The Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, MAY 11, 1982.

Temuka Leader, Issue 949, 11 May 1882, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, MAY 11, 1982.

There is not, perhaps, in the whole world a wore unfortunate country than Ireland. Many and many a time for the last 300 years has she been on the verge of having her grievances redressed, by the sword as well as by peaceable agitation, but as if the hand of fate was against it, some untoward circumstance has always stepped in to prevent it. We have no desire now refer to the past. There is more than enough in the present to make men shudder, The news

of the assassination of tho Chief Secretary for Ireland and Mr Bourks, the

Under-Secretary, is enough to horrify the most bloodthirsty Nihilist in Russia, and cannot but pain the heart of every true Irishman. Ireland was on the very verge ot having her grievances partially, if not altogether redressed, but, as if fate would have it, this fearful assassination has been enacted, and it is doubtful whether it will not have the effect of prolonging the term of her struggle to obtain the privileges which she de mands, if it does not completely shutout all hopes of it, It will be remembered that recently we called attention to the atrocious circular letter addressed by the Irish executive to the Irish police, intimating to them that they would be held irresponsible if they shot down innocent people while doing escort doty, and also to the influences which were brought to bear upon the British Government by the Canadian as well as the American Governments to treat Ireland better. We did not think then that the result would be the immediate release of the most prominent of the Irish prisoners, and the resignation of the Lord Lieutenant and the Chief Secretary for Ireland. There can be no doubt that it was these circumstances led to the resignation of both these gentlemen. Mr Gladstone must have felt the honor of Great Britain sullied by the manner in which the Irish Executive was treating the Irish people, and he simply determined not to allow it to continue, but to try some other means of putting down the disturbances which existed in that country. This of course was a snub to those who authorised the police to shoot down innocent people, and nothing remained for them but to resign. It was obviously the intention of Mr Gladstone as soon as he got rid of u Buckshot ” Forster, as he was commonly called in Ireland, to try a more humane treatment of Ireland, and it was to carry out this policy that Lord Frederick Cavendish was appointed Chief Secretary It is not, therefore, reasonable to suppose that the Land League or its sympathisers had anything to do with the assassination. They were gettieg exactly what they were fighting for—the release of the prisoners, and a change in the Irish Executive—together with a hope ot the grievances they complained of. being redressed—and it is not likely that they would assassinate the very man who had come to them to give them in exchange for Mr Forster’s coercive tyranny just and equitable laws. We think, therefore, that common sense will suggest to everyone that the Land League shade of politics had nothing whatever to do with the assassination, and then the question arises, Who had ? It was popular up to the present to attribute everything that was wicked to the Land League, but if the real facts were known it would be found that a great many of the excesses which have been reported were committed by the hirelings of the landlords for the very purpose of bringing odium on the Land League, and getting Government to suppress it. No movement that ever took place in Ireland frightened landlords so much as the Land League, Ribbonmen, Fenians, And such-like societies had not half the terror for landlords that the Land League had, and they determined to use every means, fair and foul, to suppress it. It was shown in open Court, in the County of Cork, that a landlord named Hutchison forced his tenant to take a false oath to try to obtain conviction against Mr Healy, M.P., and in many other parts of the country they were guilty of equal shamelessness. We therefore think that it is the landlord side of politics that assassinated the late Chief Secretary, with the very object of gaining a continuance of the power which they have held under the coercive administration of the ex-Chief Secretary. Under his rule they could throw whosoever they disliked into gaol and keep him there without trial by judge or jury. In fine they had most despotic power under the Coercion Act which they exercised unsparingly, and it is not unreasonable to think that they felt irritated on finding that Mr Gladstone intended to deprive them of it. It is move reasonable therefore to attribute the assassination of Lord Frederick CaA'endish to Landloids than the Land League, and we feel confident that it will be ultimately found that our surmise is correct.

The Wellington Press correspondent writes : —“ t am informed that there is no truth in the report that the Premier will shortly resign his seat in the Legislative Council in order to obtain a seat in the Lower House, and that Mr Ilall

will vacate Selwyn for his benefit.” We do not believe there is a word of

truth in the above rumor. We believe that Mr Whitaker will resign the Premiership as soon as Parliament is is called together, and that the next Premier will be Mr Rolleston. It will be remembered that the name of Mr Rolleston was mentioned in connection with the Premiership at the time the Ministry resigned recently, and it has since transpired that he would have been recommended by the Hon John Hall only that the Auckland members were then so incensed on account of the removal of the Native Office from Auckland to Wellington that it was feared they would not follow him. In consequence of this it was decided that Mr Whitaker should take the Premiership for the time being, in the hope that the ’Aucklanders would be reconciled thereby but it was not the intention that he should guide the Government through next Parliament. We should be glad to hear of the change. Mr Rolleston is one of the most honest, straightforward and independent member of the piescnj; Government and we believe that his accession to the position of Premier would inspire the country and the Legisature with confidence in the Ministry.