The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-06-11
nESpnrLSN Nv LRELAND.

The mere we look at the strange and tragic
turmoil in Ireland, resembling so closely in
its most striking manifestations the Nihilism
OF Russia, the more are we convinced that at
the root Of the trouble is the singular obtuse-
ness and imperviousuess Of Bnglishmen to
anything which interferes with their habitual
course of thought Mr.. Gladstone is now
bout putting into operation in Ireland new
coercion act the essential feature Of which Is
the total abolition of trial by jury for agra
ian ofIenses. Ol course this Is despotism
pure and simple The magistrates who are
thus to dispose of the lives and liberties of
Irshmen are almost invariably aliens to the
class they are to try, and imbued with all
the misconceptions and preiudices of the
foreign power from which they receive their
appointments. They represent English
Ignorance of Irish life and Irish opinion, and
belong exclusively to the landlord and hai
liil class in all their ideas antagonistic to
the tenantry who are to he tried by them.
II should he understood that there are seve-
raj distinct causes of dissatisfaction in Ire
lond One of these is the lack of local self
government which finds expression in the
natural and wholesome demand for Home
Rule. Another is the hard condition of the
tillers of the soil, who are rack-rented until
they can barely drag out a miserable exist
ence. With such, murder and robbery
almost cease to be crimes. Joined with ard
aggravating the latter cause of dissatisfaction
is the knowledge in most cases that their
ancestors but few generations back were
the right(ul owners of the soil for which
poverty-stricten tenants now pay rent tC
non resident landlords, and that their lands
passed from them not by purchase but Ivy
confscation.
When, therefore, all the circumstances ar,
taken into account, it will be seen that ther,
are two sides to the Irish question. And, as
we have already said, the chief obstacle il
the way of restoring tranquility ii
Ireland is the tenacity with which the Eng
lish cling TO conventional ideas. That til,
extraordinary measure of abolishing trial by
jury is unnecessary was clearly shown in tn,
Parliamentary debate. Mr.. Mitchell Henry
one of the Irish members, in letter t,
the London Times, referring to the meagrt
and misleading report of his speech agains
the coercion act, says:
My advice was that trial by Jury should not he don
away with in favor Of trial by selected Judges; bu
that the verdict Of the Jury should be taken by ballet
and that majority of three-fourths should prevail
There should lie the alternative verdicts Of guilty
ttnIn ,liat
the accused liable to retria during the contin
uauce Of this exceptional In Scotland the yer
dict ''non- proven. - am Informed, leaves &c
cused person with sort of stigma on his character
but liable to a fresh trial. IT, however the yer
diet the Jury be taken by ballot which In the rresen
state Of Ireland regard essential, the verdict o
nonprOveu may in reality, be regarded equivalen
to disagreement of the Jury, In which case, unde
thepresent law, retrial Is permitted.
So arbitrary coercion bill the present has
before been proposed In Parliament, and certai
that IL passed in Its present shape 1t will either he a
lowed to remain unused If used it will excite
disgust that in the course of few months the tim
of Parliament will again be taken mp with the consit
Grafton OF Individual cases of hardship and with
fierce agitation for It's repeal. Nothing sckcns N
more than the cant about absolute power ben
placed In mild and gentle hands, No man ~
no body OF men, simply bee auss men are not omni
Cient are fitted to use the arbitrary powers given
this bill, especially In remote districts where the
are no press and no available public opinion. Wha
may think now, this b and any such bil
will fail unless II carries with 1t the sympathies an
cooperation of the people; and as said last night,
now repeat, until you cease Systematically to cNcu'
Irish opinion and Irshmen from the admlnistratio
of their country yOu will not gain Il
good will OF the people kno
hat will