The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-03-26 00:00:00

THE STOURBRIDGE OBSERVER.

absolutely nugatory. The -Only hope for the ultimate
solution of the land question was a scheme of pur-
chase, but what chance would such a rtheme have of
succeeding if, at the bidding of a lawless agitation,
Parliament broke the solemn compact entered into only
6.ve years ago? In the interests of the Union between
the two countries he urged the House not to accede to
the motion of the right hon. gentleman opposite, but
to allow the Government as soon as possible to take
those steps which they thought necessary for the
restoration of law and order in Ireland.
In the course of subsequent discussion, Mr. H.
Fowler and Mr. B. Finlay spoke from opposite sides.
On the motion of Colonel Hughes-Hallett, the
debate was adjourned, and the House rose at 25
minutes past ll o'clock.

justified the iction of the Opposition. Mr. A S.
Balfour entered the House at 10.45, and was received
with cheers. Mr. A. O'Connor followed. Mr. Sex-
ton said now that the Chief Secretary for Ireland had
come in, he would put to him the question he was
ready to put at five o'clock in the morning. It was
what provision tho Government had made, or intended
to make, for the better security of social order in
Belfast. '
Mr. Balfour maintained that the Government were
not to blame for the fact that the minority report of
the Belfast Commission had not been presented to the
House. The Government had no control whatever
over the Commissioners, either individually or as a
body. The minority report had not yet been received,
or he would agree that the delay was very incon-
venient. The right hon. gentleman then proceeded to
refer to those recommenaations of the Commission
which would have to be dealt with by legislation.
He would esure the hon. gentleman that the report
would receive his careful attention. the report of
the remaining dissident member of the Commission
would be in his hands in a few days. The report
should be carefully considered, and he hoped in the
course of the present session to be able to lgy before
the House, with a view to legislation, such part of the
recommendation of the Commission as the Govern-
ment thought it advisable to adopt. In conclusion,
the right hon. gentleman said the, he hoped the
Government would have the assistance of the hon.
member and his friends in maintaining law and
order in Ireland.
Mr. Sexton: We will deal with each case as it
arises. (Parnellite cheers).
Mr. Dillon continued the discussion, and called at-
tention to the continued increase in the Irish Con-
stabulary 1 ote. When they considered that, pani
pa, su with the increase in the vote, the population was
dwindling away, there appeared to be a state of things
which he challenged the civilised world to show the
equal. The -hon. member was afterwards called to
order for impugning the conduct of Judge Boyd.
He moved to reduce the vote to £l5OO. Mr. Balfour
indignantly condemned the imputation which had
been cast upon Judge Boyd, that he was influenced by
political motives. The statement of the hon. gentle-
man that he had instructed the divisional magistrates
to shoot down without any hesitation the people who
obstructed evictions was a baseless fiction.
Mr. T. P. O'Connor continued the discussion. The
hon. member stated that the evictions which had
taken place in the past had occurred without any loss
of life or serious injury to the police
Colonel King-Harman having asked for the figures,
Dr. Tanner then ran across the floor of the House
with a Parliamentary paper from which Mr. O'C( ,nor
had been quoting, and dropped it on the Ministerial
bench, in front of Colonel King-Harman's seat.
The Chairman, who rose amidst loud cries of
Order," directed the hon. member not to cross the
floor of the House. (Laughter.)
Mr. Sexton then addressed the House and said as
they had in each instance, and despite the opposition
of the Government, succeeded in placing their case
before the House, the Vote, so far as they were con-
cerned, could now be taken.
The House then, at one o'clock, divided.
The amendment was rejected by 255 votes against
80.

The Vote was then agreed to, and progress was
reported amidst loud cheers and counter cheers from
the Parnellites.

The other orders having been disposed of,
Ilouse adjourned at 1.20.