The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-09-03 00:00:00

JUST PUBLISHED, FOR TWO STAMPS.

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THE PROCLAMATION OF THE LEAGUE.
DEBATE AND DIVISION IN THE COMMONS.
In the House of Commons, on Friday evening,
August 26, Sir George Trevelyan resumed the debate
on Mr. Gladstone's motion against the proclamation,
and said he considered himself fortunate that he bad
returned to the House at a time when he was able to
utilise his experience of the most important post he
had held, or ever should hold, as Chief Secretary for
Ireland. In 1881 the Government presented a ileum
to Parliament containing 500 cases of homicide, firing
at the person, and firing into dwellings; and that
return had been in the bands of hon. members for
months before the Government introduced the Crimes
Bill. If hon. gentlemen doubted the information in
these returns, they had plenty of time to write or go
over to Ireland to get up the facts; but what was
the case last night? The Irish Secretary read a
series of statements drawn from advertisements,
from newspapers, from confidential documents,
and notices made of certain cases. If the House
sanctioned the proclamation of the league, every
Irishman who belonged to the National League, and
who would not leave it, would be liable to be
severely punished as a common criminal That
liability, after the proclamation was sanctioned to-
night, would not depend upon any judicial proceed-
ing worthy of the name. Ho did not mean to cast
any slur on the resident magistrates. After this
Irishmen would have no trial. This was the only
trial they would get, and the statements of Mr. A.
J. Balfour and of Mr. T. W: Russell were the -
only evidence that they would have brought
against them. With regard to the mass of stories
and statements quoted by the Chief Secretary, he
would say in the first place that the general
result of the operations of the League, as there
described, had not been an increase of crime or to
lead to a general non-payment of rent. The League
was universal in Ireland, but agrarian crime was
infinitesimal in amount and of the very lightest dye.
The Attorney-General taunted Sir George Travel) an
on the inconsistency between his present speech and
his former speeches. The reason why there were not
more convictions for crime was because of the terror
of the National League. (Cheers.) After reminding
the House that Lord Spencer's Government had re-
peatedly proclaimed National League meetings in the
south of Ireland, he maintained that the National
League was the same as the Land League, and
quoted a description given of it by Sir George
Trevelyan in 1883, when he said its object was to
put down landlordism and to separate Ireland
from England. He contended that the object of the
league now was the same as it was then. The
Government believed that the present state of in-
timidation and terror should be put down. They
were told that this was to be a death struggle. in
that death struggle the National League or her
Majesty's Government would go down (Irish checrs..)
He had no fear in the matter, and the Government
were supported by the consciousness that they had
done their duty. Mr. T Harrington, as one who
was chiefly responsible for the National League,
repudiated any sympathy with crime or outrage,
and declared that the league was never to
flourishing as at present. Mr. Macartney
condemned the league; and Mr. W. Redmond
contended that the Orange Society exercised
intimidation. Lord Hartington said it was not
the case that Parliament was necessarily committed
by the action of the Government; and he held that
it was not the duty of the Government to lay before
Parliament such information as the Opposition
oesired. The Crimes Act was now part of the law of
the land, and any action taken by the Government
as an executive government was taken on its own
responsibility; and it was not necessary or customary
for the Government to produce evidence in support
of executive acts done upon its own responsibility. If
any responsibility was taken by the House it would
be by the action of Mr. Giadsone, and not by the
action of the Government. He went onto contradict
some inaccurate statements as to his disagreeing with
the Government as to the step now proposed. Sir
W. Harcourt supported Mr. Gladstone's resolution.
He contended that combination was the only redress
of the Irish tenants against unjust rents; he hoped
that combination would be lawfally carried out, and
that it would become universal, because then there
would be no doubt of its peaceful conclusion. He
charged the Government with trying to blast the
reputation and to take away the liberties of the Irish
upon scandalous evidence. Mr. Goschen, amid
cheers, said Sir W. Harcourt held a brief for the
League. The Government were aware of the immense
difficulty of their task, which would be increased by
the attitude of the Opposition: He spoke of Sir
William Harcourt as a superb champion of exaggera-
tion. The House divided—
For Mr. Gladstone's Resolution 194
Against 272

Majority for the Government
The result was received with loud Ministerial
cheers. •

FIRST BOY (with trousers too long for him_, in
wrinkles up to his knees) : What are you? Your
father's a sweep I—Second boy: What of that? Yoar
father's a music shop, and you've rot to wear " enn- •
certina " for trousers I