The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-01-01
FOREIGN.

t Brennan, Biggar, Nally &c, commenced al
Dublin on Tuesday. The courtroom was no,
overcrowded, and the popular interest mani
tested less than had been anticipated. Chief
Justice May declined to take part IN the trial
on the ground of "misconception," as he
called it, of his remarks on the occasion when a
postponement Of the trial was asked for-and
= Judge Fitzgerald took his place. But eighteen
) of the twenty.four jurors called answered to
5 their names, and from these twelve were Sc
lected after two hodrs' wran ge-eight of the
, twelve being catholics and four professionals
y The indictment was then read, occupying I'M
Ill o'clock, when the court adjourned. The
whole of next day was occupied by the attor-
ney general in his opening address, explaining
the nature of the oflense charged and the law
bearing upon the subject. OF course he had
no difficulty in showing that the objects OF the
\ land league were unlawful and that many 81
the speeches of the accused were scditIous !;
yet no one appears to harbor the least idea
that Parnell or any of his associates will be
found guilty. To say nothing of abstract jus,
tce on their side, no juror in Ireland assent.
ing to their conviction could live day IN the
country after signing snch a verdict The
trial Is expected to occupy week or two.
Meantime the feeling in Ireland appears to
be growing more intense every day. British
soldiers in Dublin are crowded off the side.
walks, and everywhere IN the country where
they appear they are jeered at and insulted.
Yet while the soldiers are strictly forbidden
to use their arms except in case OF an indispu'
table organized, armed outbreak, the govern
ment is taking all needful steps to be ready
for such contingency There are said to be
already 10000 regulars in Ireland, and more
are being sent daily, with abundant ammuni-
ton, artillery, &c. While the government
processes entire belief IN Gladstone's policy"
that there can be no permanent peace in Ire
land without land reform, yet the only sure
way to prevent disturbance before parliament
can give effect to that policy is to demonstrate
its hopelessness by the presence Of an over
whelmng armed farce.
SOUTH AFRICA-The news from South At
RIGA increases in interest The trouble with
the Basutos is nearly forgotten in view of the
more important outbreak on the part of the
Transvaa Beers. Some two or more weeks
ago (the exact dates are not given the British
authorities, relying on the proclamation of the
Beers that while they demanded of the British
government the restoration of their indepen
dence, they declared no war, sent force of $50
men of the Oath regiment, with a provision
train of "a wagons, into the country Of the
Beers, to reinforce certain garrisons there On
the way from Pretoria to Lindenburg the
wagons got into swamp and all the soldiers
except the advance guard laid aside their
arms to eXtricate the train. While thus en-.
gagged, about 800 armed Beers suddenly ap.
peared and demanded their surrender, The
men rushed for their arms, but before they
were able to defend themselves the Beers
opened fire, killing and wounding, the first &C.
count says 124 but later account says "a
were killed, taking the rest prisoners. Subse.
quently, however, after plunderlng the train,
the prisoners were released and sent back to
Pretoria.
About the same time at Pontchestroom, an.
other pointin the Transvaal where there was
small British garrison, a Boer attempting to
hoist a republican flag was shot down by a
British officer. The Beers In the place, to the
number of 5000, rose at once in arms. The
British officer was killed, the small garrison |
driven behind their defenses, and all the shops
in the place kept by English traders or their
adherents we're "lOoted"-plundered The po-
siton of the garrison of 100 men there is of
course extremely critical. 1t Is stated, also,
that the Beers have driven all Engllshmen out
of Derby, and are gathering IN force at Utrecht,
where the republic was to be proclaimed on
the 25th
Meantime the Cape government has pro-
claimed martial law and sent urgent appeals
answered from India and Woolwich, the Times
in behalf of the government saying that the
authority of the British government having
been deied by the Beers, Of course there Is
nothing to do but force them to submission.
ENaLAND-The death of Mrs Cross George
Eliot the novelist is announced She was
buried on Tuesday at Highgate, during a
pouring rain, but with a large attendance.
Gale, the pedestrian, who undertook to walk
2 500 miles IN 1000 consecutive hours, broke
down after making z, 233 miles.
GERMANY-The hostility to the Jews IN
Berlin has reached such height that many
of the Weather Jews of that city are prepar-
ing to emigrate to Belgium, France and Eng
land.
CuIIl.-The war between Chill and Peru,
which has now ragged two years with the ad-
vantage mostly in favor of the Chilians, is
about to reach a climax. The Chilians to the
nun her of thirty or forty thousand have sur.