Middlesbrough & Stockton Gazette and General Advertiser. — 1871-08-11 (Stockton-on-Tees, Durham, England)

THE IRISH RIOT AND NATIONAL RIGHTS. ,  "Tim hapless Irish" are the words which rise unbidden to the lips of every honest reader of the reports which record the origin and consequences of the recent disturbances in Dublin. It seems as if every turn of the wheel were either by themselves or by others, turned to their discredit and their hurt. This last miserable outburst is perhaps the most unfortunate in the dismal list of misfortunes. It has many peculiarities. A meeting was called to ask for the release of the Fenian prisoners—an object which every one must admit was not only legitimate, but from an Irish stand-point, even laudable. It was called by responsible and respectable men ; Mr Smyth, the new member for IVestmeatli, and Mr G. M. Sullivan beine among the number; and it was called, Moreover, in furtherance of the pol:cy of clemency which the Government has wisely adopted. The fatal element, as it turned out, was the place of meeting ;—the Piuenix Park, whiela belongs to the people, like Hyde Park— this latter having some years ago furnished a memorable proof that the public could assert their right to use their own as they may think fit, even by pulling down the railings. Now, looked at dispassionately, there seems to us no tangible reason why such a meeting should be forcibly prevented. If it is said that the Irish temperament is inflammable, and that such a meeting was fraught with danger, surely it did not tend to peace to put a match to the fuel, in the shape of a policeman with a baton. There is no shadow of pretence that any riot was anticipated as the result of the gathering, or that any present danger was necessarily involved. The truth is, officialism, overpowered by a momentary and superficial loyalty, wished to show its patriotism and its power; hiving decreed that the meeting should not be held, it resolved that it toon/d not be held ; and hence the utterly reckless and stupendously foolish attempt to put down a public meeting held for a liwful purpose, in a place to the free use of which the people's right had never beft:re been questioned. This proceeding indicates as clearly as any single act could do, the secret of Irish disaffection, and the weakliest; of (imported) Irish Government. There seems at the very foundation a principle of antagonism between the great body of the people and their immediate rulers; a total lack of that sympsthy and interest which alone Can secure peaceful co-operation ; and a perpetual tendency, in apparently small matters, to. neutralise the legitimate effects of beneficial legislation. Had a meeting been summonera in Hyde Park, to aek the "free pardon!' of some criminal who, under great provocation— assumed or real—had murdered an associate, it would have been tolerated, and assuredly no harm would have followed—it would not leave lessened the dread of the "noose," nor tended to the spread of murderous feelings. This may be an extreme illustration, but as a matter of fact sections of the people are permitted to assemble in our national park and talk mien blaephemy and sedition. Why is it otherwise —so very far otherwise—in Ireland Even the Times is driven to ask—" Is there one law for England, and another for Ireland r It would seem so ; indeed, so far as the application of the law goes, it is so; and not until the local administration is inspired by the same high aim that has characterised the Irish legislation of Mr Gladstone, will there be either contentment or prosperity. The lead* men unhappily [nixed us in this disturbance are notoriously me.; of peace—of extreme views it may be, but also of strongly expressed views in approval of moral agencies. The Sullivans—several of whom are well known in the North of England—have even suffered in their own country for their condemnation of physical force ; and such high-handed official mots as this prohibition only tend to drive moderate men into antagonistic and deplorable extremes. It is not  thus, at least, that iteiand is to be natured, and the least our Guvereuleat can do is to in.  a searching inquiry, and make sure that no such unwise mai disa,strous exercise of authority shall again uscur. The Royal visit has undoubtedly been a taaceessful one; let it bear fruit in promoting good will and practical generosity—a desire to be fair as well as firm in carryiug out the law.  f•titute