THE NUN OF KENMARE ON MR. PARSELL'S ARREST.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IX, Issue 456, 6 January 1882, Page 19

THE NUN OF KENMARE ON MR. PARSELL'S ARREST.

Miss M. F. Cusack. the " Nun of Kenmrre," writes to the Newcastle Chronicle : The arrest of Parnell is the most fatal mistake ever made by any Government, and has once and for ever ruined the Liberal cause in Ireland. But see how this unhappy country is governed. Always on party politics. Next general election, when a Parnellite connot be got in, if there is a close contest between a Liberal and Conservative, the Irish vote will turn the balance and put in the Conservative. Then, when the Liberals are out, there will be no limit to their professions of what they will do for Ireland. It is time there was a third party, whose motto would be justice to all, and who would unite in protecting the interests of the wh ile empire. The man who got the Land Act for Ireland is put in gaol. What folly ! His persistent agitation obtained a small portion of justice for Ireland. If it was wrong to agitate for this act of justice, it was wrong to grant it, and, if it was wrong to grant it, every member of Parliament who voted for it should be in gaol. Such are the m irvellous inconsistencies of English government of Ireland. Is it any wonder that our love of the crown and constitution in Ireland is not very ardent ? We never see the crown. Imagine the state of any country where nearly five millions of people^have never set their eyes on their Sovereign though she is within a few hours' distance. There may be an excuse for this at times of political excitement but such times are not always. As to the constitution, we know it only because we are constantly reminded of its existence by being deprived of its rights. And yet we are reproached with noc being devotedly loyal. One thing at least is very remarkable in the English government of Ireland ; it is thus — Whenever any measure of relief is formed, or for other causes is brought forward.it goes through the Circumlocution Office, and is sure to be put into active service when the need has quite passed away. For example, the Canadian Government voted £20,000 during the late famine, and I suppose by way of consoling England for helping Ireland under any circumstances, and of satisfying the few Irishmen of Canada who care for the old country, the grant was to be applied to fisheries. That was safe anyway. It neither denied nor admitted that money was needed for food. Certainly the money was not used for fisheries or any other public work at the time when any employment would have been an incaluable boon ; whether it has ever been used, or if used, where used, the present writer has failed to ascertain. But look at the other side of the picture. If there is question of evicting an unfortunate widow, or imprisoning a man for having a useless pistol, a cheerful alacrity is exhibited in the dispatch of troops and buckshot worthy of a better cause. Now, Mr. " Parnell is in prison — for what ? If the Ftieeman's Journal report is correct, it is because Mr. Parnell is said to have Drevented the people from availing themselves of the Land Act. The fact is that Mr. Parnell simply asked to have it tried first, other acts of Parliament having proved deceptive to oar unhappy people. A little common sense would suggest that to imprison the man who obtained the passing of the act was not exactly the way to make it popular. But let that pass. The fact is that at this present moment one -half the farmers of Ireland do not know what the Land Bill is all about, nor have they as yet even the faintest notion of how they are to proceed to get their rents brought down to common fairness.