National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-02-07
Ireland and Her Enemy.

The crime of Michael Davitt was fur
| nishing arms to the Fenians. He was
sentenced in 1870 to fifteen years. After
serving seven years he was released on a
ticket-of-leave. He has since spent much
time in this country. His arrest last week
was upon the fearful charge of having re-
turned to Dublin and not at once report
ing himself to the police. We have seen
no other ground stated for his being
kidnapped in Dublin and hurried
off to London. The extraordinary
scenes in Parliament on Thursday last
were precipitated by the utter refusal of
the Ministry to give any reply to the de-
mand for the reason of the arrest. The
conduct of the Speaker of the House of
Commons On the occasion was that of an
arbitrary tyrant. The small band of Irish
representatives and sympathizers had
admittedly been doing all in their power
to obstruct the proceedings of the House,
but it was against measure which was
to crush out the last vestige of freedom
in Ireland, and make it an impossibility
for an Irishman to plead to an English
court for personal liberty when taken
from him for complaining at being treated
as slave.
The suspension of the Irish members
was effectual in enabling the government
to proceed with its coercive measure.
Ireland will decide between now and the
carrying into effect of the coercion bill
whether she will unresistingly be hand
cuffed, or whether she will make stand.
Her people will most likely be governed
by the extent of the sympathy
with their cause which manifests
itself in England. The workingmen
of that country compelled the govern
ment to keep its hands off from us when
we were in a deadly struggle with slave,
land, and cotton aristocracy. The same
class of people are stirred to the depths
by the present situation. They are largely
represented by Bradlaugh, who earnestly
espouses the cause of the Home Rulers.
The dispatches we receive are mingled
exhibitions of terror and bravado. For
instance, the Dublin correspondent Of
the London Times assures the readers of
that journal that really the excitement is
only considerable" He says in Satur-
days issue:
The suspension of the Irish members of Par
lament and the arrest or Michael Davitt have
caused considerable commotion. but nothing
like the excitement which might have been ex-
pected. The only effect the arrest of Davitt ap-
pears to have had was to cool down the popular
ardOr and produce disappointment and depression.
1t felt to be severe blow to the agitation and
a remarkable change is observed in the tone of the
Land Leaguers. The indignation meetings in the
Provinces were small assemblies. There is reason
to believe that the arrest of Davtt will teach the
people lesson.
This is somewhat overdone. 1t does
not read like the truth, but rather like the
utterances of a man desirous of saying
what ultra partisans of the government
would like to see in print. The editor of
the Times himself writes uneasily
concerning the arrest of Davitt
and the popular feeling on the
subject. The reader cannot fail to see be-
tween the lines of the following from that
paper of the 5th signs of the distress and
alarm which profoundly agitate the great
metropolis and other cities of the realm:
point had been reached in the crisis of affairs
when twas absolutely inconsistent with public
safety that the demoralizing spectacle of triumph
ant lawlessness furnished by Mr.. Dayitt could
longer be tolerated. 1t was quite impossible that
could shut to the latest steps
in the march of disafection. Unless those whose
business it is to watch the movements are much
mistaken, the design which now commends it
sefto the agitation is to transfer the theatre of
intimidation and violence from Irish to English
soil. We will hope that the apprehensions enter
tanned by the police of Irish violence in London
and other large towns have their foundation
rather in bravado than in determined treason
but it has been thought necessary to take the
most strict precautions in every part of the
Kingdom. The remarkable precautions at the
Houses of Parliament continue the troops on
several occasions even in London, were con-
fined to their barracks. England is haraSsed,
if not with formidable danger. with alarms
which are little less destructive to tranquility To
put an end to such a distracting state of things
more is necessary than the hypocritcal
exhortations to peacefulness contained in the cir
cular of the Home-Rule members, who consider
Mr.. Davitt counsellor of prudence, restraint and
tolerance.
Irish violence in London and other
large towns" remarkable precautions
at the Houses of Parliament" England
" harrassed with danger" and
" alarms"-these are ominous words,
and mean much more than the writer of
them would care to print or his readers
to deny, England is face to face with her
own crimes against her Irish step-children.
She has not the sympathy of her own peo-
pie. She gives blow where relief was the
first duty, and promises pacifying meas
ures after having driven a people into
rebellion. There is no wisdom in AFRO
gance, supplementing oppression. "Pride
goeth before destruction and naughty |
spirit before a fall"
A Plan for General Hospital.
Some time since large and representa-
i've BODY of citizens and physicians nre |