The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1902-10-04
Defence AND DEFIANCE.

The Corporation of Dublin, by a ma
jOl'ity of 40 to 6, have Joined in the
indignant protest against the outrag-
eous insult which the Castle has f;ls-
tened on the most crimrless city in
Europe The Proclamation held Dub
lin up to the world as a city of crime
and outrage, for the prevention, detec-
ton, and punishment of which Cuer
con was impel1tively demanded.
There is only one word in the English
language that can adequately describe
this charge against the fair fame of
the capital says the Freeman. That
word closed the resolution adopted by
the Corporation. The Proclamation
was manifest, audacious and inso-
lent lie. In empty calendars and jul
dicial congratulations OH the utter
crmelessness OF the city, it has by an
ticipation been branded as false.
At the meeting speaker after speaker
demonstrated the absolute crimeless-
ness of Dublin. No city in Europe has
a more honorable record The six
Unionists who made stumbling,
shamefaced attempt to besmirch the
city in which they live and thrive
could find no record of crime to just
ify the insulting Proclamation. They
had to fall back on the grotesqua sug-
gestion tina possibly Lord Dudley or
Mr.. Wyndham, Lord Barrymore, Lord
Ashbourne, or Mr.. Atkinson knew of
some mysterious murder conspiracies
in Dublin that had eluded the Wig
lance of Judges, magistrates and po-
lice.
Two Of those worthy representatives
Of the citizens of Dublin were guilty
Of the monstrous indecency Of recall
ing tile Phoenix Park murders in 1882,
In order to blacken the character of
the city and justify the Castle Procla-
nation in 1902 To such desperate
and despicable shifts are the advocates
Of Coercion in Dublin reduced.
\ feeble attempt was made to min
mize the outrageous insult offered to
Dublin by the Proclamation. The
most precious right the British Con-
stitution offers to the man who lives
under its protection is the right of
trial by his peers or that right every
citizen Of Dublin has, by the mere sig
natures Of Lord Ashbourne and Lord
Powerscourt, been instantly deprived.
The injustice is rendered the more gall
ing by the calumny on which it is
grounded.
If such Proclamation had been is
sued in the most crime-stained CITY in
England, it would have Instantly evok-
ed a storm Of indignant revolt, before
which the government could not have
stood for week. Outrages less dar-
ing on the liberty of the subject and
his rights under the Constitution have
cost a King Of England his crown and
life. But then of course, it was the
liberty Of Englishmen, not of the mere
lrishry, that was assailed.
The Unionists found further justifi-
cation for Coercion in the hope that
there would be few victims, and that,
after all, no one would have to 20 to
prison unless he did something dis
pleasing to Mr.. Wyndllam or the land
lord gang, of whom Mir. Wyndham is
the most Obedient servant.
The victims of the 'lettres de
cachet" were comparatively rare, and
touched only those who had displeased
the French King OF his friends. Yet
the British hyprocrites are never tired
Of denouncing that abomina BILE. instru-
ment Of tyranny. The liberty of every
citizen is now as absolutely at the
mercy of the Castle as il the ''lettre
de cachet'' were revived The police
magistrates summons under the Coer.
cion Act is equally effective for it's pur.
pose. There are few things that a
man says or writes or does that can.
not by little Castle ingenuity be con
strued into Coercion-made crime.
The insult of the Proclamation does