Morning journal and courier., 1881-02-07

| so lnfOrmoQ that the R0FerQ1n6nC QOeS not 1n- l tend to interfere further with any of the l members of the League, provided that | their speeches and actions are moderated in l character I have the highest authority for stating that even after the passing of the CO., ercion bill, not more than four arrests will be made in connection with the Land League. This is the present intention, but any attempt to fan the agitation into the dimensions attain ed in November and December will, unques- tionably, alter this wise resolution on the part of the authorities. Indeed it is not i'm probable that if matters continue in their present satisfactory condition the Coercion bill as far as the Land League is concerned, will be almost dead letter. It is not so, however, with the Fenians. Their or ganization will be Inercilessly dealt with. I am told that the authorities have authentic information as to the number of rifles illicitly imported into the country, almost to within hundred, and know where to lay hands on 8 large number. This perhaps is official braggadocio, but when informers are wanted in Ireland they are a1- ways forthcoming. One of the most expe- rienced detectives the Irish staff is at present in England making inquiries in the midland and northern towns respecting the notifications of the Fenian society. Re garding MT. Davitt's imprisonment, the intention of the authorities is not to detain him in custody after the subsistence of the agitation and the re-estab-
 
 the landlords and tenants of Ireland. This much desired consummation can not be reached until the land bill is passed and comes into operation. In the meantime the severity of prison discipline will be relaxed in Davitt's favor to the extent that he will be exempt from hard convict labor and from association with the lower grades of criminals. The state of his health will also be taken into full considera- tion. This intelligence was allowed to leak out in view, it is supposed, of allaying the anxiety of his friends regarding his physical ailments. To-day Miss Parnen presided at meeting of the Ladies' Land League. About forty ladies were present. Messrs. Dillon and Boyton took part in the proceedings Applications for affiliation have been re- ceived from ladies' committees in all parts of Ireland, especially in Ulster and Connaught
 Under the pressure of events Mir. Glad stone has found himself compelled to adopt the policy of Bismarck. Whatever may be thought of the legality of the Speakers so- called coup Getat, there are scarcely two opinions as to it's necessity. Though the Irish members claim to have acted within the limits of their rights. they now frankly ad- init that the government was compelled in self-defence to break down an opposition which brought the work of the government to standstil, and say that though the Speakers act was illegal it was necessary. The English organs of liberal opinion admit |
 
 The Duly Neaos says: '"The Speaker act | ed on his own responsibility. So Napoleon | III. declared that in setting aside the consti- l tuition which he had sworn to obey he acted l on his own responsibility and from sense of | Lis duty to France" The Spectator calls it a | ''coup GetGt' and "a revolution in parliamen- l tary procedure, !" "but the Speaker thereby | saved Parliament itself''
 From the first the result of the struggle l was a foregone conclusion. The forty Irish | members could not hope to be allowed per- to override the will of their 600 | English and Scotch colleagues, the more so as they could not claim even majority of | the representatives of Ireland. The change l Is not without it's value to Ireland. | It was made to secure the passage of the coercion bill. but it places in the hands of the government the power to carry any remedial measure of land reform which the ministry may decide on offering The Irish people and the Irish, party them selves are convinced of this fact. Their de- termined opposition to coercion was based on fear that if coercion pure and simple became 8 law the whole force of the Tory party in Parliament would have been used to obstruct the passage of the land bill. Had the old rules remained in force no land bill l that would have met the wishes and needs of the Irish people could have been passed. Now the responsibility of dealing with large measures of land reform rests solely with Mir. Gladstone's government. It they are rue to their professions Parliament has con- ferred upon them ample power to force through large measures of remedial legisla- ion. By the use they make of that power history will judge them. If it is found that while they use this extraordinary power to ,oerce the Irish people, they yet fail in firm less and courage to use it in ameliorating the condition of the Irish tenants, they will give ! final proof of the inability of Englishmen o legislate for Ireland.
 A great many land meetings that were to nave been held to-day were stopped by order ,f the government.
 The Tunes maintains that the government las crushed the Home Rulers.