IRISH OUTRAGES.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
enclose an extract from a letter which I have just received from a friend in the North of Ireland. He is of the middle class, and a thoroughly reliable person. His descrip- tion of the League proceedings shows from what a cruel and continuous tyranny Mr. Balfour's determined action is re- lieving our fellow-countrymen :—
" The attitude taken up by Mr. Gladstone and his followers has done vast mischief in this country. The incertitude is bad enough. But when to this is added the expectation of the so-called Nationalists that they are certain to have Home-rule, when they will grow rich by Act of Parliament, there is a degree of expectancy among this class which gives them an excuse to do nothing, and live in expectation of anything that may happen to turn up. I am sur- rounded by the best of neighbours, both Protestants and Romanists.. But, notwithstanding the good wishes of the Roman Catholic farmers, they cannot do as they please. I knew in my own immediate neighbourhood of five stacks of oats, belonging to as many Roman Catholic farmers, being burnt during the spring. The sufferers made no claim for compensation, which they could have done, and would scarcely speak of it, much less inform the police, lest a worse thing might happen to them. There is no doubt the burnings were by the emissaries of the Land League. There are hundreds of such cases that never reach a public print. The Ulstermen will certainly never give way to a Parnell or a Gladstone rule. They will certainly fight for their rights sooner than surrender them. But I trust the day is far distant when Home-rule for Ireland will take place."
It is scarcely to be wondered at, in face of such facts as these,. that Mr. Parnell should be anxious to restrict the scope of the investigation into his conduct and that of his friends as muoh As possible. But it is amusing to find that what is good enough for the " masses " is not thought by Mr. Gladstone to be good enough for the " classes ;" but that an evil-doer who is also an M.P. may justly claim to be tried by a different tribunal from that which is thought sufficient for an evil-doer outside the
House of Commons.—I am, Sir, &c., G. R. PORTAL.
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