The Irish standard., 1906-01-13
PERSECUTION
And Prosecution Of Nationa lists
by Secretary Long
For Alleged Offsnses or Breach
% Of Obsolete Laws.

rule of Chief Secretary Long, there
has been return to the system Of
administrative worrying, petty perse-
cution and prosecutions Of National
! laws supposed to be, or that had been
in effect, obsolete. Under Chief Sec
rotary Wyndham there has beeno a
cessation Of what is generally and
vaguely known as coercion" Pro-
fessed sympathy with popular de-
mands, profuse though unfulflled
promises, abstinence from irritating
administration. helped to get the last
| Land Act passed with but little oppo-
sition and with insufficient criticism
in Parliament from the Irish party.
The effect of the act has been to in
crease by nearly so per cent the
prices paid by tenants purchasing
| their farms; and, this object having
been attained, the policy of concillia-
ton ceased.
The Gaelic League is widely spread
and powerful organization, with hun
dreds Of branches. 1t is political,
but there is no doubt that it tends to
foster and increase the spirit of Ma
tfonality. Numbers Of towns and vii
lagos hold an annual "feish," or Gaelic
festival. Irish singing, dancing, reci-
tations, history, composition, plays and
games constitute the program at
these festivals. The objects of the
league are the fostering and preserva-
ton of the Irish history and literature.
in compliance with a generally ex-
pressed desire, and some political
pressure, the government few years
ago sanctioned the ALLEGATION Of part
of the educational grant to the tean!,-
ing Of Irish in primary schools as an
extra subject and under very strin-
gent limitations. This grant has now
been withdrawn, nominally, by the
Education Commissioners, but actu-
ally by direction of the English treas.
ury. Consequently, the Gaelic League
is in arms against British admins
tration.
Contemporaneously there is a re-
newal of prosecutions for the techni-
cal breach Of a law that requires the
name of the owner to be affixed to all
vehicles in legible letters. Fine and
imprisonment for their non-payment
have been inflicted for the offense in
several 1rish-speaking districts of
having the owners name on his cart
in Gaelic letters. These cases are
usually tried at petty sessions. There
the presiding magistrates is a laid
official holding office at will Of tins
government, his colleagues being OIL
the local gentry" class. The prose-
cutions are initiated by the police,
presumably by the direction or with
the approval of Dublin Castle.
The practice hitherto has been TO
convict and fine as matter Of course,
but recently Mayo bench CT nagis-
trates. in a district where three-q uar-
tiers Of the people are disappearing
and Gaelic Leaguers, allowed common
sense to prevail and dismissed the case
brought before them. Notwithstanding
this. the police prosecuted the same
man In the following week, with the
same result. A dismissal in similar
case was given in Galway: but in
County Roscommon an offender fined
the nominal sum Of one shilling went
to Jail for three days sooner than pay
1t. In Wexford, for an unpaid fine OF
four shillings and sixpence FOR n like
goods in the shape of books. but, as
the proceeds of the sale amounted to
only one shilling, another seizure will
be made.
In Dublin merchant and alderman
named Cole was prosecuted for having
his name on his carts in Gaelic let.
ters. His goods were seized for nom
payment, and the fine realized. Alder
man Cole then substituted Roman for
Gaelic letters, but retain the Gaelic
letters but retained the Gaelic Sell
ing, "McCumhaill." Another prosecu-
ton was instituted before the C..ief
Magistrate Of the Dublin police court,
skilled lawyer holding a practically
Independent Office. He characterized
the proceedings as "monstrous," "stu-
pid." and most Irritating" The po-
lice prosecutors claimed that Alder
man Cole had transgressed sta::tes
passed in 1866 and 1865 which re-
quired the inhabitants Of Irelan7 .o
leave off entirely the manner of nam
ing used by the 1rish," and that every
1rishman should take an English sur
name of a town, or color, or art.
science, or Office. The magistrate con-
victed and imposed fine Of ten shil-
ings. Instead of lettering. these prose-
cutions tend to stimulate the Gaelic
League to increased activity, and to
convert 1t into political and anti
English organization. A prominent
Gaelic Lacquer has just been sent to
Jail for five days in default of paying
fine of sixpence for refusing to take