Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-05-09
Aarlcdstrr tntelltQenret.
TUESDAY EVENING, NAY Q, 1882.
The Eject OF the Murders.

The Eject OF the Murders.
The responsibility for the murder of
Cavendish and Burke seems to be pretty
well fixed upon the Fenians, or the Rib
bonmen, but it is thought by some that
Burke was the real object of the assas-
sins vengeance and that Cavendish fell
only because of his companionship with
him at the time. The support of this
theory is found in the supposition that the
new secretary had only arrived in Dublin
the previous day and that he was there
fore, unknown to the Irish assassins. 1t
is furthermore urged that he would have
aroused no personal enmity against him
self 4: whereas the under secretary had
long been connected with the Irish
administration and had made him
self exceedingly obnoxious to the discon-
tented Irishmen by the ability and
vigor he displayed in the discharge
of his responsible duties. He is said to
have been very influential in the admin
istration and to have been in effect the
governor Of the country. 1t seems that
Ireland is not always or even generally
governed by the viceroy, who is often an
ornamental and weak person who per
mils his duties to be discharged by the
secretary. But whether the viceroy or
the secretary is hestrOnger man and the
real governor, the under secretary, who
has remained in the place through the
mutations in the two superior offices, has
by his experience and ability been ex-
ccedingly influential in the government.
This fact has been recognized and may
have drawn upon him the fatal knives of
his aSsaSSins.
But it seems quite rs probable that
the assassinatiOns were cOld-bloOded
political act, determined upon and exc
cuted by Irishmcn who aimed to defeat
the conciliatory policy of the Land
League and to destroy the coalition
seemingly formed between it and the
Gladstone ministry. 1t is said 10y the
London Times that during the procession
upon the day of Lord Cavendisll's arrival
in Dublin man inquired three times
whether he was in the procession, and
was finally satisfied by Lord Cavendisll
himself, who told him his name. This
public appearance having been made by
the under secretary, there was ample
opportunity for him to become known
to the assassins in many ways, and they
cannot be presumed to have slain him
ignorantly.
That this brutal device will avail to
interrupt the conciliatory measures of
the English ministry can hardly be sup
posed, although Mr.. Gladstone has de-
clared in Parliament that +" all previous
arrangements must be recast." But if it
should clearly appear that these assas-
sinations were made to defeat his policy,
it is not possible that he will be ready to
yield them this effect, if he can control
the situation and the fact seems to be
that they place it in his power more
completely than ever. The sympathy OF
both the English and Irish people who
desire a peaceful settlement of their rela-
tiOns will be aroused in behalf Of his
policy by their detestation of the crime
resorted to by the enemies to break it
down. Let it once be known that the
assassinatiOns were of FeEian origin land
Mr.. Gladstone will have plain sailing for
the policy he has undertaken. The out
rage which was intended to defeat it
will he its guarantee of successful trial.
1t is thought by some persons that the
murders were by RiObonmen rather
thaI. Fenians. The distinction between
the two is, as we understand it, that the
renians are for Irish independence and
will be content with nothing less; while
the Ribbon societies have for their chief
elm the extinction of British landlords.
Their favorite weapon is assassination,
while the Feniacs claim to have no spe-
cial fondness for this resort. But still
it may have recommended itself to them
in this instance rs an effective way to
defeat scheme Of conciliatiOn that
b,ded ill to Irish nationality.