THE IRISH INFORMERS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3766, 10 August 1883, Page 2

THE IRISH INFORMERS.

[TO THE EdITOK OF THE DAILY TELEGRAPH. J Sic, —I wonder what country had the honour of producing the scribblers who seem to be so anxious for encouraging the breed of " informers " by giving them every inducement to murder each other. Such a proposition shows the cold-blooded barbarity or brutality of your correspondents. No doubt it is a very good idea. I would advise them to lay their views in detail beforo the English Government. The Queen will not require much "advising , " to cause her to knight them ; or, if Mr Gladstone is in a bad humour, I dare say the Dublin Castle officials and aristocrats will subscribe something handsome. But if your correspondents adopt my suggestion they will be the ruin of a certain Sheffield manufacturer, who at the present time has a contract for the supply of steel nightcaps, shirts of mail, and dagger-proof blankets to tho Irish land sharks and Government officials. I admire tho action of the Australasian Governments in not letting such doubledyed scoundrels laud. Taking a financial view of the question, the Colonial Governments would have been put to great expense and trouble in hanging the men who would undoubtedly have shot the informers. Then, if your correspondent's was adopted, the Australian colonies Avould have to borrow in tho London market another few millions to cover the oxpense of judicial proceedings. What a windfall it would be for tho lawyers. But, joking aside, how would the Hawke's Bay people like to have Sullivan, the South Island West Coast murderer, among them. If Mr Antrim, when walking down Hastinge street, met Sullivan, would ho shake hands with him and say, " Your'e a fine fellow, Mr Sullivan. You assisted to bring the guilty to the gallows. We welcome you among us. We will subscribe enough money to start you as a sheepfarmer. Come on and have a wet old man, &c." Mr Antrim seems to me to be rather slow of understanding when he says "ha cannot understand how people can adopt a doctrine the principle of which is that killing is no murder." May I respectfully ask him when the hangman draws the bolt and sends a fellow-creature into eternity ■whether it is killing or murder ? Again, if a land owner turns out at his sweet will on a bare and bleak snow-covered hillside a helpless widow woman with half a dozen weak and starving children, and some of them die of exposure, is that killing or murder ? Again, people assemble to hold a public meeting for the purpose of discussing some subject of vital importance, along comes a regiment of dragoons and a battery of artillery, and tho people aro dispersed by force ; during tho melee an innocent young girl standing at her cottage door is shot by a soldier's rifle bullet and diea in lingering agony—is that killing or murder ? Mr Antrim, you S

seem to be rather slow-witted when yon say that common place Englishmen do not understand the principle that "'killing is no murder." The above phrase originated or was in general vise in Cromwell's time, when it was used by the Cromwellians with regard to the beheading of Charles I. ... It was also used by the Cavaliers, and meant that if any one would kill Cromwell they would not consider it murder. The action of the Victorian Government was certainly intended to please the electors, and who clso should the Government try to please—not a section of them certainly. The Victorians do not crave to have tho pleasure of such disgraceful company. But your correspondents seem to think that tho Victorian people should have rushed with open arms and hearts down to the wharf to meet them, carried them on their shoulders to the biggest hotel, and after banqueting them and drinking their health—"Success to Informers," etc.— should present each and all with the title deeds of a sheep run, and a Government pension, in recognition of their valuable services in " bringing the guilty to the gallows. ,, I trust I have said enough to show Mr Antrim and others the ridiculousness of such talk.—l am, &c, HiKUro. Taradale, 9th August, 1383.