Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-10-19
Arrest Of Parnell.

bridge the turbulent stream OF Irish discon-
| tent, and over the skilful structure Of Glad
stones creation, England would pass to new
fields of craftsmanship where agrarian agi-
tation would cease from troubling and
weary premiers be at rest, great disappoint-
ment must have come TO the rulers OF the
"nook shotten island with the develop
ments of the passing season. In Scotland
and England both there are indications OF
demands for reformatory land acts that
shall far outstrip in the liberality of their
provisions the utmost concession OF the
Irish land bill. But for the moment this
feature of the land agitation is overshad-
dowed by fresh and exciting events in Ire
land. Since the adjournment of parliament
Parnell has employed his time in melting
opposition to the land act. His efforts
have not been those of bold and outspoken
hostility, but by insidious means and mis-
chievous counsel he has managed to turn
into open, rampant discomfort the DISPOSE
ton the Irish had manifested to accept in
good faith, Gladstone's great measure, an
honest effort to ameliorate their condition.
His incendiary speeches have taxed the
patience of government beyond endurance.
Gladstone seemed destined to see the fruits
of his arduous labors destroyed by the evil
counsels of this pestiferous obstructor, first of
the passage, now Of the operation, of the land
bill. Irishmen were persstently reminded
by him that as by agitation a mighty con-
cession had been wrung from the English
parliament, so by continued disturbance
could home rule, the next point in their
programme, be gained. To enforce their
so abundant among Irishmen in Ireland,
were thus appealed to, and all the powerf III
enginery of the Land League was again
put in motion to keep up the tumult Civ
ilization will, in this turn in Irish affairs,
shift the whole weight of its sympathy to
the side of England, and will Justify the
measure to which that nation has felt COM
PEELED, in self-defence to resort,-the arrest
turber Of peace and prosperity in Ireland.
If this mild intimation of England's pur-
pose to enforce the laws of the realm fails
to sober the Irish mind and bring it back
to realizing sense of its obligations to
civilized society after its reasonable de-
mands have been fully and fairly conceded,
the world may be compelled to look on and
applaud the in1ction of the severer chas-
tisement which defiant belligerency to the
just requirements Of law, order and reason,
will inevitably bring down upon her head.
There is no lack of justification of the ar
rest of Parnell, but the policy of the act may
not be so clear. In this country it is doubt
full if government would have taken such a
step as this. Parnell is now crowned with
kind of martyrdom that intensifies hostil-
ity among his followers thousand fold, and
carries with it little of the quality of intim-
idation. Dublin, where the arrest was
made, on the 18th instant, was instantly
thrown into violent ferment, and the city
bears the appearance of an armed camp.
The excitement speedily spread over the
island, and from all quarters of the country
fiery dispatches breathing defiance and
counseling resolute resistance came from
sympathetic leaguers. Parnell in prison
may be more potent element of disturb.
ance than Parnell at liberty. Counteracting
moral forces in Ireland, like the presence
there before the people of some of the more
able of the English liberals, opposing Par
nell by the exposure of his designs and the
hollowness of his pretentions, might possibly
have neutralized, to some extent, the poison
Of his influence. Irishmen need to be in
spired with confidence in the sincerity of
England in her efforts to devise and exc
cute measures of relief from present evils,
for advancing her prosperity, developing
ner resources, charging her civil privileges
and improving her facilities for moral as
well as material elevation. The presence in
Ireland of liberal Englishmen instilling into
the Irish mind confidence in England's be-
nefcent purposes would have been more in
harmony with the American idea of dealing
with macontents. After the assured failure
of all means to conciliate, the policy of the
employment of all means to crush would have
been too plain to have required defending.
England having undertaken repression, must,
and no doubt will, carry it to the bitter end
and Ireland by spurning the land bill is placed
in position where she cannot reasonably
expect the sympathy of civilized nations.