ASK THE POLICEMAN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 5, 31 October 1890, Page 25

ASK THE POLICEMAN.

( Wellingion Evening Post.)

Mb. Balfoub is angry, and, as men will do when in that condition, he has forgotten his manners. The Irish Secretary's irritation ishowever, excusable under the circumstances. He has been com, plelely out-manotuvred, and no doubt been subjected to a good deal of chaffing in consequence. In the game of wits witb Mr. Dillon and Mr. O'Brien Mr. Balfour has been worsted, and he baa lost hit temper. Money, of course, is essential to the purposes of the Home finle party as i is to the maintenance of every other political agitation. If Mr. Balfour could cut off the supplies, be could easily crush tbe movement. Mr. Dillon and bis fellow-delegates did well in tbeir mission to these colon iep, greatly to Mr. Balfour's annoyance. Mr. Dillon and Mr. O'Brien have, on foimer occasions, done well also in America, and the supply there has not been by any meats exhausted. They propose to tap it again. Mr. Balfour was extremely anxious to prCYCDt this, and io be bad them arrested, on one of tbe numerous

accusations to which every man, woman, and child is exposed in Ireland under the elastic provisions of the Grimes' Act. If Messrs. Dillon and O'Brien were locked up they could not go to America. They managed, however, to delay the proceedings, obtain bail, and then, despite the strict surveillance aod closo shadowing of the police, they contrived to make good their escape to France en route for America, where they will no doubt meet with a triumphal reception. The circumstances of their departure will add eclat to their visit and probably aid greatly to swell their collections. No wonder Mr. Balfour is angry at his plans so miscarrying that the proceedings intended to crush the enemy have actually proved blessings in dieguise. He must be very angry indeed when he delares that regarding a matter of fact he would prefer the word of a policeman to those of Mr. John Morley and Mr. Harrison. Mr. Morlay's name will live in history as one of the foremost Englishmen of his day, long after Mr, Balfour's will be remembered only as a shocking example. Mr. Harrison is not even an Iriihman, hI though he has enj »yed the distinction of being batoned and imprisoned in his capacity aa a Home Bole member. He is a young man, fresh from an English University. Mr. Balfour, however, prefers believing a policeman's testimony as to the Tipperary proceedings rather than the evidence of such witnesses. We do not admire his taste or his judgment, but the choice is characteristic. Mr. Balfour's idea of government ia police espionage, and in his opinion there is no preservative of order equal to the baton.