The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-15

Dublin Freemaa's journal for some structures
made on him by the latter In his published cores
pondence and callan wound up by calling the cor
respondent "a - drunken har." anu striking
him. The correspondent applied in the police court
Tor summons. but the case was dismissed on the
ground that the Parliament House Is private
place.
TREATMENT OF IRISH POLITICAL PRISONERS
The origin OF all this trouble seems TO be sharp
debate on the Prisons bill, which has in o limited
sense opened up tie Fenian question once more.
bill was lately presented TO the House OF Com
mons empowering the government to take
control OF all county prisons. which at pres
ent are altogether managed by local boards.
In us progress through the House It was proposed
that the Secretary OF State should make rules de-
tcrmining the discipline OF the prisons and the
treatment OF the prisoners. suddenly. the Irish
members began to show great interest in the
measure. A. NJ. Sullivan, late editor Of the
Dublin Nation, had been IN prison In 1868 on
account OF "seditious writing" w. II. O'Suliivan
~ T. for Limerick County, had been confined IN
ls6s-6s In Mountjoy convict establishment, Dublin
under warrant from the Lord Lieutenant, issued
by virtue OF the Habeas Corpus Suspension act.
Both members described to the House OF Commons
their own personal suneyngs In the case
OF Mr.. O'Sullivan the Inference was TIRE.
sstiblc that II men confined merely for precau-
ton and not arrested under any criminal charge
were cruelty treated. what may not be the hard
ships OF convicts who have been tried, sentenced.
and are actually undergoing penal scrvitude for
the political offence OF membership or the Fenan
brotherhood. IL was clear that the statements so
often reiterated by O'Donovan Rosa, John
OLeary, Kckham, and quite lately by Sergeant Nc
earthly, we're most likely TO be true.
FIIIBCsrERING IN PARLIAMENT.
The House Of Commons was much moved by
what 1t heard OF the personal experiences OF its
own members The irish members fought hard that
the rules before coming into force should receive
the formal approval or the House but beaten.
The majority of them submitted; but Parne!l and
Bggar, aided by two or three others exhausted the
forms OF the House in endcavoring to wrest from
WEAKNESS concession which could not he wrung
from sense OF Justice. During the discus
sion MIR. Parnel gave an account OF the sur
ferings OF Daniel Redding, convicted for the
Manchester rescue, in 1864, who has
been rendered a paralytic cripple for life through
his prison discipline. Parne and his friends
were announced as mere obstructionlsts, because
they brought on motion after motion In order to
prevent progress, hoping to tire out the govern
ment into concession.
STRONG MEDICAL TESTIMONY.
Suddenly marvellous contribution was made to
the cause for which the Irish members were
battling In the shape of o letter in the London
Times from DR.. Robert Mcdonnell, who was med-
cal superintendent OF Mountjoy Prison during the
whole Fenian period lie says that many persons
were confined in Mountjoy in 1867 on mere sus-
picion They were confined for several months, In
some cases over year and har and were never
tried.
at will appear almost incredible he SAYS "that
untred prisoners OF this class were treated with
severity equal TO that TO which convicts are SUBJ
mtted, and this not for few days weeks, but
for SIX, eight. twelve months and even more.n
lie quotes from report addressed by him to the
Irish government IN February, 1867. In it he says
that the men thus treated
"have become greatly altered in their appearance
since their arrival here. Although they have no
tangible disease, yet any can perceive that
they are emacated and worn looking. Some have
shown unm!stakabe signs OF mental alienation
Blunders Of this kind give ife ylgor and energy to
the spirit OF hostility TO England, which, ut this
moment, pervades every Irish political movement"
SULLIVAN AND KESEALy AT LoGGERHEADs.
Another scene occurred last Wednesday in con-
sequence OF Mr. A. NJ. Sullivan making a bitter
attack upon Dr. Kcnealy during the newspaper
debate and insinuating that the editor OF Tne
Engtfshnldn was a coward, a slave and wretch.
Kenealy retaliated by calling Sullivan n liar
In the lobby Tor which he was compelled by the
House to make public apology The last member
OF Parliament who was obliged to make a public
apology was Fergus O'Connor, the famous Chartist
leader who had struck member OF the govern
ment in 1852
THE FENIAN PRISONERS
O'Connor Power Ii agitatng for the release of the
remaining Fenian prisoners. There were $1,000
prisoners released In India on the proclamation OF
Victoria as Empress, and 1t Is urged by the friends
OF the Irish prisoners that this would have been
fitting opportunity for the exercise Of clcmency in
Ireland. Mr.. Power denies the statement that he
intends to resign his seat In Parliament.
OUR NEXT GERMAN MINISTER.
The HERALD's Berlin correspondent states that
the Kre1z Zett,tng announces that Senator Frcling
huysen, or New Jersey, has been designated as Min
ister 70 Germany.
AN OFFICIAL SELKIRK.
Consul Thomas T. Prentis who has been forgot
ten by the United States Government for five years
at Maize, Seychele Islands, sailed for New York In
the Baltic on Thursday last.
HERALD DAILY WEATHER OBSERVATIONS IN
ENGLAND.
The following observations have been taken daily
during the past week ut Holyhead and Plymouth
for the HERALD. The pressure has continued below
the mean, but exhibits recovery toward the end
OF the week. This is, however, only a temporary
RISE the indications being threatening at present
There has been slight variation Of temperature
during the week. The weather in London ON Thurs
day and Friday has been fair
Date At Hour. Bar Tier. Wind.