English Home Rulers
who are burning to avenge the wrongs of Ireland? No? England is badly
served in the matter of news. They manage these things better in
Ireland. A leading Dublin Nationalist print has a number of prominent
headlines referring to the "facts." "The Arch-Coercionist Protected by
Police. Caught in His Own Trap." The writer even goes into particulars
and tells how "effusively" the ex-Secretary thanked the police for
protecting his "frail personality." The Irish moonlight patriots are
gratified. Balfour was their aversion. During his reign it could no
longer be said that the safest place in Ireland, the one spot where no
harm could befall you, was the criminal dock. Balfour stamped out
midnight villainy, and helped the industrious poor. Wherefore he is
honoured by honest Irishmen and hated by all rascalry. Ireland needs
him again with his _suaviter in modo, fortiter in re_; his fairness
and firmness, his hatred of tyranny, his determination to do right
though the heavens should fall. With Balfour in office the Irish
agitators have hard work to keep the broil agoing. They hate him
because of the integrity which won the confidence of the Irish people,
and because of the substantial benefit arising from his rule, a
benefit there was no denying because it was seen and known of all men.
The return of Balfour to power threatens to cut the ground from under
the feet of those who live by agitation. They dread him above
everything. They are horror-stricken at the prospect of a return to
his light railways and heavy sentences. Hence this attempt to damage
his prestige. Unhappy Mr. Balfour! To be protected by one hundred and
fifty mounted police, and not to know of it! And the venal English
press which conceals the fact, what shall be said of it? Where would
England be but for Irish newspaper enterprise?

Strabane, July 22nd.

No. 52.--HOW THE PRIESTS CONTROL THE PEOPLE.

This is a terribly Protestant place. The people are unpatriotic and do
not want Home Rule. They speak of the Nationalist members with
contempt, and say they would rather be represented by gentlemen. They
are very incredulous, and refuse to believe in the honesty of "honest"
John Dillon. They say that Davitt is a humbug and Healy a blackguard.
They speak of O'Brien's breeches without weeping, and opine that
Davitt's imprisonments and Healy's horse-whipping served them both
right. These misguided Irishmen affect to believe that the English