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Crime in Ireland

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Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · May 18, 1882

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 8, No. 19.

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Crime in Ireland.

By Editor

LORD CAVENDISH, State Secretary for Ireland, who recently took the position of Mr. Forster, and Mr. Burke, Under Secretary, were lately assassinated in open day, in Dublin. It was certainly a most brutal act, and at first appeared to be denounced by all parties. But now comes a proclamation from the “Republican Brotherhood,” a secret society, approving the murders, and plainly signifying that they were committed under the direction of this society. This proclamation of the “Brotherhood” is fast opening the eyes of the people of all countries to the danger they are in from communists and secret leagues of all kinds. Secrecy is cowardice, though it gives power to the criminals who resort to it. Now some papers are advising the formation of other secret societies for the detection and punishment of these. Woe to the land when this becomes necessary in order to protect life and liberty. In fact there will be afforded no protection under such a state of things. Honest men, who believe in plain dealing and open work, will stand but little chance between the counter workings of two systems, of which they possess no knowledge, and against the intentions of which they cannot possibly be guarded. The actions of the second party will be as irresponsible as those of the others, and often guided by men equally unprincipled. After considerable investigation we became thoroughly satisfied, years ago, that all secret societies are useless to the Christian, and may easily become dangerous, both to Christianity and the State. In view of the present state of society, and the near coming of the Saviour, and our duty as Christians to all people of all classes, we advise our brethren to keep aloof from all secret alliances, which are calculated to lead to entanglements of the most unprofitable, if not the most dangerous nature.
We have no idea that any measures that may be taken will put a stop to these outrages, from the very fact that no one can tell where to strike; it would be working in the dark. But we have the assurance that “though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not go unpunished,” and we believe that the time of retribution is near at hand.