The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-11-19
A BIT OF TODAY's IRISH HIS
TORY

Ireland is under all the excitement
OF suppressed political feeling, Dis
appointed by the failure Of Glad
stones efforts 10 accord them the rights
they so ardently claim, the Irish peo-
pie yet remain calm and pesce!ul--a
fact most honorable TO them and pow
erful in support of their claims for
self government. The PToiestants OF
Belfast we're tumultuous, but their
Tory friends have managed TO keep
them down. Intolerable provocations
caused disturbances in Kerry, but
now entire quiet reigus there. How
that quiet has been brought about is
one OF the events Of Ireland's current
history, and 1t is most interesting end
instructive TO Know. Gen. Butler was
given unusual powers, and was cent
to Kerry to quell the disturbances
there. Or the ( ce Of it the appoint
ment looked had for the Irish. Butler
is en- English man; not only that, he is
a colder and only q soldier, and SOL
dieTs, when entrusted with civil
power, are usually too ready TO apply
the arbitrary methods OF the army.
Yet this soldier in an incredible
short time has succeeded where the
magistrates and other local authorities
had signAlly failed, and he did 1t with.
out any undue severity. Howi Be.
cluse he had q heart 10 feel, aud a
conscience that made him just. There
lay his whole secret. He had served
in Egypt and had witnessed the depri-
vations suffered by the Arabs in their
waterlees deserts. He had served in
South Africa and beheld the privstions
endured by savage tiibfs. But, after
ell he had seen, when he entered on
his new and unactustomed duties he
was shocked and touched TO the point
of anguish when the terrible poverty
OF the poor people Of Kerry appeared
in all lis tquallid want, in all its un-
christian helplessness, desertion and
friendlessnesS before him. lie saw
what the fiendish measures OF the
landlords and their supporters and
parasites had done, end he reversed
them. For hearllessness he substi-
tutsd pity, for the greed that sought
to extort the merciltss trent" from
these sufferers, he gave the unwonted
boon OF justice. Every case brought
before him he decided on its pure
merits, never forgetting the attribute
Of mercy. When he saw that attempts
at eviction were contrary to justice he
refused to aid in carrying them out.
Even when the technically OF the law
was on the side Of the graspi ng land
lord, he still refssed to act when the
eviction would inaict undue distress
upon the unfortunate tenants. AS
such distress almost always attends
evletions, those discredlts to the man
hood OF Irish landowners have almost
ceased in the district. Does not this
fact show who are the authors Of Irish
aggressons aud disturbances? Bull
Ter has control OF the police and mill.
tary he will allow them 10 be made
ntiiher the ins tTuments of injustice
nor cruelty. The result is that Kerry
is peaceful. Does not this fact speak
trumpet tonGued for tho opprt sse
Irish peopleH But the landlords, how
do they take iii They take II as bulls
take red flags. They are seethipg hot
with fury. They denounce and Willy
and threaten. They will have the
law on Butler. They expected him 10
be their TOOL and helper, and Instead
OF doing 60 he stands up Tor justice
and mtrcy. Spite Of their wrath,
their enraged countenances, flaming
eyes and outrageous tongues, Butler
holds on bis way, and, except among
the indignant landlords, peace reignl
in Kerry.