There was an interesting discussion in the House of Lords
yesterday week on the state of Clare, from which it resulted that the state of Clare has been bad ever since the expiration, in 1885, of the Crimes Act of 1882; that it improved somewhat under the Crimes Act of 1887, but is no worse now than it was, last year under the Conservative Government ; that the power of holding secret inquiries given by that Act has never had any good result in Clare, but that the power to shift the venue in cases of trial does give a much better chance of obtaining convictions (,which in Clare is nearly impossible, owing to the terrorism and moonlighting). Lord Spencer said that he had quite concurred in Mr. Morley's abandonment of the Crimes Act, though he admits that it is a more troublesome process to obtain a change of venue under the ordinary law, than it is under the special provisions of the Crimes Act. In short, we gather that the present Government threw away the advantage of those provisions out of disgust at an Act which they had assailed so bitterly when in Opposition,—even though they have to get the use of some of its machinery by a rounda- bout and more troublesome process,—rather than confess anything to the advantage of what they are pleased to call "Coercion." As if there were any discredit in obtaining a change of venue at less sacrifice than the ordinary law requires, if it be desirable or needful to change it at all !
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