Dublin Notes.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XV, Issue 25, 14 October 1887, Page 21

Dublin Notes.

(From the National papers.)

WILL the Government suppress the National League t That is the problem of the hour ; or rather, we should say, will they try to suppress it 1 We doubt very much if the most rabid Tory who urges this suicidal course 01 the Government his in his heart of hearts any very confident hopes of success for the experiment. The stiongest Government that ever ruled in England would have its work cut out for it in the suppression of the League. Will one of the weakest Governments that ever ruled in England accomplish it ? Will Lord Salisbury and Messrs. Smith and Balfour tac^e a task for which another Cromwell would be powerless. The Government has quite enough to do to keep on its legs, let alone fighting. If the League would good-naturedly efface itoelf on the appearance of the special proclamation tbe thing might be done. But that is a little too much to be hoped for. The Government have, perhaps, in their rccolleotion Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar's voluminous pro* etamation suppressing the Flan of Campaign, and its result. The Plan throve and flourished wonderfully under suppression — the wonld-bo extinguishers only burned their fingers. The Government was compelled to make restitution of the money pluadered nnder its proclamation at Loughrea and at Frenchpark, and has taken ■othing by its flaming posters but two civil actions for false imprisonment. Yet it is as likely as not thafthe clamorous madmen behind them will push the Government over this precipice from which they are at present holding back. A report from FaJcarragb, Couaty Donegal, states that Mr. Bwiney, tbe agent on the Nixon estate, accompanied by bailiffs, recently proceeded to tbe Oldtown bog to dispossess a poor woman named Coyle from a scraw hut. The hut was a most miserable habitation, being merely a hole scooped out of the turf bank, and covered over with sods. The woman snd her sister got on the top, and with the help of loose sticks and sods, kept the bailiffs for some time at bay. After a severe struggle both women were knocked down. Then was perpetrated an act 01 the greatest cruelty. One of the evicting party wielded Mb stick ferociously, causing a deep wound in the head of one of the women from which the blood flowed freely. When he saw the blood flowing, it is alleged, he cried out, " Ha 1 I like to see Papist blood." The hut was then levelled. Perhaps the only thoroughly boycotted man in all Monaghan is the Rev. Matthew Macaulay, Presbyterian minister. He was obliged to resign the pastoral charge of the congregation of Castleblayney, as he has himself repeatedly declared, because of a combination among certain of the members to boycott him, and he sustains an annual loss in consequence of the sum of £80. This is the penalty that Mr. Macaulay pays for, first, fighting the] battle of a robbed tenantry, when to espouse their cause was to make deadly enemies of the whole landlord class, and next, taking rank amongst the earnest supporters of Mr. Gladstone in his Home Bule policy for Ireland. Tet, the Bey. Matthew Macaulay is not counted as a boycotted member of Monaghan society among the 136 persons whom the police have reported as more or less banned by their fellow? ; nor is he considered by the Government to require police protection, though nine of the 136 have bodyguards at the public expense. Col. King-Harman says be is not aware of the existence of any law to compel loyal Presbyterians to attend the ministrations of a Parnellite Minister. Ergo, Parnellite Ministers may "go hang" — if we may be pardoned the use of a phrase more popular than polite. The pleasant-looking gentleman with the pointed grey beard and the bright eyes whoso unostentatiously arrived in Dublin on Monday August 8, may, if all goes well with the Bepublicans at the next election, find his place on the most glorious throne the world holds, the presidential chair oE the United States. Truly the position to which Mr. Blame aspires with good hope of success is — " A nobler office upon earth Than arms or power of brain or birth Could give the warrior kings of old." Does it seem a paradox to state that an American president is the only real king. The lines that old Johnson ridiculed had their meaning— " Who rules o'er freemen must himself be free." Tbe converse is true also — " Who rules o'er bondsmen is himself a slave.' ' Friends of the Campaigners of Luggacurran and those who ■ympathise with the plucky tenants in the grand struggle in which they are engaged with their pitiless landlord for the right to live in their father's home, will be glad to hear that the good work of providing shelter for the homeless tenants is proceeding apace, and that the square which Mr. William O'Brien predicted would never be broken, is forming rapidly and becoming more impregnable day by day. A doien cottages are expected to be completed and fit for habitation at the end of the week, and it need scarcely be said that the sight of them has already inspired the evicted with renewed courage and confidence in the ultimate success of the struggle,and filled them with a closed-fist and set- teeth determination to persevere even for years, if .needß be, in a fight which they look upon as sacred. These at present being constructed are rectangular In shape, both wings facing the rent office, sacred to the presiding genius of the place — Townsend Trench. Each cottage consists of three bedrooms, a parlour and a kitchen, the latter being provided with asn ,>able cooking-range. The comfort of the houses is usually goc l ..5 they are all slated, with two layers of boards inside and outsidn, an i have each a sheet of inodorous felt in addition, and are entirely air and water tight, beiug carefully secured in this respect with asphalt of the best quality . Mr. John Dillon, M.P., has received the following letter from Uruguyaua (via Monte Video). The writer, Mr. P. O'Mara, says — Owing to our communication haviug been cut off by quarantine rules for about six month?, it is bat a short time ago that I heard the gallant struggle which our people have been making against tbe jubilee

