Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-05-08


The brutal assassination OF Lord
Frederick Cavendish and Under Secre
tary Burke, in broad daylight, IN Dublin
park on Saturday evening will necessarily
seriously prejudice the cause of reform
in the government of Ireland, even if it
does not lead to the entire undOing of all
that has recently been done by Mr..
Gladstone in that direction. When but
few days ago it was announced that
the administration of that country was
to be changed, Parnell, Dillon and other
suspects had been released, the coercion
act was to be abandoned and more
liberal policy was generally to be adopt
ed, it was universally believed that the
era of murder and assassination in that
unhappy island had passed away, and
that a new era of freedom and happiness,
which would bring about more friendly
feeling between the British Government
and the Irish people, had dawned. 1t
seems. however, from this atrocious
murder of Lord Uavendish and MIR.
Burke that all such hopes were delusive.
It was announced only on Thursday
last that Lord Frederick Cavendish had
been appointed Chief Secretary for Ire
land, and the appointment was regarded
as an endeavor to cOnciliate the Wing
element of the British Cabinet. He be-
ing Wing, his appointment was IN
popular in Ireland. 1t excited much
disappointment among the Home Rule
members of Parliament. The Irish and
Scotch provincial papers were unani-
nous in denouncing it, declaring that 1t
was an indication that the government
was not in earnest in its promises for re-
form, while the disapprobatiOn of the
Liberals was openly and everywhere ex-
pressed. Parnel also was emphatic in
his denunciations, and it was doubtless
the excitement and disappointment so
universally excited by the appointment
which led to the assassination which is
this morning chronicled.
Notwithstanding the widespread dis
satisfaction over this appointment was
probably based on good grounds,
the fact that Lord Cavendish
was murdered before he had been
granted al opportunity to make known
what policy he would favor towards Ire
land must prove prejudicial to that
country, even though it was probably
the act of few desperate fanatics, and
it is not fair to hold the Irish people re
sponsible therefor. 1t will create the
feeling that the spirit of lawlessness and
murder is so rampant in Ireland that the
| people will be satisfied with nothing
short of entire freedom from British
rule, and the repeal of the Union. This.
of course, cannot be expected, and as a
result the friends of Irish reform will
find fresh obstacles in their paths, while
the enemies of such reform will point
triumphantly to the assassination OF
Lord Cavendish as practical proof that
the people are unfit for self government.
This, too, will probably not be the
only serious result which will follow
from this murder. Already the opposi-
ton to the Gladstone government in Par
lament have resolved to move that the
new Irish policy be submitted to the
House for discussion, and if answers to
/ questions relative thereto are not salts
factory, 10 move a resolution of censure.
This discussion will begin to-day,
and perhaps be continued to-
morrow, and in the state OF
feeling which this brutal murder will
arouse the resolution of censure may be
carried, for the opposition will surely be
greatly strengthened This will mean,
in all probability, the destruction of the
Gladstone Ministry, and an appeal to the
country, in which Irish affairs will form
tho great question at issue. Should this
be brought about and a strong anti-Irisf
government be instituted, then all the
steps recently taken for the improve
ment of the condition of the Irish people
will be retraced, and the last state Of
that unfortunate land may be worse thar
the first. This murder, therefore, is
most unfortunate occurrence. 1t is GER
tain to be productive of harm, for nj
good whatever has ever come, or car
ever come, from assassination, especially
under such circumstances as at present
exist in Ireland. Further developments
will be watched with great interest.