The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-04-12
The Dynamite Alarm in England.

The Dynamite Alarm in England
While the alarm in England over the dy-
Mantle discoveries Is natural, the most Sc
rious aspects Of the situation arc rot en-
braced in any loss of life or destruction OF
property that may eyentuatc. Apprehen-
sion on this ground is largely irrational.
The real danger Is not in the present, but
in the future. IL does not proceed from
probable realization Of the truculent desires
Of the dynamite feeds to kill and annihi-
late, but from the policy England may
be forced TO adopt in seli-deience'
The Pbenix-Park murders and The at
tempt 10 blow up the Government oaiid-
ings in Charles street, coupled win 'le
existence OF a dynamite-factory IN br-
mingham. render il useless to deny tha'
there is one faction OF the Irish party that
will hesitate at no extreme OF violence. III
is supplied with money, and its agents are
ruthless and desperate. Yet, for all that,
II lacks the strength Of nihilistic organize
ton beth in itself and its surroundings
Thetwo essentials that make it, counterpart
nihlism In Russia, potent, are the sympa-
,hy of the middle and upper classes ana Sc
crccy. In the nature OF English social con-
struction and traditions, this faction OF the
Irish party can possess neither OF these.
The rank and file Of the English people are
thoroughly loyal to the Crown; and Just
in proportion as that security OF home ana
social institutions. which is the boast OF
every Englshman. is threatened, there VIII
be n reaction against any tendency to iiDe-
ralism and democracy.
The great danger is TO the cause oil
liberty. and. incidentally. to the cause
Of humanity; for we cannot close our
eyes TO the fact that narrowing state
Of suffering exists in ireland. Alreacy
\ coercion act has been passed, and this
may be but the beginning OF the end.
In fact. If the spirit in which any mea-
sure looking to greater severity IN the
administration Of Irish affairs Is re-
c,iyed in Parliament can he taken as
criterion, there is no step the Government
can propose that will not be success
fuI. MFR. GLADSTONE, as we know, has
been forced 10 defer i'm measure TO public
sentiment, and it would not be surprising
ii, amid the apprehension and excitement
and passions engendered by plots ana en-
plosions, number Of his less ardent sup
porters should desert him. This done, the
next thing would be to throw the Govern
ment into the hands Of the Tories, with
what results il Is not difficult to f0rotell.
When we remember the nature OF the CO.
,rcion act-that it enables the civil
power to deal with the people OF
one portion Of the kingdom iii a.
military way and partially abrogates
rights which Britons have maintained
through 4 series of struggles from lsunny-
mede TO the present time-the inquiry Is
pertinent, Is not the precedent dangerous
in its bearing upon the people OF the whole
Ii is the experience OF history
that retrogrossivc movements affecting the
liberties Of people are apt to be positive;
and may not Englishmen in Upholding,
through necessity or otherwise, law to
trample upon Irish rights be educating
Themselves to submission to the trampling
upon OF their own rights!
But even should the fear OF such an out
come prove groundless, the Irish cause,
ASSOCIATED from all other questions, has
received blow from which it will hardly
recover for years. The dynamite develop
mcnts, following as they did Immediately |
,lpon Mr.. GLADsTONE's refusal to accept |
Mr.. PARNELL's land bill, must inevitably |
prejudice the public mind against Mr.
PARNEII's policy. Rightly or wrongly, |
the outrages are credited to his supporters.
His policy is regarded as their primary
cause, and the people will not stopto reason
that he is not the first leader who has IN
raised Il storm he could not
control. As phase OF the revolution OF
revolt" this movement has its parallel IN
the French revolution. History only re-
peats itself. VERGNIAUD paled before DAN
TON, and DANTON in turn was conservative
compared with MARAT. The llome-Rulers
occupy 4 position similar to that OF the
Girondists when they ceased to represent
the ultra views OF the terroriStS, and are no
more responsible for the acts of The assassi-
nation and dynamite leagues than the Giron-
dists were for the atrocities OF MARAT. This
latter fact, however, the enemies Of Ireland
will never recognize. On the contrary, we
may expect them 10 use the parallel rs a
justification for preventive and repressiye
measures. Mr.. DAvITT, in writing from
his prison that 1.-the dynamite policy can
only have the effect Of eXGsperating the
English democracy" only partially fore
shadowed, we fear. the evils OF Irish ''des-
peration" and "reyenge." England has
within her the power 10 crush out assassi'
nation and dynamite plots, for every Eng
liShman is policeman guarding his own
home aud family; but whether she has the
power to stop at this is another and grave
question. That is the point which most
concerns every true symllathizer with Ire
land, be he Of Irish blood or not, and every
lover OF liberty
The Seventh District.