The Irish standard., 1901-06-01
The Jury System in Ireland is Not the
Same as in Other Parts of
United Kingdom.
Castle Judges Select Juries to Convict
and Order Roman Catholics
to Stand Aside.

matter how humble Cloud cheers). Yes,
Mr.. Lowther, these are the superficial
rcsemblances between the law in Ire
land and the law in England; but let
us come to the reality. The magistrate
in England Is an independent man
independent OF the executive, standing
equally and impartially and indepen-
IDENTIFY between the humblest man in
the dock and the most powerful gov
ernment Qrish cheers). The jury in
England is chosen without any at
tempt on the part Of the crown-ex-
cept three in the course Of the last
half-century-to interfere with it's COM
position in the interests Of the crown
and against the prisoner. Rnt the
judge in England Qoud Irish cheers)--
the judge in England has reached his
position by honest professional work
(renewed cheers), as Il reward Of hon
est professional emincnce (more
cheers). Sir, l know very few cases,
Indeed, in which IT can be alleged that
n man holding that great position In
| this country ever reached it by the
interests Of the religious creed or the
religious party to which he belonged
(cheers). Let me take the magistrate.
At this time Of day will not attempt
to go over the old ground of the resi-
dent magistrate, or, as we call them
in Ireland, the removable. I'll dismiss
him In few sentences. He is created
by the crown, rewarded by the crown,
degraded by the crown, given in old
age the security and comfort of a
pension or condemned to poverty, hun
ger, or despair according to the will Of
the crown. | go further; say that
the encouragement and Dublin castle
or the chief secretary-thcy are all the
same (cheers)-can regard these men,
these impartial, Independent magis-
tratcs QrOnical Irish cheers),' standing
between the crown ana the liberty Of
the subject-as much their creatures,
their boots, and their servants as the
porter that carries their messages or
the charWoman that lights their fires
renewed chcers). Nor is that the only
distinction between the magistrates in
England and the magistrates in Ire
land. We have had reflections as to
the characters Of these gentlemen from
the predecessors in Office Of the pres
ent occupant OF the chief secrctary's
office. The leader Of the opposition
(Sir Henry Campbell ll-Bannerman) once
gave the country little glimpse into
his duties as chief secretary for Ire
land, and what was one Of those du-
ties? 1t was to summon, to instruct,
and to command the magistrates of
Ireland as to the wishes Of Dublin
castle on the administration Of justice
Qrish checrs). The chief secretary
laughs. Does he think | am saying
this for fun? Does he think am say
ing this at random? Is there u single
man in Ireland-Protcstant or Catho-
lie, Wing or Tory-that does not think
the resident magistrate on the bench Is
nothing but policeman on behalf Of
Dublin castle, who prostitutes the very
name Of Justice while Ire pretends to
be administering justice Qoud cheers).
If we were to give the resident magis-
trates their due they would not pre-
tend to be anything else. I'll give a
few instances An amusing little case
occurred In the county Kerry during
the past few months. A number Of
United Irish Leaguers were brought
before the resident magistrate. "Of
course" says the crown solicitor, ad-
dressing the resident magistrate, "you
will commit these men," 1 do not
know whether the crown solicitor had
dined with the resident magistrate in
the commercial room Of the local hotel
or not Qaughter). That does occur
there Is nothing unusual in 1t Qrish
cheers; but, at any rate, the crown
solicitor said, "Of course you will COM
NIT these men," Now, everybody in
Ireland knows that in such cases the
crown solicitor is ordering and the resi-
dent magistrate is obeying (hear, hear).
But it does not end there. There ia