Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 May 1882 — IRELAND. [ARTICLE]

IRELAND.

Provision* of Gladstone’s Repression Act. In the British House of Commons, Harcourt, Home Secretary, in introducing the bill for the repression of crime in Ireland, characterized the prevalence of crime there ai a national disgrace. He said: “The time has arrived for the entire House to unite in taking steps to repress it. The case we deplore to-day is not solitary. Crime is a plague-spot on Ireland, and I believe the Irish people desire this removed. It springs from secret societies, and must be extirpated. The mainspring of crime is the expectation of impunity, which is only too well founded. The Government has, therefore, concluded it is necessary, in those places where the ordinary «w is not observed, to create special tribunals, consisting of three Judges to be appointed by the Lord Lieutenant, to try cases without jury. Tho judgment of the court must be uuanimous. Appeal can be made to the Supreme Court, judgment of the latter to be given by a majority of Judges. The Supreme Court may diminish but cannot increase the severity of the sentences. Parliament will be asked to provide special remuneration for the special Judges. The bill also contains the following provisions : It gives power to search for secret apparatus of murder, such as arms, threatening letters, etc.; power to enter houses by day or night, under warrant of the Lord Lieutenant ; power to arrest persons prowling about at nigfit and unable to give an account of themselves, who are to be dealt with summarily ; power to arrest strangers, as the crimes are generally committed by foreign emissarios, the hospitality of England not being for such persons as the agents of O’Donovan-ltossa ; and power to remove foreigners considered dangerous to peace. The Government, tberefore, intends to revive the Alien act. Secret societies will be dealt with summarily, and membership thereof will constitute an offense under this act. Cases of aggravated assault will be treated in a summary manner. Power is given to repress intimidation and unlawful meetings, the latter to be dealt with summarily. Newspapers containing seditious and inflammatory matter will be suppressed and the proprietors required to enter into recognizances not to repeat the offense. Justices can compel the attendance of witnesses about to abscond, and the Lord Lieutenant can appoint additional police where necessary at the cost of the districts concerned. Compensation for murder and outrage will be required of the districts where they occur. Outrages will be dealt with summarily by the courts, which are to consist of two stipendiary magistrates. The Government reserves for consideration any further alteration of the jury system.” The Homo Secretary admitted that tho bill was extraordinary, but necessary to meet extraordinary circumstances. The operation of tho bill will be limited to three years. The Government would do all in their power to prevent innocent persons suffering from the action of tho bill. He added that tue bill placed almsot unlimited authority in the hands of the Lord Lieutenant, and concluded by stating that the measure would shortly be followed by one dealing with arrears of rent. Harcourt stated that the Government had considered the question of instituting a military tribunal, but had come to the conclusion that a resort to such a measure was undesirable. After a brief debate the bill was passed to its first reading by a vote of 327 to 22. The minority was composed entirely of Home Rulers. Parnell said it was the most stringent measure ever proposed, and that it would result in a nundred fold greater failure than what had gone before. Dillon said the act would bring disaster, destroy all faith in ultimate justice, and play into the hands of assassins.