Coercion outrage, and of the success of the tenants. It is both a duty and a pleasure to me to send yon another small contribution to the League Fund as an expression of my sympathy with our people both in their success and in their sufferings, the more so because, in common with every Irishman, I feel and deeply lament the uncalled for insults lately offered tons by the English jingoes and disunionists. Owing to the admirable unity of the people, Protestant and Catholic, the great cause seems to us outsiders to be within " a measurable distance of realisation." The Times is in a frantic condition of mind owing to tne hesitation of the Government about proclaiming the National League. It prints one of those precious concoctions with which it is periodically supplied by the " loyalist " party in proof of the terrible pictures they paint of the state of Ire'and. However, nothing better than some resolutions passed at League branches in the beginning of the year can be fished up to afford the Government a pretext for interfering with the organisation. In fact, the letter is itself the best evidence that there is no shadow of a case for any such tyrannical and dangerous step. The Time* appears to have only one backer in the Press in its efforts to force the hand of the Government. This is the St. James's Gazette, which is in an especial manner the organ of the Irish landlords and of the ascendancy party. Its leader of Monday, August 8, concludes as follows : — The cause of justice and civilisation is entrusted to the Government. Their own chosen weapon is in their hand. The facts which justify a vigorous blow are patent to all mankind, If that blow is not struck Ireland' will continue to suffer the incalculable evils of dual government, and the English Prime Minister will be responsible for her misfortunes Lord Salisbury if he has any saving Common sense in his composition at all must be vastly more concerned to hear what the electors of Northwich may say to his policy than what the ultra anti-Irish organisations may rave. Lord Mayo's tenants have again mustered up courage to ask for an abatement, and under the experienced leadership of the Bey. Dr. Goiug, P.P., they haveidemanded "a reduction commensurate witb the prevailing agricultural depression." We think it scarcely likely that his lordship will recognise the depression, Last year he agreed to allow 15 per cent., but Mr. Fleetwood Rynd, his agent, declined to give the tenants the benefit of his master's clemency and made them, with one exception, pay in full. A landlord's view of the " agricultural depression " is formed by the pluck and determination of hie tenants, and when these qualities are absent he frequently is unable to see any depression st all. The foundations are being laid of a new democratic movement having for its objects the more energetic pressing forward in Great Britain of large social and economic changes. An informal conference was held the other day at the chambers of a barrister wellknown in literary and political circles for his sympathies with the wants of the working classes, and an understanding was arrived at as to a general line of action, The intention of the promoters of the movement is, I understand, to follow as nearly as possible the principles of organisation so successfully developed by the Irish National League of Great Britain. Mr. H. H. Champion is prominently identified with the new movement, which in its present phase had its origin in letters which appeared in the Bradford Press, and were afterwards given extended circulation, from a working man (an Irishman by the way), who is stroDgly disssatisfied with the partial introduction of politics into trade unionism effected by the action of the Trades Union Congress |at its meeting in Hull last year. The promoters hope to receive the assistance of Mr. Davitt in the task of organising the workers in England. With reference to the impending evictions on the O'Grady es/ace at Herbertatovra, the divisional magistrate, Captain Plunkett, has addressed a further communication to the sub-Sheriff asking to have them postponed as he will be engaged on duties elsewhere ai the date originally fixed, and, therefore, cannot supply the protection force requiied. It is anticipated that the landlord's representatives will not consent to do this, but insist on the Sheriff returning the writs. This step being taken, the Sheriff will call on Captain Plunkett for a piotective force considered necessary, and under the law the magistrate will be bound to supply the men required. It is hard to trust the rumour that evictions are about to break out on the Kingston estates at Mitchelstown. The infatuation that would prompt such proceedings at the present crisis seems to be incredible, but who dare set a limit to the imbecility and brutality of the landlords or the Government ? In a week or so the landlord will be able to evict with secrecy and despatch by means of a registered letter ; and if this rumour be true the Government are aiding and abetting. The moat reckless landlord will not enter upon an eviction unless " Barkiss is willing." For Barkiss read Balfour. The only possible explanation of this policy of insane exasperation is an attempt to create some disturbance which will justify the more active application of the Coercion Act, at present hanging up rusty for want of use in the Castle. If the evictions be proceeded with thu tenants' marvellous moderation will give them an enormous advantage. Their demands are but twenty per cent, reduction on the old unreduced rents, or about half what they would be fairly entitled to under the Government Land Bill. We may trust the Irish party to make these facts patent to the English public. Mr. William O'Brten, M.P., spoke with his accustomed point and spirit on Tuesday on the subject, when down among his constituents. The attacks made at Coleraine, Portrush, Ballymena, and other places in County Antrim upon on excursion party of the National Foresters from Belfast, formed the subject of questions by Mr. Sext . in the House of Commons. As an exemplification of the impartiality with which Irish affairs are managed nowadays, it is sufficient b. remark that Colonel King-Harman, himself an old Orangemeo, wacharged with the duty of giving aa official answer on behalf of tn Government to accusations against the Orange rowdies. Of cour „ he endeavoured to shield the brethren aad to throw the whole blame upon the other parly. A telegram, from a divisional magistrate furnished his text. Mr. Sexton, however, pressed the member for Thanet with further questions designed to pin him to his allegation* or to compel a withdrawal of them, whereupon Mr, Balfour's bottl^

