18 DECEMBER 1880, Page 3

Mr. Baron Dowse, Mr. Justice Barry, and Mr. Justice

Lawson have followed the example of Mr. Justice Fitz- gerald, in calling the attention of their Grand Juries to the large number of indictable offences committed in Ire- land whore there is not even a case for trial, because the per- sons injured refuse to give information or to have anything to do with a prosecution. For example, iu Galway alone, out of 291 indictable offences committed, 278 furnish no case for trial, because the persons injured refuse to prosecute. As the Judges observe, if this state of things continues, it will be an im- mediate danger to Ireland, and " an ultimate disgrace to the Empire of which Ireland forms a part." The truth is, that while the Irish are, physically speaking, amongst the bravest of meu, they are, morally speaking, amongst the most cowardly. There is no sturdy individualism amongst them, no power to shake off the dictation of the society in which they live, or oven to subject that dictation to a cool criticism, and reject it, if it appears to be really base, or really injurious to their interests. The Land League is creating a detestable tyranny, which, even if it gained for the great class of Irish tenant-farmers a good start, would render it impossible for them to enjoy or use the rights which it had been the result of the movement to confer.