THE REMEDY FOR IRELAND.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2513, 9 April 1881, Page 4

THE REMEDY FOR IRELAND.

The present discussion is calling to mind many notable sayings on Irish affairs. The first is that of Mr Disraeli, in 1864, that a wise statesman would set himself to effect for Ireland by policy all the changes which a revolution would effect by force. Older still is the dictum of C. J. Fox, that the best way to govern the Irish is to let them have their own way. Not less remarkable is the quotation recently published from a letter written eleven years ago by an Irish land agent, in which the policy and the power of the League is foreshadowed:— “ The tenants of Ireland have still one tremendous move in their power. That is to stay quietly at home and pay no rent. I believe that if they unitedly adopted a policy of passive resistance — which I do not see how it would be possible for the landlords to combat —it would lead to one of the greatest revolutions ever known, I do not say that this will come, but it is certainly on the cards.” The League has not as yet advised the people to adopt so drastic a remedy as the refusal to pay any rent. But it is foretold that as soon as a single arrest has been made, under the new coercive laws, the cessation of rents will follow. In other words, the state of the country will be distinctly worse for the measures which are to make it better. The truth is, that, with all his honest sympathy for Ireland, Mr Gladstone is at the disadvantage of legislating for a people he does not understand —a people who are acting unitedly and with the enthusiasm which is thoroughly Celtic, and baffles the restraint of law. Everything that has occurred in Ireland since Fox’s time confirms the wisdom of his saying, that the best way for England to govern Ireland is to let her have her own way.— “ The American.” I