THE IRISH TROUBLES.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 34, 11 February 1881, Page 2

THE IRISH TROUBLES.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE EVENING POST. Sir — The accompanying letter was forwarded to the New Zealand limes in reply to its loading article of yesterday morning. That journal decliuea to publish it. May I O3k tho 1 avor of its insertion in your columns, and thus allow the other side of the question to bo heard in Wellington. I am, Ac, -/¦ 11th February. Celt. To tho Editor of tho New Zealand Times. Sir — Allow mo to protest against the whole scope and tone of your leader of this day in reference to the Wanganui Parnoll Fund. You accuse the majority of the Itißh people of " violence, sedition, rebellion, andnmrdor." Pitt confessed himself unablo to frame an indictment against a nation, but ho evidently lacked your ability. Yon accußO tho leaders of tho land movement of " rebellion and murder," and you accuse the jury who tried them of sympathy with those crimes aud with perjuring themselves by not convicting the accused. Nothing but the sense of immunity whioh distance gives you could have nerved you to publish libels so gross, so malicious, co utterly false. You know that you are perfectly safe in doing bo ; whether it is honorable, I loavo to others to say. Bat, sir, to impartial men it will appear that a jury on the spot acquainted with the general facts, hearing the evidonoe, and sworn to do justice, must be bettor able to jndge than a person utterly ignorant of the matters at issue, 15,000 miles away, and so evidently blinded by passion and prejudice as yonr leader proves you to bo. four dootrino that I New Zealand colonists havo no right to interest themselves in Home disputes, is bo utterly ridiculous that even you would not utter it were it not that you wish to muzzle the expression of Irish feeling on an Irish question. Had the Wanganui collection been for the landlords' benefit, your tone would have been different. New Zealand colonists have a perfect right to express their opinions on Home affairs. Irishmen, practically acquainted with tho results oi' landlord oppression at Homo, have more than a right — it is almost an imperative duty — to take a partial interest in the land movements. lam neither going to apologise for nor defend the outrages whioh have occurred in connection with it. I beg, however, to call your attention to the faot" that John Stuart Mill (not so groat or so widely known an authority aa Mayor Watt, of Wanganui, perhaps, but still an authority), in his ''Political Economy," specially drilling with tho Irish Land Question, Bolemnly states that an agrarian war is the only means of protection which a paaaontry have against such oppression as tho Irish tot ant farmers endure. In conclusion, I hope that in spite of your disapproval, and tho mis-statements and truculence of Watt, tho Irish dwellers in New Zealand will not forget the country which gave them birth and tho duty thoy owe her. I am, &c , CEIiT. Wellington, 10th Feb., 1881.