The Irish standard., 1896-04-04
THE AMNESTY QUESTION.


tically decided by the cabinet to release
all the Irish political prisoners during
the present year. Tt is also stated that
the home secretary. Sir Matthew White
Ridley, had much difficulty in inducing
his colleagues to agree to this policy
This seems too good to be true, but the
source from which it comes is generally
accurate. Sir Wemyss Reid, the editor
of the Speaker, it is thought, derived his
Information from Sir William Harcourt
or John Morley and that these gentlemen
had been consulted by the government
before the idea as to amnesty had been
agreed upon. Accepting this as true it
would seem that the earnest agitation cf
the question in America as we'll as In Ire
land is about to bear wholesome fruit.
Besides this agitation the damning fact
is universally known that there Is no
other country in Europe, Russia perhaps,
alone excepted, under whose govern
memt the political prisoner has been
erected into permanent institution but
that of acknowledgement, 'fthe nurse Of
liberty-the mother of parliaments, ETC.,
ETC., "-England is the last country in the
world that should be severe upon any
such offenders. Almost all she has got
to boast of rests upon the conduct Of men
whose action differed nothing in principle
from that of those who are called rebels
and revolutionists in Ireland, and who,
had they failed, would have been SINH
Iarly if not as brutally treated and calum-
mated The first great charter Of her
liberties was wrung from the reluctant
john by her armed bar1ls at Runnymede,
and the doctrine of divine right with the
the entire brood of superstiti0ns out of
which sprang the "sanctity" Of kings,
fell with the head of Charles [. at White
hall. The glorious revolution of 1888,
the GLORY" of which every Englfshman,
from peer to pickpocket, effusively &C
cepts as a fundamental article Of faith,
was only another protest against gov
eminent wrong, and vindication OF the
right of the people to revolt. What great
measure has been passed in England since,
but has been ground out Of the const1tu-
tional machine amid the threats and in
dignation of the populace? The story
of the proceedings which accompanied the
repeal of the corn laws and the passage
of the reform act, is record of popular
discomfort, conspiracy, disturbance, and
almost open rebellion. AS to Ireland. abb
solutely nothing has been obtained, except
revenue acts, or acts for her better gov
eminent" which being interpreted mean
acts for the better suppression of Irish lib
erty. unless, vulgar though it may seem.
on the lowest stand and deliver" prin-
ciple. Catholic emancipation, which even
the most atrabilious Englishman will
hardly find fault with now, was conceded
by the fears of an instruction; the key
of powder which blew up the walls OF
Clerkenwell prison also blew up the
church establishment, and the land re-
forms of recent years were yielded not to
the cries of the prosecuted tenant, but to
the organization which, in official Ian
guage, had made constitutional govern
ment in Ireland impossible.
Nor, in this connection, must be forgot
ten the famous appearance of Mr.. A. j.
Balfour some time ago in the role of the
"Fair Penitent,' when, with candle In
hand and his philosophic person wrapped
in winding sheet wet with tears Of re-
pentance and remorse, he walked before
the world with the confession on his lips
that the misfortunes Of Ireland were
mainly, If not altogether, due to British
malice, obstinacy, and misgovernment.
Surely. with this knowledge, and no Eng
lishman before him has so broad
ly and boldly admitted the truth,
and he ,dererves great credit for
having spoken so frankly. Arthur
james will not be SO illogical as to
! continue much longer the incarceration
Of men who felt, perhaps too deeply, the
| force Of the facts which he admits. and
sought to overthrow the system which
| he condemns. It is not believed he will
for Al, with ali his faults, has the merit
Ioef bang oa1e q the yery feA Ems ishnsl