New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-25
mr.. WCARTHYS ARGUMENT

The case against England, as presented by
the most brilliant and judlciouS member OF the
Home Rule party, is summed mp in the third
and final PAPER on tie Irish cllslS, which we
publish to-day. The cOmpactness and lucidity
Of the argument will enable those who have
followed it to keep the main points sharply de
fined. MIR. Mccarthy opened the ease by ex-
plaining in the fewest possible words the OBJ
iccts of irish agitation namely, the struggle
of the whole population TO secure as much
legislative independence as Is possessed by
every State of the American Union and,
secondly, the struggle of the peasant population
TO obtain the ownership of the land, which Is
not capable of supporting two distinct setS OF
owncrs-the occupants and the landlords. The
advocate has exerted his logical powers IN JUS
tifviug not the ends which he so clearly ana
resolutely defines, but the means employed by
the Irish party in accomplishing those ends In
his retrospect of recent events he has con
tended that under the leadership Of Dr. Butt
neither Home Rule nor the Land Question
took commanding position, and has con-
trasted that leaders ineffective annual debates
with MIR. PaInel's energy, persistency and sue
cess in creating an absolutely independent
marty. which, sustained by the force of Irish
Dubic opinion, should compel Parliament and
the English people to listen TO the demands Of
the island The means to which Mr.. Parnell has
had recourse were, first and foremost, obstruc
ton. policy only to be recommended under
wcll-ngh desperate conditions, and finding its
historical justification in its results; secondly,
| the organization of the Land League, by which
! the occupicIs we're sent out ION strike .; and,
l I Il mn sfr fIfAp
based, primarily, on the conviction that the
influence OF Wing aud Tory landlords rendered
| il impossible for any Government to DO much
for ireland and, finally, on The Coercion Acts
and the cOntemptuous disregard shown for the
feelings OF the inhabitants and the opinions OF
| their representatives i'll Parliament. Mr.. Nc
| Carthy's conclusion is that the Irish party have
made it impossible for the House OF Commons
70 keep the grievances OF the island out OF
sight. that the Land Question will be settled
on the basis Laid down by the Land League
| through a fair process of State intervention and
purchase. and that Home Rule is not far off.
| That is Mr.. McCarthys argument brought
within the compass Of a single paragraph. III
giving our impressions of its logical force and
intrinsic weight, we shall strive to emulate his
own spirit of candor and moderation. The
ends of Irish agitation, as defined rather than
| justified 10y Inn, do not seem to us unreason-
able We suspect that in regard to the Land
Question il may be difficult to induce the Irish
representatives and the body OF the tenantry tC
| accent SO simple a programme as 1lr. Mccarthy
| defines Let that objection be waived. The
transfer of the land from the landlords tC
the occupiers through a fair process OF
| State intervention is not an unreasonable
demand as matters stand in Ireland nor II
| it so regarded to-day by the English parties
| The Liberals took the first step III that drec
ton when they engrafted the Bright Clauses
upon the Land Act of 1870 and the principl,
| was extended in the Land Act of 1881; ant
the Conservative leaders stand committed to ;
| scheme of State purchase of the first magnl
| tude. The reas0nableness of the demand fO
| Home Rule is not conceded 10y the English par
| ties. although Mr.. Mccarthy admits that Mr.
| Gladstone has been often denounced for hi
courtesy in arguing the question at all. an'
| that two other members of the Government
oneply advocate it AS panacea for Irish ills
But why should Americans pronounce Hom
Rule an unreasonable demand 1t is true tina
Ireland is accorded very liberal representa-
ton in the Imperial Parliament much larger
for example, than the great hive OF Londoi
has, although its population is nearly as larg
rs that Of Ireland and it is also true tina
Scotland is satisfied with her present relation
| TO England. 1t does not follow that lrelan'
will ever be content with anything less thai
legislative independence. Mr.. Mccarthy make