The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1881-10-20
yrs aorAr,os m in,.Asp.


irish World and ono Of the recognized
leaders Of the Irish people In America In
yicw N the state Of affairs at present IN
ireland, he has Just issued circular calling
on the Irish land leagues Of America to
strengthen themselves for the crisis which
Mr. Parncll's arrest brings about. That
Mr.. Parnell Is an advanced nationalist
there can seem TO be little question. 1.-The
Is not working for the freedom OF Ireland
what ends can he have In view The land
league, II we understand 1t Alright, Is but an
organization having for Its real purpose
the ultimate redemption OF Ire
land from English rule. Nothing
short Of this will satisfy it, however much
it may for future advantage tenn
porize on intermediate questions, Of which
the recent land bill passed by parliament is
one. That this bill very greatly ameliorates
the condition of the Irish tenantry scarcely
any one will gainsay, but it does not go far
enough for Mr.. Parnell and other land
league leaders. When we remember that
the English land system was forced by
superior power upon the Irish people, aided
by strategy and cajolery, and that it is en-
tirely foreign in all of its essentials to the
former customs and to the traditions Of this
people, we can understand why
even the most generous modifca-
ton will not satisfy them.
Under their laws and ..estab lished usage,
before the yoke of English bondage fell
upon them, Irish land was free, and feeling
in their hearts that it should still be free,
how can they, brave and liberty-loving
people, revering the memories of their land
as they have come down through the gem
erations from father to son, from mother to
daughter, quietly rest under oppression
and wrong? Can we not, as Americans,
sympathize with them in their longings for
freedom, their hopes for the re-establish-
ment of their nationality? 1t is but very
natural that Mr.. Parnell should be nation
alis:. that he should want to see his country
with an autonomy of its own, free and in
dependent among the nationalities of the
world. The grandson of distinguished
American, Commodore Charles Stewart, of
the United States navy, who did eminent
service in the cause of his country in the
last war with England, and being descended
honorable Irish family, he could not well be
otherwise than an intense patriot end an
ardent advocate for the independence Of his
country. That the arrest Of Mr.. Parnell
should have most exciting effect on the
people of Ireland themselves and on the
Irish people in this country is but natural.
The acknowledged leader of the land league
and the devoted advocate Of its principles,
and fearless in his continued agita-
ton, always within the pale of
the law, as he himself says, in
behalf of his people, how could
the land leaguers be otherwise than in
tensely excited, not to say indignant and
incensed? We take it, however, that the
arrest ofMr Parnell and others ofthe agita-
tors is an evidence of weakness on the part
of the English government. The advanced
nationalist, those of the O'Donova n-Rossa
school, who, lacking prudence and policy,
would rush matters and precipitate revolu-
ton, have accused Mr., Parnell of a wishy-
washy patriotism, but this arrest will GER
tainly make him the idol of the people and
very largely increase his strength and influ-
ence His arrest is in sense triumph for
national principles, that is to say, for the
land league, because it was for his national
ism, for his preaching Of the doctrine of ma
tional independence that he was arrested.
We take it that his arrest will strengthen
the land leagues in this country and may
entirely bring them into the national Or
ganization. As we before said, all Ameri-
cans can certainly sympathize with the
Irish people in their legitimate efforts for
but no civilized people can en-
dorse murder or rapine, can countenance
the sentiments charged to have been uttered
by Mr.. O'Donovan Rosa, that it was right
and Just warfare to blow up British steam
ships with dynamite internal machines.
Nor can the poisoning Of cattle, or the way
laying or numbering Of landlords and stew
ards in Ireland be countenanced. We can
not be made to believe that these sentiments
are either countenanced or instigated by the
land league or any of its leaders. Such
acts VIC op,ne arc but the desperate deeds
of men made reckless by oppression and
want, men driven to utter despair by see
ing their wives and children thrown out
on the commons to starve or live, as chance
may be, by heartless landlords and stew
ards under a law that is itself a menace to
civilization, foul blot upon the humanity
and the intelligence of the English govern
ment. II is true the recently adopted land
bill is a great modification of the former
law, but we question much its approach
even 10 a strained justice to the Irish people.
England has right Of rule over ireland
only by conquest, by the law that
might makes right, and that is tenure
Of authority as antagonistic to common
Justice, as highway robbery is, as antago-
nistic 10 that law Of nations which would
preserve the balance Of power in the inter-
est OF peace, as murder is wrong and an
evil. per &c. However much the indigna-
ton and the wrath Of the Irish people at
home and abroad may be aroused By the
arrest OF Mr.. Psrnell, we trust that they
NAV still be possessed Of patience, may
still watch and bide their time, taking no