The Irish standard., 1886-07-31
WILLIAM O'BR|EN'S DEFEAT.
The Philosophy Of irish orangemen-
They Always Strive to be on
the Winning Side.
CAUSE OF THE BELFAST RIOTS,
The Editor of United Ireland Believes That
the Situation Depends on the State
of Gladstone's Health.

the Situation depends on the STATE
Of Gladstones Health. e.
had an interview this morning will
William O'Brien, whom found in hi
bedroom, resting after his five weeks
fight in South Tyrone, cabled T. F. Gill
Nj. p, one day last week through th'
North American news agency. II
reply to my queries, the editor O.
United Ireland said: I'VE lost Tyrone
because Gladstone lost England. The
bulk of the Protestant farmers are moi
moved in the least by sentiment They
are an eminently practical race. Il
they saw we were winning they would
come to our side with the utmost phil
osophy. Because we We're losing they
determined to plant 81 blow at US
themselves. In South Derry and South
Tyrone they had confessed the power
of destroying our majority. In Ulster
all the influence Of the landlords, the
ministers, the bigots and the Orange
men was combined to persuade Or in
timidate them to use their power
against the Papist candidate. In one
respect we have entirely succeeded.
We have abated the ferocty with which
they once used to regard us. They
now evince the utmost interest in our
proceeding, attend all our meetings.
never use an insulting word, and are in
that state Of oscillation in which they
are perfectly willing to take our side
once it becomes the winning side. AS
to their even carrying resistance to
Home Rule to the point OF civil war,
that is quite absurd. Talk of chat sort
is confined to the laborers and depend
ents OF landlords, and the lowest rab-
BILE of the towns, who get supplies OF
cash and whiskey from The landlords
for keeping the lodges in lighting trim.
Two dozen policemen could at tany time
deal with their worst efforts if honest
ly handled. But policemen have again
and again complained to me that they
have been left in the streets as targets
for the small
CROWDS OF ORANGE .ROUGHs,
and, although twenty men could at any
moment dispose of the rioters, the po-
Lice were obliged to stand disarmed
while being pelted, or are Withdrawn
from the streets altogether, thus filling
the rioters with confidence in themsel-
yes. The Belfast riots would never
have taken place, only that the impress
ion, always hitherto existing, that they
are above the law, and would be hand
led with kid gloves: no matter what
they did. had been strengthened by the
action Of the magistrates and constabu-
larry officers. So long as the prospects
Of Home Rule seemed good, the Off
GERS and resident magistrates evinced a
determination to stand no nonsense
from the rioters. But since fortune
has turned against Mr.. Gladstone at the
polls in England every policeman has
been made to feel that his chances OF
promotion are at All end it he nl0lests
the Orangemen. Policemen who real
}y exerted themselves to put down the
riots have since been little better than
prisoners in their own barracks, con-
stantly disgraced, humiliated and sub
jected to punishment drill" Ques-
toned as to the situation in general,
Mr.. O'Brien said: 1.-The situation de-
pentis, as it has depended for the past
six months. on the state Of Gladstone's
health. So long as he maintains his
present vigor, ParueIl and he are mas
ters of the situation. Should the Irish
people take the settlement ct the land
question into their own hands, as seems
probable in view OF
THE 1lopEFULNEss OF REDRESS
from the English Parliament, the new
Tory government will at once be
brought face to face with the altelna~
tive to the policy OF Cancellation. They
would be obliged to attempt the pass
ing of a coercion act, and that in the
teeth Of the combined opposition of
Gladstone and Parnell, and the large
section Of the Liberal Unionists who
are pledged against coercion, and glad
enough Of an opportunity Of re-estab-
fishing relations with Gladstone would
inevitably subject the Tory government
to defeat and drive them again to the
country. If the Irish people at home
and abroad, meanwhile, preserve an at
titude of steadiness, good temper and
determination, the education process,
which has already made marvellous
strides amongst the English and
Scotch democracy, will be every day
growing i'll intensity, so that When the
next general election comes on there
will be compact, well organized and
thoroughly educated Liberal party who
will carry all before them unless the
English electorate make up! their minds mi nds
not to bulge one inch on the road to |