The Star.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3943, 7 December 1880, Page 2

The Star.

'TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1880.

Becently we have been at considerable paina to recite the legislative efforts of the Gladstone Government during last session of the Imperial Parliament, to Bweep away every ground for legitimate complainb upon the part of the Irish people. The Irish Disturbances Compensation Bill was confessedly only a tentative measure, and the Government stood pledged as deeply as it wsb possible for any Ministers to bind themtelves to bring forward next session a Bill dealing with the Land question in Ireland ; yet, notwithstanding the proofs given of a genuine desire to grapple in a patriotio spirit with the evils of Ireland — notwithstanding the pledges and promises of the Liberal Government in power — the vehemence of Mr Parnell and his co-agitators, has been Bteadily upon the increase, and the distresses aud sufferings of the people have become intensified. What, it may be asked, do the agitators and Bham patriots hopo to obtain for the unfortunate people whom they are inciting to aots of madnesß by the course they are pnrsuing ? Thoy cannot thus achieve Home Rulo. They cannot obtain in England a more Liberal Government than that of Mr Gladstone, or one more likely to lend a favouring ear to their claims ; nor are they likely to succeed in forcing that Government to go further than they have already pledged themselves to attempt. What then is their hoped-for result from all this sound and fury, and — unfortunately — shedding of blood? The Gladstone Ministry contains the most philanthropic, the most liberal, and the most far-seeing statesmen in the Empire — men whose benevolent aspirationß for tho welfare of the people are beyond all question; yet instead of strengthening und supporting this Government, the agitators are constraining it to the use of force. When the Peace Preservation Act expired, the Government — relying upon the evidence tbey had afforded of thd honesty and liberality of their policy as sufficient to ensure the confidence and support of tho people — refused to reenact the measuro or to submit any coercive legislation of an exceptional chiirne.ter, but now they find thoy have boen far too hopeful of the future, :iud too reliant upon tho discrimination find Qcneo of tho Irish people. >Thoro is no gnUvtudo for piißt endeavours, no confidence in present pledges, ami no reasonable object sought to 1)0 fiiuni in tho men now leading tho lriuh people to outrage, and defiance both of tlio law aud the Government. As v result, scarcely a day passes without tlio perpetration of some hog of viulenoi 1 , tho utterance cf language pfditiouH nud wild, followed by tho comin Rsiuii uf sumo murderous outrage. Tag religious factions some weeks ago camo fuco to face at Lurgan — unbuppily, religious factions rago ia Irelami to the present day with a hatred imd fuiy unknown to any other portion cf this Queen's dominions — each sido cried out for blood, and firearms were discharged incessantly. At Duugnuuon t*.o nub becaino riotous and refused to diapers.-; tho polico fired upon tLt popple, killing one man and dangeroupjy ■-rounding many. At Portadown aud Dowapatriek tbo most diabolical aud

cruel outrages— worthy only of a raoe of barbarouß savages — have in a epir 6 of revenge been perpetrated upon dumb animals, the beasts of the field — this in addition to the murder of human beings. Horses, cattle, and sheep, wo learn, have beenhain-strungor houghed, and, in some instances, their caroases have been found headleas. Whilst riding in a publio highway in the neighbourhood of Kilkenny, Mr Boy.© and his two Bone vrere assailed with firearms by a band of asßaßßine, and one fell fatally a victim. Another agent succeeded in defeating the efforts of those who sought his life, by the use of a shirt of mail which he wore under bis ordinary attire; whilst yet more recently, Lord Mountmorees, in the fall light of day, fell mortally wounded at the hands of a gang of murderers. One unfortunate farmer, who would not yield to the terrorists, was ostracised ; he stood looking at his crops wasting before his eyes, because he was unable to obtain the necessary labour to gather them in ; a band of Orangemen invaded the district, supported by the Government, and Becured to him. the produce of his coil. Bat the wild language of the agitators has not diminished ; on the contrary, they are taking up a position still more irreconoiluble, and the people — foolishly following such leaders — are beooming still more exasperated. The Government, solely againet their desire, has thus been forced into a position of antagonism, and troops are being forced into the distracted land. Public feeling in England resents the position into which the agitation in Ireland has drifted, and even the extreme Radicals are withdrawing their support to the claims of the Irah people, when they find them put forward in a manner so offensive to reasonable minds. On the other hand, the areßult of tho extreme measures into which the agitators have led the unfortunate people has obviously been to strengthen the hands of the Tories. Taking advantage of the alarm and disgust which have spread throughout England and Scotland at the murders atd other atrocities which have been perpetrated — noting also the fact that even the Radicals who eupporfc the Government have become staggered by the position affairs have assumed — Lord Salisbury, on behalf of the Tories, hao come forward to announce that his party will not consent to entertain any measures of legislation designed to meet the views of the Irish people until peace has been restored to the country, and all acts of sedition and violence have oeased. Mr Pasnell, though no doubt lie glories in the popularity he enjoys amongst an ignorant people in Ireland, has succeeded in so diegucting every reasonable and moderate mind in England, that he has encouraged the Tories to come forward with declarations of avowed hostility to the Land Bill of the Government, and to demand that before anything is done in the way of legislation, the anarohy in Ireland, which baa been the chief re3ulfc of Mr Pabnell's patriotio eloquence, shall be suppressed with a strong hand. This is the oouree whioh the Government are bound to follow. Accordingly, the British fleets surround the island, and troops continue to be poured in — even the Horse Guards have been ordered to embark to maintain order and the supremacy of law in the distraoted country.