holder sought time for coutinued inquiries. It is time that an end was put to these regularly-arranged disturbance* in the North. Not to mince matters, we have every reason to think that the authorities nearly always know when an attack is to be made upon Catholics, and that they do not prevent it. Sometimes, as at Ballymoney on this occasion, the police are entirely withdrawn, and the Orangemen left to do as they please. If there iB any prospect of the " loyal " rowdies getting the worst of the encounter the police are held in reserve until the assailed retaliate, whereupon the forces of law and order are employed not against the original assai'ants, but against the Catholics. The dodge is an old one, and it is about time to have it dropped. The intentions of the Government with respect to the National League are still eagerly canvassed in Parliamentary circles. There is no doubt that no class of members except the Orangemen are disappointed by the alleged decision of the Government to let the League alone. They are going aboat complaining of a double betrayal at the hands of their English colleagues. In the first place they point to the Land Bill as a death blow to the landlords, and in the second they declare that Don-proclamation of the League after their unceasing narration of its abuses and illegalities is an abandonment and a repudiation of the whole " Loyalist " policy in Parliament. The Government can be left to settle this difference with its Orange following as best it may. Tbey do not appear to be very desperate in their anger at any time. Among the bulk of the English Tories anything that p.omisesto add to the session is obnoxious, and by the irony of fate the proclamation of the National League is found in that category. There are also some among them who hold the opinion that the less the Coercion Act is used the better, and that its whole policy was a gross and hideous blunder. These gentlemen have been taught wisdom by the recent bye-elections. With Mr. Balfour and the rest of the Cabinet a decision to abstain from proclamation must be set down to the same uncomfortable belief. The custom of referring Parliamentary quarrels to the arbitrament of the fist or the pistol had happily fallen into disuetude until the return of the fire-eating member for North Armagh to the political arena. He is reputed to be a person of gieat physical strength, and his appearance does not belie his reputation. But unfortunately muscle and mettle are evidently not combined in his person. He is so fond of bragging about the vengeance he will wreak on any member who insults him it is easy to credit the statement that his acquaintances find considerable enjoyment in drawing him out on this subject. In public speeches and in interviews with congenial newspaper editors Colonel Saunderson has repeatedly conveyed the impression that he has thrown down a general challenge to the Irish party, and that no one of them has taken it up. This, in fact, is his political stock-in-trade since prudential considerations had caused him to cease disseminating the exploded slanders of the Times. Now, though the Irish party can afford to treat the vapouring of Colonel Saunderson with complete contempt, and can make allowance for the desperate circumstances of a discredited partisan fighting a losing cause, still, should the necessity arise— which Colonel Sauaderson, with true Falstafian valour, is careful not to provoke— a member of the Irish party will be perfectly willing to meet the member for North Armagh at any place' with any weapons, and at any time. If this method of squaring political differences may seem scarcely worthy of a deliberative assembly, it should be borne in mind that the hon. and gallant genlleman is responsible for its revival. Really English police officials apoear to be suffering from dynamite on the brain. On Saturday, August 13, a lady was arrested at Cowes, Isle of Wight, on a suspicion of having dynamite in her possession, and detectives were despatched here, there, and every where to trace out her antecedents. The cause of all the suspicion and commotion was a black bag filled with a red clayey subsiance. To a police inspector eager of promotion " trifles light as air are confirmation strong as proof of Holy Writ." Here were all the materials for the trst act of a melodramic tragedy. An unknown woman with a black bag filled with an unknown substance, ihe poor lady was forthwith seized on, and thrust into gaol, where she was detained for a couple of days. Before the emissaries who were sent to find out who she was or whence she came had time io report, the red clayey substance was examined by Colonel Majendie, who dincovered that it was modelling clay, and nothing elae. The colonel's examination tallied exactly with the account of the young lady herself, whose story was extremely simple. She was a governess, who, being in delicate health, had been ordered a sea voyage by her doctor, ;and had accordingly taken a trip to Cowes. Certainly some compensation is due to the young lady who has been thus made the victim of gross stupidity and excessive eagerness on the part of the police. The Northwich election has resulted in by far the greatest victory that Home Rule has yet won in England. By a majority of 1129 Mr. J. H. T. Brunner, the Home Rule candidate, has defeated his Liberal Unionist opponent, Lord iHenry Grosvenor, the son of the Duke of Westminster. There is no explaining away the force or meaning of the victory on local or personal grounds. Mr. Brunner was the candidate who was defeated in the same constituency twelve months ago by 458 votes. The numbers then were : — For Liberal ... ... ... 3958 Fur Unionist ... ... ... 4416 Majority for Unionist ... 458 On Saturday tha f decision was jevers-cd completely, and when the votes were couuitid uu Monday the figures stood :— ' Forßiuuner ... ... ... 5112 For Grosvenor ... ... ... 3983 The Home Ruler received 1154 votes more than he had got at the '86 election, and the Umonibt got 433 less than on the previous occasion. It is not oiten that the larjdlord faction use thtir position on the magisterial bet eh to revenge themselves oa opponents in the popular ranks after bo flagrant a lashioo as some members of the garrison occupjing seats on ihe Tarbert (county Kerry) petty sessions bench would betm to have done the other d H y when adjudicating in the cas,o of aitspectable old rnrtn named Scanlm. wby was summoned before them for assault. The alleged assault consisted in a'• wigging,"

