The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-18
Mr.. T. P. 0'ConnOr Declares that Self-GOv-
ernment Must be Granted or the Island
Governed by Military Force.
English Financiers Unable to Agree on
the Question of Silver Coinage.
Gladstone's Irish Policy Threatens to Result
in Split in the Ranks of the Liberals
Greece Refuses to Disarm.
THE IRISH QUESTION.
Ireland Must be Allowed Self-Governnlent OIL
be Managed by a Strong Hand.

be Managed by a Strong Hand.
LONDON, Jan 16-In ar interview to day with
Cable News correspondent Mr. T. P. O'Connor
expressed himself freely concerning the latest
phase of the political situation. In reply to the
question: "What do you think of the govern
ments sudden bias in favor of strong coercive
measures nIreandl" Mr.. O'Connor said.
''If the Tories propose coercion for Ireland, it
is party move to embarrass the Liberals, and is
the best means of escape from an intolerable
position in the face of an undoubted majority"
"Will the Liberals lend any assistance to Lord
Salisbury in any such movement
"1he Liberals oppose coercion. Chamberlain
is deeply committed against it, He was ready
to oppose il in 1885 the moment he left office, but
it was then too soon to swallow his own words.
Now all the Liberals who had to fight the Irish
vote and who went through the last Parliament
have holy horror of the bare mention of coer
cion"
this question:
'It is very doubtful if Mr.. Gladstone, whose
desire is to end his political career with the
pacifcation of Ireland, will support the govern
ment turn about Tactically, the proposal for
coercion is welcome one to the Liberals be-
cause it will enable them to return TO Office with
a free hand. The Parnellites are bound to expel
a coercion Ministry whatever the consequences
may be, even if the expulsion put the Liberals
in Office without their having given home-rule
pledges. On the other hand. if the Liberals OBJ
tanned Office by defeating coercion they would
find it impossible to propose its renewal"
fkVIrt i - =
Matters in Ireland have arrived at crisis.
Ireland must be governed by the sword or
govern herself"
SIS the severity with which boycottng is
carried on the chief excuse for the governments
new poieyp
''The anti rent movement has reached AN ag-
gravated form, in consequence of the phenom-
email depression in farm produce throughout the
three Kingdoms Even il willing the farmers
are unable to pay. British creditors are harshly
pressing bankrupt landlords. and wholesale evic-
tions threatened. These will, however, be
possible only with enormous police and mill
tary force, and at vast expense to the govern
ment."
HAS there been any change of popular opin-
ion here on the Irish question:
1.-THE antilrish feeling in England is momen-
tarily very bitter, chiefly owing to newspaper in
element, but it is doubtful whether Englishmen
will sanction the fierce coercion necessary to
suppress the league and other national agencies
Therefore. if the Torres are expelled, the Liber-
ais unable to propose coercion, to govern
Ireland, must propose self-government OF some
sort, giving the Tories the desired chance
of appealing to the constituencies on the integ-
rity- of theempire' cry. 1t is doubtful. however
if even that popular watchword would lead them
to victory"
'What opinion is uppermost among your col
leagues in the Housep
1.-The opinion at Westminster is that Mr. Glad
stone can carry home rule if he likes, out it is
impossible to know his views"
The Freeman's Journal of to. day has power
full article on the Cabinets resolves 1t fears the
worst, and says: "It would be idle for the Irish
people to disguise from themselves the necessity
of calmly preparing for catastrophe. The con
cession of our claim for self-government is inev-
liable if the Irish people cannot he driven by
force or will from their present lawful, peace
full, constitutional but determined attitude
An English government before now
has, in similar situation, resorted
to the horrible expedient of deliberately driving
our people to desperation, for the purpose of
maintaining its rule. In face of the utterance
of the English press and of the letters advocat-
ing martial law, which the leading journal of
England has not hesitated to publish, in face of
the rumors everywhere rife, in face of the threat
that Lord Wolseey will be sent over to dragoon
the country, in face of the resignation of Lord
Carnarvon and tie ground upon which he came
to his resolution, and in face of our own knowl-
edge of the utter want of principle of some
members of the administration, we cannot for
bear discussing the possibilities, the inevitable
result. which would be of character that no
one having the feelings of human being could
contemplate without horror"
The editorial is only an echo Of what all Ma
tionalists are saying. However. they await
anxiously the coming week, for it will disclose
the Queens speech and tho Tory programme
The Egyptian bondhoders forced the Soudan
slaughter. The question now is, will the En-
glish mortgages of Irish estates force new coer-
cion? Touching all these and other kindred ques-
tions, find that the Nationalsts have abiding
confidence in Parnell. His method and proposals
are still as completely unknown the Tory, or
Whig, or Radical methods aud refusals of the fu-
ture. His avoidance of his colleagues his 81
lence, like that of great chess player, his att
tude toward press interviewers since his last talk
all these data are taken here as the best evidence
OF his wisdom and promise for success.
The Irish Exchequer bench has ruled that the
National League is not illegal, as it exists in
every county of Ireland, and is tolerated by the
government which knows its objects.