The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-09-03
Dublin Still without Police.


Total for the week 1,OsS,oo1
Dublin Still without Police.
Up to the hour when we went to press, the
chief city OF Ireland was still to q large extent
bereit Of police protection, only portion OF
the force having returned to duty. No riot
has yet taken place, and but few crimes have
been committed, the garrison Of 5000 men
having shown themselves competent to keep
the peace. But to keep Dublin permanently
under martial law would have been tanta-
mount to confession that the civil admins
tration had utterly broken down, and stren-
nous efforts were accordingly made to pro-
vide an adequate corps OF special constables.
To understand the action taken by the Dub
lin police, we must bear In mind the griev-
ances which they, In common with the con-
stabulary, have unquestionably suffered.
Ever since the Land League agitation be-
gan, and especially during the last four
months, the work exacted OF the force
employed In the maintenance Of order
has been greatly increased, yet no
intimation was given on the part Of the Gov
eminent that their extra services would be
remunerated. OF the respectful petitions
which they forwarded to headquarters no no.
tice was taken, but, on the contrary, the men
who were conspicuous in the agitation
seemed to be marked out for disfavor, II
not punishment. Meanwhile the passage OF
the Land act OF 1881 and OF the
Arrears act seemed to prove that redress
could only he extortcd from the Government
under pressure, and that II the constabulary
and the metropolitan police desired their de-
mands to be recognized they must follow the
example Of the tenantry and apply the
screws. That the most Jealous and efficient
upholders of the law should have been forced
to assume rcbcllious attitude in order to
obtain reasonable compensation for their
services does not speak well for the good
sense of the Dublin authorities.
The offence for which more than 200 men,
bers OF the Dublin police were summarily
dismissed on Friday morning was nothing
moro heinous than attendance at a meeting
In which the grievances of the force were
temperately discussed, and the means
Of righting them by memorial consid-
cred. 1t is not at all surprising that
the harsh and arbitrary punishment
Inflicted should have provoked the indigna-
ton OF the comrades OF the dismissed men,
and should have led to an almost total dis
bandment Of the whole body. Nor would it
have been strange II the constabulary
throughout the greater part of Ireland had
declared that the cause for which the metro
politan police suffered was their own, and
had seized the opportunity to compel by con-
certed action an assent to their demands.
Their claims are, in fact, identical with those
Of their Dublin comrades, and they will
throw away their best chance of getting them
acknowledged II they do not profit by
this crisis to press them upon the Gov
eminent But the collapse of the agita-
ton which recently broke out in Linn
erick renders it doubtful whether the mass
Of the constabulary are ready for vigorous
and collective demonstrations. More def
mite information on this head may be ex-
pected within the next twenty-four hours;
but meanwhile it may be said, in view Of the
critical state OF affairs in Dublin, that the
1900 constables distributed all over Ireland
are in position to impose their own terms
on thsir employers.
.. The substitution OF special constables for
The disbanded police of Dublin i:l could not be
easily effected, for the reason that the only
persons offering to replace them were Orange
men, who are members OF a secret society.
1t is doubtful, therefore, whether such men
are competent to take the form OF
oath prescribed; and even If their services
could legally be accepted, the expedency
OF doing go would be very questionable. A
great majority of the inhabitants of Dublin
are Catholics, and to confer police powers
exclusively on Orangemen would recall
the most odious expressions OF the last
century, and would dangerously infame
the passions Of the people. The secret, in
deed, OF the efficiency of the constabulary
and of the metropolitan police has been the
care taken TO select for the most part Catho-
lies for membership, and the adoption OF the
contrary plan would certainly have sinister
consequences.
As we go to press there is some talk in
Dublin about compromise. The police, 1t
seems, have held a meeting and offer to
waive for the present all other claims, pro.
vided the 234 men dismissed by Capt. TAI
BOT on Friday morning are reinstatcd. Ac
cording to the latest advices, such satisfa
tory assurances had been received from the
Castle that a part OF the force had consented
to go on their posts. To accept the terms
proffercd on the part of the police would
unqucstionably be the shortest way GU
of the difficulty, and the only objection
to such q course on the part OF Ear
SPENCER would be the probable effect OF
the future discipline of the force. But TIN
Irish Government should have thought o
that when it neglected to redress the griev
ances Of faithful and hard. working servant
and virtually forced them to right them
selves. Every long headed Irishman by thi
time has learned the lesson that the GLAD
BToNE Ministry will yield almost anything
upon compulson, though they are not muc
moro ready than the Conservatives to hcc
respectful, modest, and submissive represcr
tations.
Gen. Sherman's Retirement.
Ia the real reason why Gen. SHERMAN wi
votira from octiyn snryioa In Novpmhp