This manly and wise declaration of policy does not come
too soon. At Limerick, where the meeting was held and the memorial issued to which Mr. Gladstone's letter was the reply, the arrogance of some of the crowd, carefully stimulated by some of the speakers, and as carefully moderated by others, was beyond all bounds. Mr. Synan, M.P., speaking warmly in favour of the Government, was interrupted by some who said, amidst loud cheers, that "they expected no mercy from a Parliament of bloodhounds sitting in the capital of a foreign country." The Rev. Mr. O'Dwyer, who is described as a very eloquent and promising young speaker, said that the political prisoners had never been traitors to Ireland, admitted Mr. Gladstone had already done what might have seemed impossible, "he had arrested the attention of Ireland and made them hope that some justice might come from England." "Jut," he went on, "if at this moment in their history the people should be again disappointed, if their feelings should be outraged in the persons of their countrymen, if their voices were not heard in the nation, if they were again made to feel that they were only slaves, then he (Mr. O'Dwyer) said, without threat, but with truth, that no laws and no measures would prevent the Irish people from turning their backs on England, and, if they must, submitting sullenly to their fate ; but, if not, hoping for national regeneration and looking"—(the rev, gentleman paused amid deafening cheers, and added)—elsewhere for redress." (Most enthusiastic cheers.) "He hoped it would not come to this. He hoped the ministers would be wise in time,"—and so forth. To talk of language of this kind not being threatening is insincere. It claims rebellion and secession at a right, and denies, of course logically, the right to punish the/se who exercise it. The most it concedes is, that the right of rebellion may, perhaps, be waived, if the Government does all that Irish agitators wish. No country was ever governed on such priuci les as these, and Irishmen would be the first to despise a Administration which could be cowed by menaces so insultin
