New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-11

pressed. That intention was TO bring ABOUT STATE
| things which should compel Parliament TO inter
vene and make terms with the LANDLORDS
| which would lead to a gradual purchase OF the
land from them and its distribution among .ho
working rural population. The Land League also
intended az necessary part of its action to ASSIST
rack-rented tenants in resisting unreasonable nc
mands. and in protecting themselves against 'n'
terrors Of wholesale eviction.
Lord Beaconsiields government dld the very un-
wisest thing just then that III was posSioie loi
Government to do They singled out lew uhiuchS
sneeches made here and there by members OF the
Land League and began a prosecution against MI
Dayitt and several other leaders of the organlza-
tion The immediate effect of this step was TO give
the Land League magnificent advertisement IN the
face of the whole country. Ireland caught fire.
The first great hope of the Land League founders
was achieved 1 should say that some members OF
the Government, and chiefly the Irish Secretary,
Mr. James Lowther had made themselves particu-
lary offensive TO the Irish people by their way OF
treating the Land League and its leaders. MI
Lowther had on occasion told Inc
House of Commons that certain meet
ing held in Ireland was addressed Dy
"a convict on icket-of-leave" was IN the tiouse
at the time and was really under the impression
that by some strange mischance regular blI
Sykes very convict on ticket-of-leave had turned
I'D Oh some Land League platform. 1T did not oc-
cur to me even to suppose for moment that by Inc
conviction ticket-of-leave Mr. Lowther meant Mr.
Michael Davitt. MI. Davitt had been political
prisoner. and he was undoubtedly released DIV the
Government after much pressure had been brought
70 hear upon them and his release was accompanied
nv ths usual formality of tickct-Of-leaye. Liter
ally. therefore, Mr. Lowther was right. But Mr.
Michael Dayitt was no more TO be described as
convict on ticket-of-leave in any ordinary
sense understood by reasonable men IMAM
Count Andrassy, the Hungarian states
man. should be described now as
criminal who had managed TO escape the gallows
The prosecutions which the Government started
were soon allowed to drop, their only ELECT having
been to give that splendid impulse which have
described TO the movements OF the Land League
The Parliament was running to Its close LORD
BeaconsGeld's recent policy had entangled the
country in various foreign wars-the Afghan war;
the South African troubles-and had brought Eng
land at time into great peril OF war with
Russia. The popularity of the BeacOnsfeld Minis
trv WAS spent. The Parliament of 1874 had come
nearly to the end of its tether. One other full
working session was all il had at its disposal Lord
Beacon seld decided upon dissolution IN the spring
OF 1880 and when the general elections took place
il was found that the great Conservative majority
was gone. and that Mr.. Gladstone had come back
to power with a stronger political support than
any Minister had had for many years.
Now. in order to a clearer understanding Of the
events that followed, / beg the attention Of my
American readers the fact that in the success of
the Liberal party and of Mr. Gladstone, Ireland and
Irishmen in England bore o great part. Lord Bea-
consfeld had irrtated the Irish people beyo en-
DURANGO by manifesto which he issued on the eve
of the elections, addressed to the Duke of Marlbor
7 md mt Of in VIII
denounced the agitation going in that country
as something worse than famine or pestllence
This coming after the apathetic indifference of
his Government to Irish distress, the rude and
ribald speeches of Mir. Lowthor about Irish agi-
tators and the absurd and offensive prosecution
which was set in motion againss the leaders of the
Land League, turned every Irshman absolutely
against the Tories. The Home Rule members of the
House of Commons drew up q manifesto in which
they recommended Irshmen everywhere to vote
against Lord BeacOnSeld's government. The in
junction was faithfully followed. Ireland returned
large number of advanced Home Rulers,
and returned them directly under the
influence of Mr.. Parnell. Some of the most power
full, wealthy and highly placed of Irish landlords
were defeated in their counties by young can
didates previously unknown to the public life, who
came forward simply on the recommendation OF Dir.
P2rnell Mr. Gladstone and his Liberal colleagues
knew we'll how much they owed to the efforts OF
lrishmen. Mr.. Gladstone himself had said 10 an
Irish member just before the dissolution that all
would depend upon the action of ireland and OF
Irishnen in English constituencies. Mr. Gladstone
frankly said that if the Irish members hd not 20
with him. if Ireland did not return representatives
willing to so with him, he could not posi-
! bly, have a majority sufficient to enable
| him to carry out really liberal policy.
| There was even l have heard, an idea among
some influential colleagues Of Mr.. Gladstone that
| in the event of their coming into power au effort
ought to be made To get OF two of the home
Rule members to join the new Liberal adninistra-
ton. At all events it Is certain that the Liberals
owed their SUCCESS great part to Ireland and to
Irishrnen, that Mr.. Gladstone and his colleagues
were aware of this fact and that they came INTO
ofco therefore, morally and politically pledged 70
mike every possible effort TO satisfy the demands
ara remove the grievances Of Ireland. At this point
l shall stop for the moment.