The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-05-12
THE CRISIS IN IRISH AFFAIRS.

Within the past ten days Great Britain has
been the theatre OF q remarkable change In
the policy Of the English Government, and
q tragic, unnatural aud fiendish catastrophe,
bringing that policy suddenly TO close. The
release OF Parnell on parole a few weeks
since, was an opening wedge for the abandon
ment Of the rigorous policy the Gladstone
government had adopted I'm retaliation for
the No Rent agitstio of Parnell and his fol-
lowers. The suspected Members of Parlia-
ment were released, the lists Of suspects In
prison were scrutinized and cut down by re-
lease TO those who had actually been Charged
with overt crimes. The coercive policy was
abandoned and Gladstone had intimated the
intention Of the Government to urge relief
measures for Ireland. Doubtless the British
Ministry were divided on this issue but 1t
had prevailed. 1t Is both alleged and denied
that the new policy was the result of mutual
concessions and agreements between the
representatives Of the Crown and the Land
League. Gladstone and Parnell both deny
1t, but there are wheels within wheels and
secret negotiations, bargains and comprom-
ises In State Affairs that are never disclosed
to the public, until the events have passed
into history. Be 1t as 1t may, milder policy
had been adopted, and Forster, Secretary for
Ireland and the representative Of the Coer-
cion policy, resigned. In his place was APP
pointed Sir Frederick Cavendish to represent
and administer the new policy. He was not
considered strong man, or particularly
identified with either the Radical or Wing
wing, but honest, we'll intentioned and tract
able, and who would execute the policy di-
rected by ADLER men. The press of England,
Ireland and Scotland considered 1t a weak
appointment but not an evil one. Hardly,
however, had he assumed the duties Of his
office, when he and his ander-secretary,
Burke, were fendishly assassinated. The
method was one of almost unparalleled
atrocity, and added to the fact that the assas-
sins escaped without any clue to their iden-
tity or object, Ina, produced not only univer-
sal execration, but CONSERVATION. 1t had
been predicted the Gladstone ministry would
60 down In a failure TO unite sufficient
strength In support of its conciliatory meas
ures, and the appointment Of Cavendish was
regarded by the Opposition as blunder ia
vorable to them, but not through personal
antagonism to him In Ireland, where his
presence among the people was In grateful
contrast with that of Forster. Thus the mys-
terry that enshrouds the crime adds to the
agitsted condition of the people, and the
inpumerable suggestions as to the affiliations
ofthe perpetrators, have prevented the devel-
opment Of the policy England will adopt in
the crisis. There Is no doubt of the equal
adherence of the crime by ell good people,
and the Irish people are no more responsible
for this than the Stalwarts when Guiteau
shot Garfield, or the Democratic party when
Booth assassihated. Lincoln. Unfortunately,
the feeling between England and Ireland is
different from that which exists between par
ties or factions of parties in the United
States. Ireland has the burden of great
wrongs, long borne-of this there is no ques-
ton. But the English Landowners of to-day
are not disposed to yield up without recon-
pense the heritages that have come down to
them peacefully through generations, nor the
Crown Its dominion over the Emerald Isle,
while Ireland seems determined on nothing
less than independence and that Irisbmen
shall own Irish soil. This Is the root Of the
irrepressible conflict, which time and again
flames up luridly and again shoulders. 1t
can never end except by a concession on the
part Of England that Is millenial In It's spirit
or . revolution by Ireland that no reasonable
man can expect while England Is at peace
with other nations. Under these circum-
stances an amelioration of the conditions Of
the Irish tenantry is the best that can be ac-
| complished, and therein was the mistake
of the friends Of Ireland, that they did
not aid and give fair trial to the relief
measures Gladstone had carried hersical-
| ly through Parliament, an act that made him
eminent as the best friend Ireland ever had
next to the throne of England. ~
II Is idle to speculate on what will be the
result Of the Dublin tragedy. The arrest Of
one or Of all the perpetrators cannot be long
delayed, and then will develop the incentive
which will have much to do with forming
public opinion In England. 1t is not improb-
able Parliament will dissolve, and an express
sion be had from the people on tie question,
which Is now most vital to England, and
with 1t the formation of new ministry may
ensue. Gladstone's strength of tenure lies
principally In the fact that there Is to-day no
great leader in the Opposition. 0#.