The Portland daily press., 1885-01-27
The Attitude Of Trishmen.

SO far we have got expressions OF opinion
from two prominent Irish Americans on the
dynamite explosion. They come from Rep
Boyle O'ReilIy of the Boston Pilot. 1t is to
be regretted that their tone Is not different
Mr.. O'Reilly says:
eyes, think they symptoms Of most sig
nifcant condition Of the Irish mind-for have no
doubt that they were of Irish origin. The fact is,
the Irish is resolved in all it's elements con-
servative and radical, that the murderous grip Of
England the throat of their country must be
broken before there can be between them any
more rest or peace. Personally deplore these
dynamite explosions, but highlands brutality has
created them, and not going to cry out against
Irisbmen when they strike back. England has lit
the dreadful fire in their hearts; let her stamp it
out, If she 1t is none of my business to help
her out"
Mr.. O'Reilly seems to take the ground
that because England has oppressed Ireland,
because she ''has murderous grip at Ire
lands throat therefore Irishmen are excus-
able for blowing up women and children no
more responsible for the woes of Ireland
than is Mr.. O'Reilly himself, and that too
In spite of the fact that such acts are more
likely to tighten Eogland's grip than to
loosen it. He is not going to cry out against
Irishmen, he says, when they "strike back"
Now we submit that numbering innocent
persons is not striking back. Had Parlia-
men been in session it might be said that
the dynamiters were Striking back" for
then it could have been plausibly argued
that they were trying to punish men who
are in seme degree responsible for the con-
dition of things of which the Irish complain.
But Parliament was not in session and
therefore the Irishmen who deposited the
dynamite in the building could not have
done 80 with the expectation that it would
blow up any of the men who refuse justice
to Ireland. On the other hand they knew it
was visitors day and that the buildings were
thronged with women and children, many
of them no doubt aliens, and some of them
Irishmen. In no proper sense of the phrase
therefore were they striking back. They
were no more striking back than they would
have been if they had gone into the country
and set dozen farm houses on fire while
their inmates we're asleep in their beds.
They weie simply attempting wholesale
murder of most wanton description.
Congressman Collins gives his opinion in
the following words.
"a small number (of Irishmen), impatient of de
lay stung by abuse and oppression rendered half in
sane by imprisonment and torture, resort to the
most desperate means and seem to think they can
extort terms for ireland by carving the war ipto
England. Their theory seems to be that England
and Ireland are at war and have been from the
start and that any means known to warfare or
that be employed in destruction are legitimate
in prosecuting it. Upon their theory, am not
sure but that their practice is right. There is no
such thing as "a mean advantage in war;"
This approaches very closely to an en-
dersement OF the outrage. 'on their 'heo-
ry'' says Mr.. Collins II am not sure but
their act was right" Their theory, or rather
the one Mr.. Collins kindly inYents for
tAsn, 10 that Knglsnd and Ireland are at