The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-10-06
rae roLLY on CoERcloN.

4
legislation this is especially so, and history
shows that as nations grow older and wiser
so do their statutes drop the harsh and I'M
compromising character of the laws of an
earlier civilization. The native spirit OF re-
belion is too strong in man to permit Of his
being driven, and the failure to recognize
this fact has produced unreasonable gov
ernmcntal bunders, only to be followed
finally by governmental humiliation. A
very conspicuous illustration of this fact Is
the history of the operation Of the coercion
act within the last year or two in
| Ireland. Aside from the trouble and suf-
ierlng it caused, il has been otherwise an
| ignominious failure, so Tar AS accomplish
ing any of the aims for which it was origi-
nally designed. Just the other day il ex-
pred by limitation, aud in looking back
over its operations and the unpopular and
harsh action taken under its terms, it is
impossible to name any success it has ac-
complished at any time or in the general re-
suit. II was intended by this act to drive
the Irish people into submission. From
the first its enforcement was undertaken
with ygor. Suspects almost without mum.
Der were arrested the iails were filled the
whole power of the realm was brought
INTO play to check the agitators of the
questions before the country and prevent
IoulburstS, but utterly without
avail. During the time of its continuance
the agitation was kept up unnterruptedly,
crime Increased, and the weakness of the
government to handle an incensed and
stricken people by such means was daily
rendered more apparent. At last il has OK.
pred, the suspects have been released. the
machinery Of coercion has been STONED
but the nation SO far as that act is con.
eerhed or anything accomplished thereby,
IS Just as 1t was when the bill was passed
over all other legislation, and by heavy
majority. In the meantime. other nets Of a
less violent character and less tyrannical
scope have been doing good service, and tho
irish troubles are growing daily less. while
the rights and grievances of the people are
beng attended to with more interest bv
those in power The history of this leris.
lation referred TO teaches Il valuable lesson
IN government policy. The first and
most obvious reflection arising is the fact
that great popular uprsings are not to he
put down by the spirit and methods of
COERCION These uprisings invariably rem. |
resent or voice principle, some grcnt
truth, and force will never conquer trutb
and principle. They must be handled bv
reason and wisdom sufficiently brood ia
see both the evil and the remedy. Mo,lcr. I
anon WINS permanent victories where Tho
'r'umphs Of force in combating popular
revolutions are only temporary. In the
second place, there is vast difference no.
tween popular agitation of principle and
lawleSsncss The English government
made bIundor in mlslnkinr fine
irish agltations for mere riots and law
IeSsneSs. They proceeded to nut down ,
mob, as they supposed, instead Of meeting
principle However completely the mob
was routed, the principle confined Ia live
and receive supporters And above all il
has been demonstrated that the only way
OF meeting an evil with any hope of success
Is to correct il, TO remove it's cause. II isI
singular that such apparently sound and
rational views should have allied 10 impress
themselves upon the British government
especially with the light of the past TO
guide them, but they did not, II seems. IT,
Is another Illustration OF the fatal blind. |
ness that passion and national or sectional
prejudice throw over the vision of avon
the greatest statesmen at times. The
necessity for dealing with the growing dis.
content OF the Irish people in philo-
Sophical and persuasive manner rather than
from the standpoint of u military
tribunal, is now manifest, and to
retuSc to heed the fact longer will bc
doubly moro disastrous than the failure 10
perceive such necessity IN the Hrst plnc,
Such history occurring ut this time with
nothing especially exciting among the mn.
tons to draw attention oil thcrclrom
ought to sink It's lessons deeply and practi. ,
ca'y into the minds of others than the
English leaders ofthought. ltshould he of
beneNt to our own statesmen, and ms we'll
To those of France, Germany and Eus,io.
IL The leaders or powers in Russia, indeed
would listen to the facts of such national
experiences rs this one through which
Great Britain has been and is still passing.
II would prove Invaluable TO item.
TO hNlessnesS aud CRIME, let
force, sufficient and rapid be AN.
phed' but in the agitation and
discussion of national evils and grievances
the only course promising correction and
the establishment of rights and proper
balance IN government and permanent
pac'hcation and contentment ofthr masses
lies IN moderation aud u calm philosophicol
investigation ofthe causes OF trouble TO be
followed by the application Of mild but
comprehensive orrectiyos In other words
England's resort to tho coercion act. and
the signal failure OF the bill to accomnlish
VIII At was expected oft, is another illustro.
ton the inability ofsimple force to crush I
principle, or keep down national content.
men,, Ills another pregnant TACT Tor rulers
to reflect over
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