The Tombstone epitaph., 1882-05-13
THE IRfsn QUESTION.


 bosom of the Western sea. Thougf as old in historic recollections a, Rome, and suffering more from tyran' ny and wrong than any other nation in the world, time has not blanched her cheek and there is not furrow on her brow. Her ri CTS, bright as the sunlight that warns them and pure as the hearts that beat upon thei, banks, flow on to the sea through valleys and mountains clothed with verdure to their very summit. In this fair land, that would seem to have been dedicated by the Gods to the realization of the good and beautiful, the spirit of insurrection prevails and outrage is rampant. Fettered by one of the most powerful empires on the globe, the Irish people, whom chains or privations could not make Slaves, have resorted to crime for 8 remedd for their wrongs. For more than 600 years Ireland has been re. sisting the encroschments of England, sometimes aggressive. ly and sometimes passively, but always earnestly. A few years ago the active spirit of the country, under the leadership of Charles Stewart Parnell and Mi ohael Davitt organized the Land League. This was the most compact and thoroughly organized constitu- tional movement ever started in Ire. land. Under its auspices land bill was wrung from the government, that no sane man would imagine possible ten years ago. But the Land League, relying on its strength, refused to accept the measure as 8 final settle. ment, and reiterated its demands for s peasant proprietary. Confusion ensued, and crime increased. Per sons refusing to join the Land League were tsbooed servants would not work tor them, their neigh bors would not speak to them, store- keepers would not sell to them. and no person would buy from them. Their houses and hay ricks- were burned, their cattle inaimed, and many persons ip every condition of life, who held aloof from the popular leagae, were murdered. The govern. ment was powerless; juries would not convict and crime went unpun. ishsd. The most radically liberal government ever established in Great Britain was forced to resort to coer. cion. The Lord Lieutenant was empowered to arrest any person on suspicion and conslgn him to jail. The habeas corpus act was suspended and the suspeov~ were not granted the privilege of & trial. Tho Land League was declared an illegal body and several of its leaders arrested, including three members of Parlia- ment. But the league had done it's work; the people were compact and de6ed the law. The celebrated no rent manifesto was issued from Xii. mailman Jail, and nine.tenths of the people obeyed its mandate. The co. ercion act was in existence . year, yet the spirit of the people was unshattered. A new line of policy was resolved upon by the Govern. ment. Forster, the Chief Secretary for Ireland, and the most unpopular EpglishMinister ever intrusted with the conduct of Irish affairs was forced to resign, and harmless, good na. tured, brainless scion of English no- bility was appointed in his place. Lord Frederick Cavendish, a younger son of the Duke of Devonshire, who had represented an English const'tu. tency in Parliament for some years, through the influence of his family was the person appointed. He was known as warm friend of Ireland and was doubtless given the office on account of his negative character. Gladstone intending to take the reins of the Irish Government in his own hands. He arrived in Ireland the harbinger of peace and good will, the first English Minister ever entering Ireland on a similar mission. But ere he had soiled his boots with Irish soil, the dagger of the assassin at once destroyed his life ard the friend ly link he was sent thither to forge. The crime was horrible in it's wanton- ess, causeless, cruel, ,cowardly, bloody, on the brightest eve that dawned on vrish historv for HO0 vaare Tha o1;ya