New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-09-03
REVOLT OF The IRISH POLICE

The Irish have fatal facility for throwing
away good case. On historical grounds ard
abstract principles they have a valid indict-
ment against the landhOlding class and the
English people. The burdens, abuses and
Injustice of the land system were so intOler-
able and the necessity for deliverance from
private greed and systematic misgOvernment
was so apparent, that every English historian
who did not pervert the facts, and every Eng
lish statesman who had an efficient conscience,
pronounced Land Reform righteous cause.
Yet the inherent strength of an impregnable
position has been undermined by the garrison
defending it. The cause of the tenant farmers
has been impaired by captious resistance to
Mr.. Gladstone's remedial measures, by repudi-
alton of debts and recourse to intimidation
and lawlessness. Home Rule itself is strong
cause which commands the symDathies of every
free people. Who that has read Mr.. Lecky's
pages can resist the conviction that the govern
ment since the Union has not been national
and that discomfort will not be permanently
allayed until the people are governed by Irish
men through Irish institutions Yet that
cause has been persistently weakened by the
ignoble tactics Of Obstruction In the Commons
and both degraded and polluted by the das-
tardly assasslnatons and hideous crimes which
have brought lasting reproach upon the Irish
name
Take the new illustration of this old truth
afforded by the characterization and revolt of
the Irish Constabulary force, The police had
inst grievance. For several years they have
been persisently overworked and constantly
exposed to deadly peril. Not legal process
has been served without their aid in districts
where evictions exasperaed an impoverished
and maddened population. Every "bOycotting"
operation subjected them to increased living
expenses. In the centres Of population they
have been forced to take unremitting pre-
cautions against the chances of street rioting,
and in the country they have never passed q
hedge without dreadIng the whiz of an assas-
sins bullet. Their service has been extremely
laborious and hazardous, and has not only
been Loyalty rendered IN o protTacted period of
lawlessness, bat has involved heavy expendi-
lures and serious personal sacrifices. Theirs was
a legitimate demand for extra compensation,
and the officials at the Castle admitted the
Inherent justice OK the claim. The vacillation
and delay of the Imperial authorities strength
ened that claim. The police have been put OF
with promises until their patience has been
exhausted and at the same time the service has
been rendered even more aIduOus and danger
Gus. 1t was a grievance magnified by the
indecisOn and neglect Of the Castle officials
who conceded its genuineness.
But see how a strong case can be frittered
away. The police, having a grievance which
the Government recognized but did not I'M
medi ltely redress, had recourse to the usual
Irish e1pedent. They entered upon cam
pagn of agitation. They held meetings, lis
tened to violent speeches and menaced the Gov
eminent with a general strike. When the dis
tricts of certain of their leaders were changed
they protested threatened to resign in body,
and demanded revocation of the orders
They strove to substitute Constabulary law for
Government control, precisely as Land League
rule had been set up i'll place OF the law Of the
realm. The different sections of the force were
brought into secret relations, just as the local
branches of the Land League had been organ
lied under the central bureau. The whole
body became disaflected Discipline was ut an
end. Dismissals of ringleaders were followed
by Indignation meetings held in disobedlence
of orders, and the force has become so insub-
ordinate as to cease to be useful. A vigorous
effort on the part Of the Government TO restore