[To. TEE EDITOR OF THE "SFECTLTOIL.".1 Stn,—Your readiness to support
any reasonable policy, of conciliation in Ireland is all the more welcome because of the.
prevailing cry for coercive measures. It is almost impossible to get any Englishman to understand Irish affairs, which should be a strong reason for allowing us to manage our own. But along with English unreason there is a degree of arro- gance and impatience towards us for giving so much trouble,
and a resulting attitude of mind which refuses all .that we desire, simply because it is desired. You characterise my pro-
posal last week as "grotesque," on account of the incidental mention of Messrs. Ginnell and Sheehy. But what I wanted to convey was that county Conciliation Boards would take the whole question of grazing lands at once out of these gentle-.
men's hands, though, from . their position as Members of Parliament, they might themselves be required to sit upon such Boards, and I certainly see no reason why they should,be
disqualified from so doing. It is absurd to picture Ireland .as; given over to crime. We have been taught by successive.
Governments that the only way of getting redress for;
grievances is agitation in some form or other. There is no criminal intent in the present agitation : its object is simPlx, to show, in the only way ever proved effective, that the people are determined that bullocks shall, not take, precedence of human beings. Were the Government , in earnest about settling the land question, agitation in any.
form would not only be unjustifiable, but indefensible. But are they ? All agitation would at once cease if the
Government were to call together a Conference of representative
Irishmen and determine on a definite Irish programme. But as things are, we have no confidence in any English Government..
We shall continue to be used as is thought best for party, purposes. We have no assurance that the Liberals intend to make a full settlement of the land difficulties, and then bring'g, forward an honest measure of self-government for submission to the country. And we know that the Unionists are deter-. mined to take full advantage of a disturbed Ireland to obtain,
another opportunity for " resolute government." In the. circumstances, can it be a matter for surprise if there is not "laying down of arms " P—I am, Sir, &c.,
Ardfert Abbey, Co. Kerry. LINDSEY TALBOT-CROSBIL
[Mr. Birrell has described cattle-driving as a criminal con.: spiracy, and the Attorney-General for Ireland at the Leinster. Assizes on Wednesday declared that "the state of affairs under which such a thing [a cattle-drive] could happen must inevitably produce open anarchy in the country. It was, in fact, a worse condition of things than was to be met with, among the savages of West Africa,—nothing more or less. than mob law." Even Mr. William O'Brien (see Morning Post of Wednesday) condemns the cattle-drivers for their hope- less and suicidal folly, and points out that the only thing they have succeeded in doing is to destroy the economies which would have been available for remedial land legislation. In these circumstances, and in view of the events of ,the past week, we find ourselves quite unable to withdraw our comment. on Mr. Talbot-Crosbie's suggestion, even in the modified form in which he now puts it forward.—ED. Spectator.]
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