No doubt such treatment seems humane if it is compared
with that of the thirteen bullocks who were lately burnt alive, on a farm in Westmeath, and with the malicious injuries and mutilations which are still constantly reported from Ireland. For example, we note among the list of successful claims for compensation for malicious injuries in recent months the following :—Mutilation of a mare on September 17th or 18th in Kerry; burning to death of three heifers June 15th or 16th, also in Kerry; loss of a bullock by maiming in Galway; mutilation of a cow and calf in Clare. Later hi the year, but not yet adjudicated on, are claims for the cutting of the tails of three bullocks at Coolesball, for the stabbing in several places of a mare at Broughal, and for the maiming and houghing of a filly in Clononeybeg. In truth, it is an impossible task to whitewash the Nationalists in the matter of outrages to animals. We have not forgotten, if Mr. Gwynn has, the words which Mr. John Dillon used twenty- eight years ago when speaking at Kildare on August 15th, 1880 :—" In the county of Mayo, where the organisation is pretty strong, we have many a farm lying idle, from which no rent can be drawn, and there they shall lie ; and if the land- lord shall put cattle on them, the cattle won't prosper very much." This quotation is from the official report of the "Queen v. Parnell." What was meant by cattle not prospering very much must have been perfectly clear to Mr. Dillon's hearers.
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