The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-17

CARDINAL MANNING has given utterance to
some very sensible and conservative views of
the situation in Ireland. While recognizing
the great good accomplished through the
operations of the land act, he is not unmind-
full of the fact that there is another very
large and important body of Irish citizens
besides the farmers whose interests should
be looked after. There are he says
from 100000 to 100000 laborers in
Ireland whose condition at best
is precarious. Unwlse or unjust legis-
Iation can have but a bad effect upon their
interests, while some little concession might
greatly relieve them. 1t is useless to argue
with a hungry man, or one in any kind of
distress that he believes has been
brought upon him unjustly. Nobody
can fairly deny that the social condition
masses, the peasantry and laborers of all
kinds, have undoubtedly been Disseminated
against until their condition is well-nigh I'M
supportable 1t is not to be wondered at
that they are restless and disposed to hold
the government accountable for their misfor-
tunes. There is need of reform such as will
mitigate or entirely do away with the wrongs
they have endured. For the most part illit-
crate and IMMERSED in legal matters these
people do not understand wherein the trou-
bic lies nor what to strike at in order to OBJ
tain redress Stung to madness by the in
justice that produces their misery, and having
ON underlined idea that in some way the gov
eminent is to blame for it, they strike down
the governments beneficiaries and agents,
hoping thereby to compel better order of
things They seek a remedy in homeopathy
prescribing lawlessness for the healing of in
justice. Cardinal Manning is wise in descern-
ing the needs of the Irish people, and the
good that has accrued to them through the
establishment of the land act Something
similar for the benefit OF Irish laborers will
go far toward pacifying the people and in
surfing peace and moderate prosperity to the
island. Autonomy is practical impossibili-
perhaps, but the latter could not hold out
without England. Local self-government
she is entitled to, and SOONER or later must
have. More than this cannot be asked with
any assurance of securing it.
The Cardinal has also pointed out one of
the most serious sources of harm to Ireland
in the interference in her affairs by CONT
mental and American secret societies. The
Irish implacables in Paris, or New York, or
Chicago, at a safe distance from harm on ac-
count of seditious utterances can do meal
eulable harm by melting genuine Irish
patriots to acts OF violence that cannot be
defended in justice. 1t is no proof of patriot
ism or moral courage for a Finerty from
Chicago, or an O'Donovan Rosa, from New
York, to urge the peasantry of Ireland to
assassination. If these braggarts are so i'm
pressed with the necessity of numbering
landlords or informerg, why do they not, as
patriots, undertake the work themselves?
1t is glorious deed to assassinate a Cayen-
dish or Carey, but for themselves they pre-
Ter that some one else should win a death
!ess name in that manner These NAL
contents should desist, or by personally en-
;opntering danger prove their sincerity.