The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-19
The Anti-Rent Scheme of the League Cannot
BE Defeated by Ordinary Law, and More
Stringent Measures Will Be Necessary.
John DiIlon's 0fense Not One for Which
He Can Legally Be Imprisoned.
Delicate Condition of the Relations Existing
Between Great Britain on One Side, and
Russia and France on the Other.
THE ANTI-RENr TROUBLES.
Extraordinary Measures Will Be Necessary
to Defeat the Irish National League.

Extraordinary Measures Will Be Necessary
to Defeat the Irish National League.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal
LONDON Dec 18-The government, for the
present, take especial pains to discaim the
name of coercion" in connection with the policy
they have adopted for suppressing Mr.. billions
plan of campaign. They state that the ordinary
law is to be tried, and if this fails to put down
the agitation they will apply to Parliament for
tie passage of peace preservation act" to en-
able the Irish govern ment to deal more effect
ually with intimidation and lawless demonstra-
lions" Having taken step the government
will inevitably lead to others. and before the
winter is out the old regime of coercion will be
re-established In Ireland. Mr.. Dillon will give
bail, and the very next day he will make
speech exactly the same as that for which he has
been brought to court and then, when the
recognizances are estreated he will contest the
legality of the action. The impression is very
general among lawyers, both in Ireland and
England that the act of Edward III, under
which the government has proceeded, will not
Justify the estreating of recognzances. It is
now admitted by Tory lawyers that Mr. Dillon
is white elephant on the governments hands,
as they cannot send him to Jail without
trial, and there is little doubt
that Dillon has not committed any
offense for which the law imposes Imprisonment
Should the authorities even repeat the blunder
of the Liberal government and charge him with
conspiracy, or sedition, observation-disclosures
for which it would be very difficult to obtain
sufficient prina facie evidence to satisfy police
Al
fore. The government have excited so much
distrust all over the country that they would
scarcely be able to obtain verdict against any
of the Nationalist leaders. However much
they wish to lodge Mr.. Dillon in Kill
mainham, it is clearly out of their
power to get him there. The legal
advisers of the gov arnment know very we'll
that the present agitation differs widely from
the no-rent movement. There is no conspiracy
now against the payment of rents and reason
able rents are being paid freely throughout Ire
land. Even against those owners who refuse re-
auctions it would be almost impossible to prove
conspiracy. The tenants in every case have Of
fered the landlords such proportion of the rent
as they feel they can fairly pay. Because pro-
pretor refuses this amount, the government can
hardly contend that the tenants have conspired
not to pay at all Moreover, the owner has his
redress in the ordinary process of law. He can
proceed either by dstraint eviction, and he
can make the country pay the police fees neces
sary for the operation. If he finds the work too
difficult and costly, that is his lookout, and with
out doubt will teach him the wisdom of initial
ing his neghbors in coming to fair compromise.
I1Ddar tho If tho nr5iu mo
present movement, as whole, cannot be put
down. Take England, where the landlords
strength is much greater. and justly so than in
Ireland and movement of the kind could not
be suppressed without arbitrary interference.
Thus the government have other course be
fore them. Either they must fail or ask Parlia-
ment for extraordinary powers. In any event
the result will be of benefit to the Liberals for
it will prove to the country the truth of the Lib
eral contention that there is no halfway house
between home rule and coercion, and that either
Ireland must govern herself or be governed by
England, like India Even the nstru-
ments of tho Tory Minister are convinced
of this. Lord Camaroon came back
from Ireland home-ruer. General Butler
went to Ireland and speedily became the terror,
not of the people, but of the landlords. Unless
he is very much misrepresented, the General
and his principal assistants not only believe In
the value of the new movement, but are con-
vinced that there is no safe or satisfactory settle
ment of the Irish question except home rne.
England will not long ignore these facts. When
it is generally recognized that even the agents
of Conservative government are converted by
personal study of Irish affairs, public opinion
will not long resist that great reform which Mr.
Gladstone has made not only possible but newt
ali