Dublin Notes.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 3, 15 December 1893, Page 21

Dublin Notes.

(From Contemporaries. ) CAPTAIN DONELAN has written to Mr Timothy Gleeßon, Ballymacoda, Gaelic editor of the Cork Historical and Archceological Journal, and ton of the farmer who was fined for having his name written id Irish characters on his cart, thanking him for what hia recent action bad done towards reviving the Irish language, and stating that he had given orders that his name and address should be painted on all his carts in Irish characters only. According to a special telegram to a London contemporary a State of affairs almost approaching* open mutiny at present exists among tbe Belfast constabulary, owing, it is alleged, to the recent efforts to martialise tbe eight hundred men of which the city force consists. On Sunday a placard couched in extraordinary language, and accusing one of the officers of "official sconndrelism, rascality, and tyranny," was discovered posted in a prominent part of tbe largest barracks in the city. Lord Selborne, in answer to a corrrspondent, admits that in '• some few cases " the Lords have passed legislative measures which tbsy were opposed to, and thinks that thereby proof is afforded " that the members of that House have known how to subordinate private opinions and interests to a sente of duty in the public interest as they ought to do." Our opinion, we must confess, was that the Lords wben virtuous were bo in spite of themselves, bnt it is possible Lord Bel borne may be right; In any case it is satisfactory to know that the noble lord recognises a precedent which may yet reconcile him to tbe passing of the Home Rule Bill. Lord Selborne insinuates that some of Mr Gladstone's followers may privately be adverse to the Bill, and does not see the obvioua corollary that if it be so it is just as probable, nay, a deal more probable, that many of tbe staunchest opponents of the Bill in public are its strongest friends in private. We would like to think, as Lord Selborne possibly may, that Mr Johnston, of Ballykilbeg, and Colonel Saunderson and Lord Salisbury are really Home Rulers. The Irish Literary Society in London is just now indeed in a very promising position. It has a large membership, it has won much influence, and great work is expected from it. It is gradually grappling with the difficnlty of bringing all its elements into one organised body, inspired by one common purpose. Its ooly danger now will be in its failure to rise to the high level, and to pursue the spirited propagandism which the country expects of it. To be a mere London liish social and literary centre however interesting, would certainly mean failure eventually. The country has hailed tbe society with enthusiasm, and his looked to it with trust and hope, as something which would inspire and lead to higher things. Tbe Irish element 8 throughout Britain have a crying need of help ; and by judicious work it is possible to start kindred literary societies in a number of centres, and bring them all into line for nationality and literature. With these some of the beet work of the I.L.S. may be done. It must prove its power and its willingness to lead and to inspire. A policy of burying itself in itself would be the worst it could adopt. The society has now amongst its members a large number of prominent National Leaguers, including Dr Ambrose, M.P. ; Messrs A. Hilliard Atteridge, Dr John J. Attendge, J. B. Cox, T. P. Curran, M.P. ; John Dsnvir, Thomas Glynn, T. Eldridge Healy, J. F. Hogan, M.P. ; Wm. Eeane, Major M'Guinness, P. MacMthon, J. M'Veagb, D. Mescal, The O'Cleary, J. Scott-Allen, J. V. Taaffe, and others. Tbe letter written by Mr Gladstone tbe morning after the passing of the Home Bule Bill by the House of Commons, and entrusted by him to Mr Blake, M.P., to be communicated to the Irish race in America, has given renewed pleasure to the Irish in Gieat Britain by reason of the determination which the Premier expresses not to be banlked by the action of the House of Lords, whose rejection of tbe Bill, he writes, means no mora that a dilatory vote. In a letter. brimming over with sympathy for the wrongs of Ireland and her people, Mr Gladstone's concluding words will be welcomed wherever they are read. He BayR — "England still exhibits her reduced majority to intercept one of the greatest benefits conferred not only npon Ireland but upon her. In this attitnde she is alone amongst all tbe peoples of tbe English-speaking race. She has not yet quitted, but she is quitting it. Yet the last struggle, and liko the former struggles, it will be great, and it will demand the friendly efforts of all those, wherever placed, who, under God, have lifted this great oanse out of the abysp, and put it on an eminence from which there remains but a step into tbe Promised Land." This is tbe best answer that could be given to the Factionists who affect to believe that air Gladstone intends to leave the Home Bule Bill wbere the Lords have placed it. The sermon lately preached by Dr Gregg in Ballymodan Protestant Church contains some interesting references to current politics. It is rather remarkab c, and speaks much for tbe good eeose of tbe preacher, as compared with the majority of Irith Protestant divines

that he is able to behold and discuss the approach of Home Bale in a very equable spirit, and is not impelled thereby to indulge in all sorts of dißmal and melancholy forebodings as to its consequences on the country in genera), and Protestants in particular. It would really seem as if Dr Gregg had somewhat more intelligently than others of his brethren applied bia experience of past history to tbe affairs of the present time, He, of conrße, does Dot go so far as to approve of Home Bule. That would be too much for even the most broadminded of Irish Protestant Bishops. But bis words clearly convey that be remembers the inception and establishment of several very important reforms in the government of Ireland, everyone of which was, according to bis friends, to finally complete the utter ruin of this devoted country. He remembers the Disestablishment of bis Church fonr and twenty years ago, and has fonnd that the opinions formed by himself and his friends as to ibe effects of that measure have not been borne out by subsequent events. Tbe Orangemen did not kick the Queen's crown into the Boyne, and his Church is on a better and broader basis, socially and otherwise, than it ever was before. In the same way, the Land Acs have not wrought complete destruction, and oar country is no worse, but much the better, for them ; and this in spite of vaticinations just as pessitnestic as any that hia party can now invent about Home Bule. Thus Dr Gregg, in spite of tbe prejudices of his caste and creed in Ireland, in spite of the anti-national atmosphere he breathes and lives iv, is not bo utterly blind that be cannot see and cannot comfort bis hearers by telling them that, in his opinion ( in spite of Home Bule, in spite of further improved Land Laws, he believes that he and they will still be able to live and prosper in Ireland.