The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1880-11-06 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

ANGRY LAND LEAGUERS.  The Irish Land Leaguers are very angry because the Government has seriously set about their prosecution. Mr. Parnell is quite hysterical, and has been talking a great deal of nonsense. On Thursday he said:—" The course the I Government had taken in postponing action upon this matter was execedingly inconvenient to those members of Parliament who were included in the indictment. He thought they should urge Government to put them upon their trials as speedily as possible. He there fore intended to press for an immediate and speedy trial, and he would give Goveromeut n, excuse by any delay in :the prelitninariev. Should they not place him on his trial in the present term he would throw the responsibility on the Government, and would take care that the country should understand the nature of the considerations which influenced the Government in the matter. Be complained of the Chief Secretary sending detectives to watch him yesterday and the evening before, in fact during the,whole night. He was of opinion that in political warfare many things , must be excused, but dishonourable conduct on the part of political opponents , was not what they were entitled to. Mr. 1 Forster knew well he could get him at any moment if he ever wanted him; and as regarded the other traversers, there was no use in dodging their steps by detectives." He taunted the Government with desiring to make illegitimate use of the law of conspiracy, and asserted that members of it were coercing Irish tenants in a way in which they had themselves declared that English trades anions should not be coerced. But he complacently ignored the fact that there is a very wide difference between Irish agitators, who do not seem to know what they want, and who say and do the most unjustifiable, dangerous, and foolish things, and English trades unionists. It is not likely that the Government will be prevented from doing its duty by his menaces and taunts. It should be borne in mind that it is more humane to prosecute a few reckless agitators, who cause murder, outrage, and terrorism, than it would be to make a whole people the victims of a galling Peace Preservation Act or a repeal of the Habrens Corpus Act. The Government has had to decide between prosecuting Mr. Parnell and his rampsgious lieutenants and coercing the whole of the Irish people. In tiebcting the more moderate it has chosen the wiser course, the course most in accord with fair play, and it is unfair that its temperate action should be met with floats and gibes. Let the Irish people ask themselves what would Lord Beaconsfield do if he had to deal with the present crisis. Let them remember that the complaint of the Conservative party against Mr. Gladstone is that he is not going far enough in order to repress Irish murder, terrorism, and lawlessness. Elaborate preparations are, of course, being made for the defence of the indicted "leaguers.' It is stated to be the intention of the defendants to examine Mr. Gladstone in reference to his Midlothian and other speeches, Mr. Bright in reference to his Manchester speech, and Mr. Forster upon his writings and statements in the House of Commons. It is also said to be their intention to subpcena a large number of landlords, amongst whom will bathe Duke of Leinster, Lord Sligo, tho Marquis of Lansdowne, the Earl of Kenmare, Mr. Mitchell Henry, M.P., and Mr. Pollok. We do not see what good could  result  from the carrying out-of such an absurd intention, if it has been formed. The line of defence will be, first to show cause why information should not be taken against the traversers. The defendants will plead not guilty, and it is said that at the trial they will examine witnesses for the purpose of justifying the speeches recently delivered throughout the country. They intend to repudiate the charge of conspiracy. Thus, the trial is evidently destined to prove one of the most phenomenal on record. It will be a happy accident if, while it is in preparation and taking place, the agitators will become so lost in it that they will forget to deliver such speeches as have brought them into discredit and imperilled the best interests of their country.