Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-03-28
GOVERNING IRELAND.
The Views Of the Present Government
and Its Predecessor.
Mr.. BALFOUR POSES AS A CRITIC.
He Says the Leniency Recently
Shown Makes the Punishment
OF Agrarian Crimes Impossible
Mr.. Gladstone Contrasts the
New Methods With Coercion.

LONDON, March 27.-In the House OF
Commons to-day, Mr. Bslfour, leader Of
the Unionists, spoke at length on his
motion OF which he gave notice last
Thursday, that the Irish Executive be
censured for condoning serious offences,
and thus bringing the law into general
contempt. He made his attack upon
the government with exceptional vigor
and evoked repeatedly loud cheers from
the opposition benches.
The present deplorable state OF az
fairs in ireland, Mr.. Balfour said, was
| largely the consequence OF compact
between the Government and the
forces of disorder. The Minister had
made with the Irish party an agree
ment by which the administration OF
the law was being defeated.
According to this unwritten concor-
dal. the government had coQuetted with
amnesty and had encouraged dishonest
tenants, through the eyicted tenants
commission, TO disown their obligations
and to treat the landlords as a Jaw
abiding people would treat malefactors.
The government had fomented out
RACES by suspending the crimes act and
had instigated crimes by the release OF
the dynamiters. The government had
not hesltated TO take steps which were
in direct antagonism 10 the decicions OF
the courts.
Had not Judge OF a high court OF
Justice declared that the Chief Secre-
tary for Ireland had acted illegally in
refusing police protection TO those
whose du4y ii was TO enforce the law
against defaultlng tenants. In certain
districts the direct countenancing by
the government OF law breaking had
appalling consequences
Such a state OF lawlessness prevailed
in them that no conviction could be OBJ
tanned In cases OF agrarian crime, no
matter how clear and undisputed the
evidence. A new reign OF terror had
been established. Witnesses refused TO
appear TO testify, as they realized that
the most convincing testimony would be
vain, while incurring the vengeanAof
the criminal population. y
This was high price for 10
ernment 10 pay for Irish support, lew
! ing the weak 10 be oppressed by the
strong and the law-abIding 10 be at the
mercy OF the lawless, but the Govern
ment had not hesitated TO pay IL. The
recent outrages In counties Mayo,
Clare, Limerick and Kerry had shown
plainly how remarkable had been the
recrudescence OF crime in Ireland un-
der the present government.
The practice OF boycottlng had been
revived in all its pristine ugliness and
yIgor. The government knowing per-
haps the uselessness OF prosecuting Of
tenders, had taken no steps TO protect
the victims. Disgraceiu as were all
these disorders, there was no sign OF an
effort to stop them.
In answering Mr.. Balfour. Mr.. Nor
lev. Chief Secretary for Ireland, direct
ed attention 10 the fact that this was
the fifth vote OF censure moved within
eight weeks. The right honorable gen.
tleman, moreover, had failed TO Justify
his motion with ono new fact or one
fresh argument.
The leading charge against the gov
ernment was that they had concordal
with the Irish party. Hc would not
deny that the present admlnistratlon
tried to govern Ireland In sympathy
with the Irish people. Cheers TX
that was the heinOus concordal, he
would plead guild TO being party
70 IL.
As 10 the specific charge that he bad
refused police protection 70 those who
enforced the law, be would say that be
had declined TO protect night seizures
| and he felt justified in this action. Mr.
! Morley then reoutted In detail Mr. Bal
four's assertion that agrsrian crime In
Ireland hal increased under the Liberal
government.
Mr.. Gladstone reproached the oppo-
sltlon with resortlng 20 q license OF
language, which they could not possi-
bly Justify with facts. The present
government, be said, bad as great de-
sire and as strong an interest as had
any OF their predecessors Ia preserving
law and order in Ireland.
The present government bad, how
ever. different views IS 70 the best mao
ner OF dealing with the people. They
had substituted mildness and clemency
for coercion. The results already ap-
parent proved how successfully the new
policy operated. =.
Lord Randolph Churchill introduced
his speech for SIR. Balfour's motion
with a short eulogy OF Dir. Gladstone
and an allusion 70 his "fasclnAtlng
eloouence." He felt IL his duty, how
ever. he said, 20 defend Irish judges
against the charge OF having passed 100
harsh sentences. His own experience
with the chief secretary's great legisla-
tive achievements had been that one
concession 70 the Irish people was fol-
lowed invariably by another.
The Liberals had followed the same
policy as had the Conservatives Tor tne
suppression OF crime In Ireland unti
the present Prime Minister made MS
great surrender 10 1855.
The division on Mr.. Baliours motion
followed Lord RandoIph's speech. IL
resulted In a majority OF ~ Tor the gov
ernment, the vote standing 3l9 70 zI3.