which old Scanlan had administered to a j oungster whom he found tampering with the village pump, of which he had charge, and great was the astonishment of the people of the district when it became known that the defendant was summarily sentenced to three weeks' imprisonment, and to a further term of three months should he fail to give security for good behaviour at the end o£ that period. An application to have the term of imprisonment increased to four weeks was refused, and this old man of seventy years was hurried off to the county gaol at Tralee with all speed. It is openly alleged that the explanation of the magisterial action in this matter is to be found in the fact that Mr. Scanlan'a son, who is a prominent member of the local branch of the National League, was mainly instrumental in having the name of the village in which he lives changed from that of Newtownsandes to Newtowndillon, in compliment to the member for East Mayo. This change has, it seems, incensed the landlord party down there beyond measure, and it is pointed out as a remarkable coincidence that one of the magistrates presiding — a Mr. Sandes, whose family name the village formerly bore— should hare turned up to adjudicate in old Scanlan 'a case, though he had not attended petty sessions more than twice for the past two years. Mr, Dillon has been requested to bring the conduct of the Tarbert lawt givers in this matter under the notice of the House of Commons, and it will be interesting to hear what defence can be made for it. By the Northwich victory, the net gain to Home Rule in the House of Commons, since the general election twelve months ago, has been brought up to eight, which, on a division, counts sixteen. There have been in all twenty vacancies since the general election, and of these four seats have been uncon tested, the character of the representation being unaltered. Of the remaining sixteen constituencies in which elections took place eleven were formerly held b/ Tories, and the remaining five by Liberals. But in the late elections the Liberals succeeded, not only in holding their own five, but in snatching four seats from the Tories. The constituencies thus won to Home Rule are Northwich, Burnley, Spalding, and Coventry. There have been in addition four secessionists from the Liberal Unionists to the Some Rule ranks, making a total of eight, which are equal to sixteen votes in a division. The following shows the strength of parties now as compared with twelve months ago :—: —

