Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1899-04-29
RESORTING TO RUFFIANISM,

rapidly and is now so universally
established throughout Ireland as
the United Irish League, the pur-
pose of which is to secure the full
benefit of the land law to the ten
antry, protect them from summary
eviction and unjust seizure or de-
struction of their property, defend
them against unwarranted legisla-
ton and prosecution, and finally to
seek further concessions for the
people by amending the law so they
may become freeholders as we'll as
tenants, responsible and paying
tithes to the Government, thus dis
pensing with the landlords. That
such proposition meets with the
unbounded approval and enlists the
hearty support of the tenantry is
quite natural, and they have come
i'll crowds to the meetings, which
always result in the formation of
a new league, thus adding strength
to the movement. The leader and
principal speaker is Mr.. William
O. Brien, and his addresses, though
at times severe in the arraignment
of the injustice and cruelty of land
lordism, have never suggested any
other than legal and peaceful means
of redress.
The landlords, of course, do not
approve of the United Irish League,
and for time sought to check its
growth by counter meetings and
opposition speakers, but their eff
forts were futile, and to O'Brien's
credit it must be conceded that, so
far as he met any of the anti-league
speakers, several of whom are able
men, he easily refuted their charges
against the organization, explained
away the legal objections and came
off victor in the debate. The courts
were next resorted to, and leaguers
were arrested and prosecuted for
alleged violations of law, but these
were dismissed without trial except
in few cases, and in these the
verdict was acquittal. All this, in
stead of checking the growth of the
league, really attracted attention
and excited sympathy for the
league and aroused indignation
against its prosecutors, resulting in
more members and more leagues,
until it is now spread all over the
agricultural portions of Ireland.
The last move against the league
is desperate. Up to recently all
league meetings, however large and
demonstrative, were always orderly
and peaceful. Within the past few
weeks at meetings where Mr..
O'Brien has attempted to speak he
has been interrupted, jerred, in
suited, and at two meetings but for
police protection would have been
attacked by parties, strangers in the
localities, and who attended and |
carried out the same tactics at all
the meetings. 1t matters not who
instigates such ruffianism, its pur-
pose is manifestly to prevent the
holding of league meetings, and
if possible cause riot and bloodshed,
though the latter has thus far been
avoided, owing to Mr.. O'Brien cut
ting short his speeches, appealing
to the people not to resent the ruff
fianism, and quietly dispense to
their homes. But at the meetings
where Mr.. O'Brien was attacked
after leaving the speakers stand,
though the police estensibly guard
ed him, they really kept back the
enraged people from his assailants,
who hastily retreated. Such con-
duct, if persisted in, can have but
one result-bloodshed--and they
who instigate it will be response
BILE.
Judge Scott, of Richmond, KY,
l. 1...I11