The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-11-26 00:00:00

THE AGITATION IN IRELAND,

MR. O'BRIEN OUTWITS HIS GAOLERS.

In Tullamore Gaol on Saturday afternoon it was
found that Mr. William O'Brien, M.P., who had re-
mained in bed since his clothes were taken away ten
days ago, had become possessed of a new suit of
checked tweed, and when the Governor entered the
room, accompanied by Mr. Egan, J.P., who was on
his daily visit to Mr. O'Brien, he found to his surprise
the prisoner sitting on a chair in the infirmary fully
dressed. There was a good deal of amusement in
Dublin on Saturday evening when the fact became
known, and speculation was freely indulged as to the
means by which the clothes had been smuggled into
the gaol. It is, of course, out of the question that
they could have been conveyed to the infirmary where
Mr. O'Brien was lying by any of the Visiting Justices,
or visitors who came armed with paises, for the
Governor accompanied all these gentlemen into Mr.
O'Brien's presence, and never left them until the
interview had terminated.

AN INTERVIEW WITH MR. PARNELL,
A representative of the Central News had an inter-
view with Mr. Parnell on Monday. In the course of
the conversation the Lon. member's attention was
directed to a speech by Mr. Davitt at Stepcside,
county Dublin, on Sunday, in which the latter seemed
to criticise the action of some of the "plan of cam-
paigners" in avoiding arrest. "I do not think," said
Mr. Parnell, "that it would become me either to
criticise or to approve the managemen% of the move-
ment called the 'plan of campaign.' I was not con-
sulted about its initiation, and since then I have been
unable, owing to the state of my health, to take any
part in active political matters outside the House
of Commons. Those on the spot, and who
are actively engaged, are the best judges as to what
their own honour and the interests of their country
require. Mr. Davitt, however, is in a different posi-
tion, and his opinion is entitled to respect, coming
from one who is in Ireland, and who is a man of
singular and remarkable courage, who has never
shrunk from the consequences of his words and acts.
I do not gather, though, that Mr. Devitt did criticise.
He seemed rather to be apprehensive that some
things might be misunderstood in America. But,"
continued Mr. Parnell, "on the general situa-
tion I may say that in my judgment a more
feeble or inept Government never held the reins
in Ireland. They are teaching Irishmen a
most disastrous lesson. By their bungling inca-
pacity they are teaching them that the law may,
be successfully defied; for the. lays, :as recently con-
structed by the Unionist majority of the House of
Commons, is daily defied, and with impunity, by
thousands of members of suppressed branches of the
National League, and by every National newspaper
editor in Ireland. In fact, one of the extraordinary
results of the Coercion Act, and of firm and resolute
government,' is that for every offence against the law
committed before the Act there are hundreds
committed now. I leave it for you to say," con-
cluded Mr. Parnell, "whether the respect of
Ireland for the Imperial Parliament, the possi-
bility of her continued Government by the same
agency, or the solidity of the Union, will
be increased; or whether, on the contrary. this admi-
nistrative incapacity does not render much nearer the
concession of such reasonable powers of self-govern-
ment as shall make our people law abiding, pros-
perous, and happy." Replying to questions respecting
his health, Mr. Parnell said his physician, Sir Henry
Thompson, under whose care he has been for 12
months past, is imperative in his directions that the
hon. gentleman shall keep as pia as possible during
the winter. He must avoid all exposure and fatigue,
so that the interval may be employed in recuperating
as much as possible in anticipation of the labours of
next session. Mr. Parnell has not been staying at
Eltham for a long time past, neither is it true, as has
been represented, that be keeps horses there, or that
he has been seen riding or driving in that locality.