National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-05-15
"Thc Most Distrcssful Country"


ODD.FELIows' HALI.-Museum of Wonders.
1.-THE Most Distrcssful Country"
England decides that for the crimes of
four murderers the whole population of
Ireland shall be made prisoners, and
their green isle q Siberia. England de-
cides that the civil liberty which her
people wrested from English tyrants
nfter struggle of centuries shall be de-
MED to all her subjects in Ireland be-
cause of the crimes of u few. The world
will concede much to the sense of indig-
nant horror with which England is now
oppressed at the fate which befel the
first messenger of peace she has ever sent
to Ireland to rectify the wrongs she has
inflicted upon that people from the
reign of Henry VII. But there will be
q worldwide regret that England is still
unable to learn that she cannot eXtinguish
fire with tow. The Irish people have
never consented to English rule. They
are captives of war, victims of brutal
conquest, and only rebels against the
power which kidnapped them, They
owe no allegiance to England which can
not be enforced with the strong hand, no
obedience to laws, in the enactment OF
which they had no voice. They have as
good right to the worlds sympathy in
q struggle for political and national
emancipation as the American colonies
had in l77G, or rs the blacks of the South
ern States had in their desire to be eman-
cipatcd from chattel slavery. The soil
upon which they live is owned by aliens
and the Almighty's fiat which put them
into the world can have no sympathy
with those who claim the right to every
inch of the earth beneath their feet. In
the struggle for room on which to live
they come in collision with Engand's
laws. They must be rid of landlords
and arrears of rent, or they must have
English law to temper the rigor of
the land system or they must rebel against
English law. They have long been in
rebellion as their only resource. England
after long experiments in the use of force
had a Minister who dared attempt sucl
changes in law as would end rebellion
But at the threshold of the new dawr
evil things in robes of sorrow assailed tn,
unhappy people Of Ireland, and the say
age murders of Cavendish and Burke
seemed to the English mind an Irisl
crime. Could Ireland have been treatet
then rs part of the British nation, anc
the murderers rs other criminals are, ther,
would have been some hope. But
instead of that, the English Minis
try, fearing its own overthrow, antici
pated the Tory party and has brough
forward measure which exceeds in Sc
verify all by which it has ever been at
tempted to govern men outside the con
fines of penal colony or a Jail. We neet
not dissect it. 1t is enough that it abol
ishes law for both residents and soiourn
ers. 1t makes the Lord Lieutenant al
magistracy and police powers which vii
as often be directed TO oppress the faith
ful and obedient as TO punish the rebel
lious. 1t unlocks all doors and unbar
all bolts which protect the subject in the
commonest rights recognized among Eng
disappearing people. 1t abofishes all
decent methods for distinguishing be.
tween the innocent and the guilty, and
makes Irish birth crime to be punished on
Irish soil. Ireland shall become English is
thodecree. So dealt Russia with the Poles
No Administration in this country could
live in the heat of the Indignation which
would be created by such policy t.
ward our hostile Indian tribes as is nov
applied to Ireland by the Gladstone gov
ernment, fighting for life by outbiddnj
the Tory ferocity toward the people o
that island. The portion Of the orig
inal bill providing for trials by judge
and the other provisions, however radical
looking toward the prevention of crime
would all be taken as proper measures
TO accompany the other proposed meas
ures of relief from arrears of rent ant
the ownership Of greedy enemies, bu
the additions which have been made be
cause Of the murders in Phoenix Parl
are an accusation and condemnation
of all Ireland for the crimes of foul
rutlians, and a sentence of perpetua
slay,Ty for her people. Now force meets
force, Terrible is such duel. Not choice
always the weapons. IfMight can exter
inmate Irishmen from Irish soil il viii
be done, Ifit cannot, what then2 What
limit will there be to the fight for self
preservation? The people of Englart
cannot long he unit for such policy
The interests Of humanity bid us hope foi
reaction among them which shall Sc,
Ireland's real distress at the assassination
ofLord Cayendish, and accept her aid il
keeping order under laws which are jus
and fair. Perhaps the shortest road (,
such n reaction is the unon of Liberal
and Tories In favor Of legislation which
disgraces tho age. England will in tim,
prefer Irish Independence, ON at least
home government, to the so.callod uniol
which is maintained at present cost.