The Star. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1882. THE POSITION IN IRELAND.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume III, Issue 359, 1 December 1882, Page 2

The Star. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1882.

THE POSITION IN IRELAND.

Matters seem to be growing worse in that unfortunate country, Ireland. For a time excitement seemed to be quieting down ; law and order appeared to be regaining sway, even in what had hitherto been the most disturbed districts, and there was an encouraging prospect that under the beneficent influences of a good harvest, the operation of the Land Act and the lapse of time would combine to smooth over difficulties, calm irritation, and bring about a better state of things. There was a bright hope that with the dying year there would pass away the spirit of violence and murder that has so long troubled Ireland and with its bloody fingers written such fearful pages in her recent history. In one of the home papers most recently to hand, it was remarked — "If a proconsular progress on the part of her high officials will tend to the good ordering of events in Ireland, that of the Viceroy just concluded may be fairly matter for congratulation. There were hopeful signs, too, in the course of Lord Spencer's journeying thi'ough Mayo and Gal way. He was everywhere received with respect, in one or two places — Galway, for instance — with enthusiasm ; and from the Harbor Commissioners of the latter place, he received a most loyal and welcome address. In answering its terms His Excellency wisely stated his belief that the country was improving, and that with improvement in security would come an infusion of much required capital. Even the presence of Colonel Jenkinson, the new Secretary of the Crime Department, and the redoubtable Major Clifford Lloyd himself with a large escort, had no chilling effect on the demonstration, so that the success of the Viceroy's tour may be considered a substantial proof that the country is settling down." The same

paper, however, was dismally prophetic, for it went on to point out that on more than one occasion there had been a lull, and that it was not lo»g after My. Forster's cheerful utterances at Tullainore that a regular tornado of crime swept over Ireland nd culminated in its capital with the Phoenix Park assassinations. However, there was hope this time that quietude was to endure. Through September And October, and the greater part of November the advices were cheerful, correspondents by cable all agreeing that matters had never looked better during the past five years. But surely a tornado of crime Las again swept over the country. The recent murders iv Dublin are not one whit less dreadful than those of Lord Cavendish and Mr. Burke. The rank of the victims may not be so high, but the circumstances connected with the murders are even more alarming. That ten men armed with revolvers should openly attack a party of detectives in the streets of the great city of Dublin indicates the existence and activity of a very formidable organisation, whose object is not to secure tenant right or any other right, but to pursue the perfectly hopeless purpose of raising the flag of revolution. The stabbing almost to death of the juror in Hynes' case is another exhibition of the same purpose of subverting law and order. A more atrocious attempt to prevent the administration of justice and the punishment of wickedness and crime has never heen made, and can only emanate from the same organisation. With these evidences before it, the G-overnment has done well to put forth its strength and bring into play all the terrors of the Coercion Act. Possibly, opinions might differ as to the justice of treating land league orators as criminals ; the propriety of imprisoning Mr. Sheriff Gray because'he allowed his paper, the Freeman's Journal to criticise severely the conduct of a jury (even though the criticism, as it turned out, was not based on truth) was certainly questionable; but there can be no difference of opinion, no question as to the righteousness of a vile, pitiless, murderous gang such as evidently exists in Dublin, being stamped out with all the energy and all the severity that can be brought to bear. Even if this course of murder were gaining for Ireland all that the most advanced patriot demands, it would be none the less odious; but when it must have a contrary effect and must subject thousands of good men and true to disgraceful taunts, unbearable suspicions, and galling restrictions, its black maliciousness is unrelieved by any excuse or pretext which could be accepted by the most degraded mind. Let us hope that the measures taken by the Government will be effectual, and that the curfew, symbol of tyrnauy though, it be to the British mind, will ring out the reign of murder and terror and ring in a time of calm and quiet, better laws, content and prosperity.