New-York tribune., 1882-02-20
GREAT BRITAIN.
IRISH ATTACKS on FREE sPEECH-LoRD
ROsEBERY AND HIS TENANTS.


possible TO the English, both in Ireland and Eng
land. They met with a certain degree of SUGGEST
for n certain time last year in Parliament and they
did in fact pretty completely block the whole ses-
sion But they have clearly misunderstood the
secret of the amazing patience with which the
House of Commons looked on az their antics. The
notion has got into their heads that they have only
to perscvere in the system of making themselves
nuisance on every occasion to finally have their
own way. They found tins so far answer with the
Legislature that they have been encouraged to Try
IL on with the general public, and having stopped
all legislative business that was not Irish last ses-
sion they are now engaged in tho pTalseworthy
endeavor to stop discussion or public speaking III
England except by such men as they favor with
their support. And they really seemed to believe
the English people would sit down quietly ana
allow themselves to be buied and put TO silence by
little gangs Of Irish roughs
This experiment after practising it in the prov
inces with chequered results. they have tried
three times in London during The last ten days
They began with Mr.. Bryce in The Tower Hamlets.
Mr.. Bryce as you know for he has lately been in
America is n very able and advanced Liberal
Like other Liberals he voted with the Government
for Coercion and when he attempted to make
speech to his constituents last Tuesday week. an
Irish mob broke up the meeting. This was done
avowedly on the ground that MIR. Bryce. In whose
borough there is considerable Irish element. had
not resisted the Imprisonment OF the Irish conspira
tors now IN Kilmanham Jail. The Liberal and
orderly part of the constituency was taken by sur
prise and Mr. Bryce's voice was easily drowned by
Irish hOwls.
The same thing tried on Tuesday last with
sir Charles Dixie at Chelsea. The Liberal meeting
in the Vestry Hall-a hall which holds some 1000
Inv -OrponiZe0
rabble sc or 900 strong Under the leadership of
an Irish priest, this band charged in solid phaanx
scattered the audience storned the platform. and
took absolute possession of the hall don't know.
what had become of the English talent for fighting.
but so it was. There no resistance whatever,
and consequently few people were hurt. man
who runs away may Tor may not fight another day,
but he is certainly in no particular danger OF black
eve from an enemy who cannot get near him.
These reflections are for the audience. AS for the
people on the platform. of whom some were ladies,
they were, believe. actually outnum cred. They
were unarmed while the Irish had clubs. and 1t is
no shame TO them to have rereated when the
great BODY of their supporters had fled.
Sir Charles Dixie, however, is not precisely the
sort of man to be caught asleep. What had hap
pened the week before ut Mr. Bryces meeting was
quite enough to put hlm on his guard. The police
we're at hand in force. They had unluekily been
stationed n little too far off, and the Irish attack
was so sudden that they masters of the fielo
before the police heard what was going on. But
the triumph of the shillelagh shOrt-lived. The
priest and his flock had not been five minutes on
the platform when the dark blue helmets were seen
fling ill., Instantly the Irish took to their heels.
So badly were the police handled that the front
entrance was left open for the rioters escape
of them believe. were caught, and but few came
within reach of that cOnstable's baton TO which
Mr. Cowen expressed at Newcastle strong an OBJ
lection. The meeting reassembed. Sir Charles
Dilae and his friends resumed their places the re-
porters picked up their books and the proceed
ings were thenceforward peaCeatle. Sir Charles
Dixie made one of those speeches of winch he has
the secret model of lucd statement, adroit use Of
facts polite hard-htting at opponents and persua-
sivencss with the general public. If you look
through the comments of the papers you will lie
struck with the general tone OF compliment In
which the opposition press INDUCES iiseli-a Iare
thing in these days of excitement and animosity.
As fer the Liberal papers and the Liberal party,
they are of one mind in hailng Sir Charles Dixie as
one of their two or three coming leaders.
The third Irish effort made last night, Mr..
Bryce being again the victim appointed for sacri-
fct As things turned cut. the Irish were the vic
Tins IL is pleasure to say that the Liberals OF the
police protection, organized themselves anu made
ready TO light their own battle. 1t is a good sign
when man. and better when body of men,
thus resolve TO defend free speech thousand OF
them volunteered for the work. They well led.
and when the Irish made their ugly rush they were
easily driven back. After that, whoever tried to
raise a disturbance was promptly turned out OF the
hall. Mr.. Bryce spoke with all the more vgor and
point for the attempt to silence him, aud this last
Irish-eXtremely INSTRUMENTATION in behalf OF
what Irish orators call freedom came to an igno-
minious end. The English thus far have borne with
these outrages good-humoredly. But If | had the
ear of the Irish leaders who stir up such feelings
AID such attempts among their ignorant fol-
lowers should advise them not TO presume too fa-
on the Ong.sulerng OF the Saxon.
There is 50 much talk IN these days Of disputes
between landlord and tenants that any proof OF
good feeling between them is almost a surprise.
he notion that the relation IS one OF hostility has
become only too common. Ireland has carried il to
the extreme point of eXaggeratiOn, and echoes Of il
are heard III England and Scotland Yet il IS still
true that cases where landlord and tenant look
upon each other as natural foes are the exception
and not the rule In great many cases these two
parties are on as good terms with each other
they were. The recent reoIcings of the tenantry
On the Damcny estate are pretty clear evidence
that they at least do not accept the natural enemy
theory Of their position with reference to the owner
of the land they farm. They rejoice over the birth
of an her,-of fresh master and tyrant, that is if
the tyrant theory be the true one. Lord Rose
berry is perhaps an exceptionally good and conside
rate landlord, but believe it is great mistake TO
suppose that English and Scottish landlords not
as rule cOnsiderate. OF the merits of the existing
system say nothing except this, that the system is
rooted in the soil, and, good or bad is not to he
changed in a day in generation. The political
economist may think it faulty. Most things in this
world are faulty. But it gives Us pretty often a
glimpse of the brighter side of human nature; Of