THE AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2908. CRIME IN IRELAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13666, 6 February 1908, Page 4

THE AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2908. CRIME IN IRELAND.

That an extraordinary degree of lawlessness exists in many parts of Ireland, and that this is being fostered and encouraged by the weakI ness of the Bannerman Cabinet in refusing to apply the Crimes Act, i must be apparent to all impartial ! men. The Chief Secretary for Ireland has now stated in the House of Commons that the country is in a state of permanent peace and prosperity, but in view of the admitted prevalence of cattle-driving and of the unmistakable connection between that form of terrorism and the agitation for a severance of the Union, such a statement must be regarded as mere special pleading. The fact is that previous to the last general elections the Party now in 'power at Westminster took part in the agitation against the Irish policy of the Balfour Administration, for the purpose of obtaining Nationalist support in various doubtful English electorates and in Parliament itself. They denounced the Crimes Act with all the unqualified vituperation of irresponsible politicians, just as they had denounced the Boer War while British colonies were being invaded by an armed and annexing enemy. The result is plainly visible. Thanks to the Crimes ; Act, which is an extraordinary measure for the restoration of law and order when disturbed by extraordinary circumstances, and which had been applied with intelligence and caution under the previous Administration, the Bannerman Cabinet found Ireland in a better state than it had ever been before. For the humane and conciliatory measures which have consistently marked the political attitude of the Imperial Parliament towards Ireland during recent years had thereby been secured fair opportunity to work oufc without being rendered nugatory by the determination of an irreconcilable section to prevent the acceptance of any concession short of practical independence. This small but energetic and reckless section were defeated in their intentions by the maintenance of the law under the shield of the Crimes Act, a police enactment which protected the lawabiding and punished the lawbreakers in districts where ordinary process of law would be made inoperative and ineffective by organised conspiracy to defeat the ends of justice. That where victims are made afraid to lay information, magistrates afraid to commit, juries afraid to convict, some more drastic method than that upon which the law ordinarily relies is absolutely necessary, unless constituted authority is to abdicate and anarchy bear sway,'must be apparent to e\*ery man who appreciates the meaning of civilisation. Such a method is entirely in accord with the fundamental tenets of progress and justice ; and the general reaction of the Irish districts to Which the Crimes Act was applied from the lethargy induced by terrorism and anarchy to the industrial activity that depends upon security of life and property, and brings contentment. and prosperity in its train, entirely vindicated the policy carried out under the Chief Secretaryship of Mr. Walter Long. Because they attacked that policy, and because they are fettered by their alliance with the Nationalist party, the Bannerman Cabinet does not venture to apply the same effective remedy to the present dangerous situation.

Whenever discussion arises upon the state of Ireland, an, attempt is immediately made to burke it by rousing racial prejudices and recalling historic wrongs. Yet no prejudice is more harmful to Ireland than the assumption that every lawbreaker is a devoted "patriot, and no wrong is more cruel than that which deprives her people of the protection of generous and modern laws, and consigns them to the tender mercies of terrorising organisations. Throughout the colonial world we know our Irish fellow citizens as an industrious and law-abiding element* wM 'do. not

differ radically from any other of the ! various elements which conjoin to ! make the British people. And in Ire- ! land itself, wherever the criminal | section which exists in all lands is [kept in check, wherever the people are allowed to take advantage of the honest endeavours of the sisterkingdoms to remove the old animosities, there has been every sign of a spirit similar to that which we see displayed in these colonies. But where selfish political ambitions become dominant, where the disappointed advocates of Home Rule are encouraged by a mistaken British Government to create disorder and defy the law in the attempt to put \ new life into a movement that has no true vitality, what can we expect? A handful of reckless and determined agitators can gradually cow to uniformity a whole district, when the Government refuses to checkmate their lawless organisation, refuses to take effective steps to punish the criminal and to protect the lawabiding. That is happening in Ireland now. Before the Bannerman Cabinet took office- peaceful and v. ell-intentioned people in Ireland knew that they would be protected in all their lawful occasions, and went about their daily avocations in confidence that none would molest them, and in the growing faith that any needed reforms would be brought about by constitutional means. For the criminal element that loves to pose as patriotic and that affects to despise every man who acts and works and lives as in the colonies we honour and respect men for acting and working and living, had been crushed and overawed. With the taking over of the reins of power by the Bannermans and the . Birr ells there began a change. Cattle-driving on the farms of unpopular graziers became a pastime, the boycotting of those who ventured to assert their civic rights became, common, agrarian outrages revived, magistrates and juries were intimidated, a reign of- terror spread its blighting influence over the true hopes and best aspirations of unhappy Ireland. And we are asked to believe that this is in the interest and for the benefit of the Irish peoplejujt as we are asked by Mr. Birrell to believe that there is " permanent peace and prosperity" where such intolerable and demoralising conditions exist.