune OF
of the Irish people. Conservative men
ike the distinguished Justin Mccarthy
rally 70 his banner. The Church swings to
his side. The radical movement in Eng
land considers the wisdom of making COM
mon cause with him. The liberal govern
ment with whomiIrishmen have sympath-
ICED is the theme of Mr.. Parnells invective.
No statesman has done so much for Ire
land as Mr.. Gladstone. No statesman IS
willing to do more. The Cabinet contains
Mr. Bright, who went into Office to do what
he could for Ireland. Mr. Forster is
Irish Secretary. Hefresigned his claims
TO high Office in the liberal government.
hoping that ia a small place he might
solve his penetrating, enervating problem.
The agitators have turned against the Cab
met, and especially against Mr. Gladstone
and MIR. Forster, as the enemies of Ireland.
The alliance which liberals in England and
ireland hoped would be a new bond OF
union between Ireland and England has
been broken. When Mr., Gladstone meets
parliament he will find the Irish members
among hislmost untiring opponents.
All this time Ireland is tossed about
like waterlogged ship on stormy sea.
She seems to have no captain and no
Grew. The waves are.sweeping over her
while the passengers huddle between
decks to shout and swear. If it were
proper to apply such phrase to people
we would say she was breaking to pieces.
Mr.. Psrnell goes from town to town
preaching revolution. His platform is
radical and destructive, as much so as Mr..
Lincoln's schems of emancipation Mr..
Lincoln, as war measure, destroyed an
ancient and revered society," society
based upon capital. caste and tradition
which for generations governed the country
and tried to found q nation. He was
h~SSSSANS
of war. Mr.. Parnell propounds doctrines
of the most radical character. He would
sever the relations between the lords of
the soil and the tillers of the soil, He
would carry out the Robespierre doctrine
of confscation. He sees the land IN the
hands of few, as was the land in France
before the revolution. He proposes to do
by peaceable methods, by fierce and per-
sistent agitation. what tho rulers of France
only attained after a long and bitter
civil strife. He would bring Ireland
back to its tribal condition. all ownership
IN land destroyed, except so far as land If
ownedlby the husbandmen. He would do this
with an impoverished and ignorant
tenantry. the country poor and with limit
ed resources, without allies. with small
sparse, hungry population. and arrayed
against him a proud aud resolute aristo
cracy, He admits no compromise. Nc
commune leader, no Jacobin. ever dared
so sweeping plan for the destruction OF
an old society and the reconstruction of a
new system which could only live at the
expense of wealth and privilege.
In the meantime Mr.. Gladstone is
asserting the authority of England
Pressed By the ruling classes-by all who
own property, by people who feel that il
an agitation can flourish in one part of The
Empire it must flourish in another; tha
the right to sequestrate the lands ct the
Duke of Devonshire in Ireland means uiti
mately the exercise of the same right il
England-the Premier is dealing with MI
ParnelI as with an avowed enemy Of the
crown, Mr.. Gladstone holds that Mr..
Parnell 'ssposition is inconsistent with the
allegiance due by subject to the Queer.
Mr.. Bradlaugh may organize land leagues.
Mr.. Labouchere may&propose to abolish
the Lords. Mr.. O'Connor may wish
to control the prerogatives of the crown.
All this means nothing. 1t is part of
English freedom. There ia no response
from Englishmen. A radical club has
about as much influence in vast. teeming
London as woman's rights convention in
New Y ork. 1t does not disturb the peace.
No one cares aboat lit. Crowds come to
the gatherings as they came TO hear the
Tichborne trial or brood over the BALKAN
mystery. If there is one thing about
which London cares less than another it is
ireland. Public opinion has not advanced
beyond Shakespeare's time. when an
1rishman was not worthy of the import
ance given to FIuellen or Jack Cade. Ill
Irishmen confined themselves to sentimen
tai grievances-even to questions of fat b
like Catholic emancipatIon-thera would
be the same Indifference. But when the
essence, the life. the soul of an agitation
mean that there are no rights of property
In land except the right to till it, the blow
Is aimed at the tenure of all land in Eng
land. If ACromwelPs grants are to be |
attacked and destroyed by Mr. Parnel |
when may not the grants of Henry VIII
be attacked by Mr.. Labouchere and Mr.. |
The power which drives MIR
Gladstone to make war upon Mr.. Paruell |
is power which sees that if Mr.. Parnell |
,an drive Mr. Herbert out of the ruins of
Abbey successor of Mr..
Parnell may dispute the right of the Duke
OF Bedford to Woburn and of the Duke of
w estmlnstex to the better part of London.
Tins aoa fha rvn-o ~ukr.o - 4