West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1882-04-28
JUDGE BLAck oN IRnL1Np.

Ou the ocoaelon OF the Grattan
Centenary Celebration. held under
The auspices of the Stat National
Land League at Baltimore, last week A,
Judge Jere S. Black, OF Peunsylva-
ulA, delivered au able address, In the
course OF which be SAID
Ireland Ia not governed according either
to the common or statute law of England,
but by special legislation made for her
alone An act of Parliament passed for
the general benefit Of the Queens suhjects
does not apply To the Ilisn people, unless
they are particularly included by name.
The old statutes and royal concessions to
popular liberty are so interpreted as well
as the later Ones. Thus Ireland is con
strued out of Magma ChaIta, the Bill of
Rights, and other great securities which
make Englishmen safe against injustice.
In eft ct, the British Government, which
IN "A limited monarchy at home, becomes
an unrcstrained and absolute despntism
when II crosses the channel, and the exer-
cise of this uubounded power through all
the centuries of it's existence has been
marked with the coarsest cruelty and the
most heoriess oppression this world has
ever Witnessed.
Referring to sbe arrest Of Ameri-
can citizens in Ireland, he said
What will we do about that2 know
not. Our own history has not always
been proud one our diplomaiIc record
is not free from blunders and the argu
mentum adhOminem, while IL proves moth
ing, may embarrass discussion. Bnt If we
submit TO ib!s insult we must acknowl-
edge that England is the master Of Iceland
and America both. IL, on the other hand,
we call that lawlcss power 20 proper
reckoning, she will see the necessity NOT
only of dlsch hIrging the American priso-
ners, but OF making full and ample repair
alton, lest worse thing come upon her.
The release Of the IRISH will necessarily
follow, for England cannot afford to ae-
nit that she has yielded To fear what she
denies to justice. This will advance the
| Interests of freedom more than ANYTHING
that has happened since Wellington and
Peel knocked under to the demand for
Catholic emancipation. But the present
Ministry may pot be as Wise as their
prsdeccss0rs. They may resist our de-
mand, and bring on breach OF the tx
! tremely peaeaut gelstions now existing
! between the two Governments. WHAT
then1 venture no prediction, but do
know that every true-he arted man IN
Amcricq will be glad OF the chance to
quarrel for cause like that.
make no argument on the case.
Toere is no open question about IL. Ia.
I ternatonal law d fnes with perfect clear.
ness how a citizen Of one country may
aud must be Treated when soiourninp
within The territorial Jurisdiction OF an.
other. IT lha: were not anOugh, we have
treaties Of anity, peace. and commerc,
with Great Britain which admit of nt
doubtful interpretation Let no man foo
you iutO the btliet that Eogland can law
fully kidnap An American without being
responsible iOg the Injury. Listen 10 no
scurvy politician who tells you that there
n sny difference In this respect etwcen
native and n naruraliz d zen. There i,
no diifacnce-uot a particle. One hai
precisely the same right ss the other 10 g,
forth unmOlested over every sea anc
every laod. 81 ssys our own law q,
snys the public law af Christeudom.
In conclusion Judge Black saiC
that Ireland could not bope loi
complete independence. Theee tw,
islands would never be POLITICAL,
separated, and 1t was not certain
lbst they ought 10 be. But Irelsn,
should have local self-government.