We publish in another column a letter from Mr. Gwynn,
the Nationalist M.P. for Galway, in which he attempts to defend cattle-driving as in no sense involving cruelty. Does Mr. Gwynn really believe, and expect us to believe, that the cattle like being driven, and that the men who drive them are careful, as he seems to suggest, that there shall be no suffering to the unfortunate creatures, who are thrashed along highways and through villages, and are left out all night when they have been driven far enough ? The cattle, being dumb, cannot, of course, tell their sufferings; nor is there, as a rule, direct physical testimony to torture, such as when they are houghed or their tails are cut off. Never- theless, the state of the animals after they have been driven, their exhaustion, and the deterioration in their condition show unquestionably what they have endured. There is plenty of evidence to be found of the injury done to the beasts, and therefore as to the suffering inflicted, in the Irish newspapers and in the official reports. Take, as an example of many, a report made by Sergeant Plower, R.I.C., of Mill- town, on November 12th, 1907. Speaking of the condition of the sheep and Cattle driven off a farm, he states :—" Some of the sheep were lamed and appeared tired and worn-out looking, and the wool shaggy. The cattle, which I was afterwards informed belonged to Michael Connor, were tired and worn looking, and one of them was lame and appeared to be roughly handled."
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