By theae figures it will be seen that thejLiberal Unionists are the principal losers. If there were a general election in the morning they would be beaten hip and thigh. The English people have no heart or lova for these half-and-half politicians. The Tories they can understand as sticklers for hereditary privilege and plunder. But the political Joseph Surfaces who Beck to hide their Tory proclivities under fine Radical and Liberal sentiments are despised as hypocrites and humbugs. The days of the Liberal Unionists' power are now over, and nobody can say that while they occupied the strong position which chance assigned to them they employed their opportunities for any but the basest purposes. They were bitterer coercionists than the most envenomed Tories, and when they might have compelled the Government to make their Land Bill a really good one they tried rather to throw dust in the eyes of the Ulster tenants than to gain for them any substantial advantages. The fact that the leaders of the renegade Liberals are even now almost entirely without a following in the constituencies, is admitted to the fullest extent in a recent article appearing in the St. Jamea't Qazette. In addition to other significant admissions as to the rapidity with which the Liberal party are regaining the ground lost "at the general elections.the Tory organ is found confessing that "a large part of the Liberal Unionist vote has gone back to Mr. Gladstone," that •' Liberal abstentions from voting for Gtadetonian candidates are diminishing every day," and that " whatever assistance the Tory party had from the Liberal Unionist vote in 1836 can no longer be reckoned on." Nor is thia all. It is further confessed that Conservative voters do not love the lenegades any more than the Liberals who have returned to their allegiance. "It has been demonstrated," says the St Jamts's in a rare burst of candour, " that many Conservatives will not vote for Liberals ; that to send them a Liberal Unionist checks their enthusiasm, and that to pursue the policy of reckoning upon the Unionist vote we had in 1886, or of catching both Conservatives and Liberals by Unionist candidates will only lead te further disappointments." Looks aB if the Disunionist conspiracy was near* ing an ignominious end. Never was a better or sturdier spirit displayed by the people of this country than at present. They are absolutely peaceable, yet not one whit less resolute in their determination on that acconnt. Wherever their enemies make a move they are met with a Btolid organised resistance that makes the capture of a farm by a sheriff andhissatellitesa work of as great difficulty aB the taking of a fortified town by an army. Indeed, a little army is generally required to protect those outcasts of society, the bailiffs, whom the Daily Ex-press so unkindly denounced in the most scathing terms a few days ago. The St. James's Gazette informed its readers the other day that " most extraordinary precautions are being made by the Ponsonby tenants to resist the expected eviction". All the houses are barricaded with trees and strengthened with iron bars, while trenches are thrown up on all the approaches. A civil engineer has been employed to superintend the work. The windows have been made into loopholes, through which water and meal can be thrown from the inside. Drains have been constructed from a large bog in the vicinity for the purpose of flooding the houses if necessary, and other defensive preparations have been made. At Inchiquin a trench 25 feet deep has been cat to defend a house." We are so delighted to hear this good news, which is truly a .sign of the times, that we feel grateful to the Tory Gazette for publishing it. We do not think that the prospects of obtaining rent on the Ponsonby estate have been much improved by

the action of the Cork firm of pious attorneys in getting Canon Keller arrested and imprisoned. The town of Baltimore is an example of how much might be done towards the promotion of Irish industries by judicious encouragement. From a wretched village known beyond a radius of a few miles only as the scene of the famous Algerine descent oa the Cork coast, commemo r ated in Davis's " Back of Baltimore," it has become a prosperous town, which is the seat of a flourishing industry that is rapidly extending. It was the Baroness Burdett-Coutts who was the immediate instrument by which this great change was effected. Yielding to the appeals of the Bey. Father Davis, the model pastor of Baltimore, she contented to give a sum of money to be available for loans to, the fishermen to enable them to procure the gear necessary to carry on their fishing operations with success. The experiment succeeded beyond the expectation of all but the most sanguine ; the boatmen of Baltimore proved to be tbe most grateful and honourable men to whom the hand of kindness was ever extended. They repaid every farthing lent to them, and are already reaping tbe rich reward of their honesty, industry, and enterprise. Tbe town of Baltimore baa become a hive of busiest workers, and 19 extending apace, and the good father, to whose kindly seal and farseeing wisdom they owe so much, rejoices in the possession of a flock to Eec whose comfortable homes and happy smiles is the sweetest return he des'res for the labour he has expended in promoting their welfare.

liberals ... 'arnellites Hssentient Liberals 'onservatives IOOUI 191 / 85 I 78 ( 316 J 276 394 1001, 198) 86 f 72) 314/ 28' 38i 670 670