Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-05-20
AFFAIRS IN IRELAND.
The Government Crime Bill Intro.
duced-Parneil and Dillon De-
nouuce it

In the English House of Commons
Thursday evening, Sir William Ear
court, the Home Secretary, introduced
the bill for the repression OF crime
in Ireland. He began by stating
that the Government had considered
the question of instituting a military
tribunal, but had come to the conclu-
sion that resort 10 such a measure was
undesirable There was ample testi-
mony that the heart of Ireland was
sound, but Ireland was suffering from
tho bane OF secret societies. He char
acterized the prevalence of crime there
as national disgrace. He said:
The time has arrived for the entire
House to unite in taking steps to re-
press it. The case we deplore to-day is
not solitary one. Crime is plague
spot on Iceland, and believe the Irlsh
people desire its removal. 1t springs
from secret societies, and must be eX ?
trpated. The handspring of crime is
The expectation of immunity, which is
only too well founded. The Government
has, there fore, concluded that i is nee
essarv, in those places where the ordi.
nary law is not observed, that special
libuuals, consisting of three Judges,
be appointed by tie Lord Lieutenant to
try csses without jury. The judgment
OF the court must be unanimous. Appeal
can be made to the Supreme Court, the
Judgment of the latter to be given by a
msiority of the Judges. The Supreme
Court may diminish, but tcannOt increase,
the severity of the sentences.
Parliament will be asked to provide
special remuneration fer the special
Judges. The bill also contains the fol-
lowing provisions Tt gives power to
search for secret apparatus of murder,
such as arms, threatening letters, etc. );
power 10 enter houses by day or night
under warrant of the Lord Lieutenant;
power to arrest persons prOwling about
at night and unable to give an account
Ct themselves, who are to be dealt with
summarily; power to arrest strangers,
as crimes are generally comlaii.,o>. r
foreign emissaries, the hospitality of
England not being for such persons as
the agents Of O'Donovan Rosa; and
power to remove foreigners who are
considered dangerous to peace.
The government, therefore, intend
to revive the Alien act. Secret societies
are to be dealt with summarilv, and
membership thereof will constitute an
offense under this act. Gases of aggra-
yated assault are to be treated IN a sum.
mary manner. Power is given to re-
press intimidation and unlawful meet
ing, the latter to be dealt with summar-
ily. Newspapers containing seditious
and iniiammatory matter are to be sup
pressed aud the proprietors required to
enter into recognizances not to repeat
the otfense. Justices can compel the at
tendance of witnesses about to abscond.
The Lord Lieutenant can appoint adj
ditional Police, where necessary, at the
cost of the districts concerned. Com
pensation fol murder and outrages will
be required of the districts where they
occur. Outrages are to be dealt with
summarily by courts which arc to con-
sist of two stipendiary magistrates.
The Lord Lieutenant is to have power
to proclaim districts to which this act
may be applied"
Sir William Harcourt announced that
the Government intended to reserve for
consideration any further alteration of
the jury system. He admitted that his
bill was extraordinary, but declared
that it was necessary to meet the extra
ordinary circumstances. The opera
ton of the bill would be limited to
three years. The Government would
do all in their power to prevent inno-
cent persons suffering from its action.
He added that the bill placed almost
unlimited authority in the hands of the
Lord Lieutenant, and concluded by
stating that this measure would soon be
followed by one dealing with arrears of
rent.
The House, by q vote of 327 to %,
passed the bill to its first reading. The
minority was composed entirely of Home
Rulers.