The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-10-19
THE AGIrArIoN IN IRELANp.

on the Irish land leagues of America TO
strengthen themselves for the crisis which
Mr.. Parnell's arrest brings about. That
Mr. Parnell is an advanced nationalist
there can seem to be little question. If he
is not working for the freedom of Ireland
what ends can he have in view? The land
league, if We understand it 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 ameiorates
the condition Of the Irish tenantry scarcely
any one will gainsay, but it does not 90 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 on
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 moditica-
ton will not satisfy them.
Under their laws and established usas e,
before the yoke of English bondage fell
upon them, Irish land was .rce, and feeling
in theirhearts that it should still be free,
how can they, brave and lberty-loying
people, revering the memories Of their land
as they have come down through the gen
erations from father to son, from mother to
daughter, quietly rest under oppression
and wrongP Can we not, rs Americans,
sympathize with them in their longings for
freedom, their hopes for the re-estabish-
ment of their nationality? 1t is but very
natural that Mr.. Parnell should bea nation
alis:, that he should want to see his country
with an autonomy of its own, free and in.
dependent among the nationalties 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
on his fathers side from an ancient and
honorable Irish family, he could not well be
otherwise than an intense patriot and an
ardent advocate for the independence of his
country. That the arrest of Mr. ParneI
should have u 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 saws, in
behalf of his people, how could
the land leaguers be otherwise than in
tensely excited, not to say indignant and
inccnscd 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
nationalists, those of the O'Donoyan- Rosa
school, who, lacking prudence and policy,
would rush matters and prccipitate reyolu-
ton, have accused Mr., Parnell of a wishv.
tainly make him the idol of the people and
very largely increase his strength and nnu-
encc. 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
nationality but no civilized people can ell
dorse murder or rapine, can countenance
the sentiments charged toh have been uttered
by Mr.. 0Donovan Rosa, that it was right
and a 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 countenancod We can
not be made to believe that these sentiments
are either countenanced or instigated by the
iu'N iOdbuc VI any Va itS iViutIS. DuCn
acts we opine are 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 law that is itsclfa menace to
civilization, a foul blot upon the humanity
and the intelligence of the English govern
mCnt. 1t is true tho recently adopted land
bill Is a great modification Of the former
law, but we question much its approach
even to 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 a tenure
Of authority as antagonistic to common
Justice, as highway robbery is, as antago.
nistic TO 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 Sc. However much the indigna-
ton and the wrath Of the Irish people at
home and abroad may be aroused by the
arrest Of Mr.. Panell, We trust that they
may still be possessed OF patience, may
still watch and bide their time, taking no
steps the law will not countcnance, doing
nothing to weaken their cause by bringing
II into disgrace, and losing no opportunity
I