The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-28
Interviews with Imprisoned Leaders Of
the Land League.
USES OF AGITATION.
Has the Government Another
Trump to Play?
MILITANT HOOD.


Irish prisoners was to-day enlivened by the
eccentricities of Mr.. John Rea, attorney-at-law,
from Belfast As soon as Mr. Monroe, prosecut-
ing for the Crown, had resumed his seat and had
said that he left his case in the hands Of the
Court, Mr.. Rae sprang to his feet and proceeded
to deliver an impassioned address. He called
for summons against DR.. McCabe, the
Catholic Archbishop of Dublin. "What
right he demanded, chad the coun-
sci for the Crown to read the pas
toral published. by foe to the Irish peoples
What right had the Archbishop to say that they
were driving God from their side by violation
of His lawi What right had he to say that
the doctrines preached by his client struck at
the root of good faith and mutual confdenceS
This pastoral was a libel ON his client. It was
a libel on the Irish people," To this philippe
the magistrates merely replied that if Mr.. John
Rea, attorney-at-law, did not call his witnesses
they would at once close the case,
POLICEMEN CLEAR THE COURT.
Notwithstanding this injunction from the
Bench Mr.. Rea still continued his excited har-
angue. On this the magistrates hurriedly
began to leave their seats. But tho attention
of the vast crowd in court was closely held by
the speaker. He extolled the Fenians and Rib
bonner Us heroes and martyrs. He said that
Ireland should yet have q Parliament
sitting near the statue of King Will
lam. He called on the magistrates to
return to the bench and administer justice
men entered the doors at the back and sur
rounded the spectators. Mr.. Rea told the
Sheriff not to obey the order he had received to
clear the court. He Addressed the people, says
ing he would hold o public meeting and there
denounce the magistrates as prejudiced and
incompetent. Whereupon the court was
cleared. MIR. Rea was the last to leave it,
shouting and gesticulating to the end. On Sat
urday Mr.. Parnell goes to Liverpool, ON Mon
day to London.
INTERVIEW WITH KILLEN.
I had an interview with the Irish prisoners
on Tuesday. When arrived at the Sligo Jail
early in the morning l found bodies Of uni
formed constables, armed with swords and
rifles, grouped about the entrance, waiting to
take Davitt and Killen to the court. 1 entered
with official permission to see the prisoners
found Killen cramped in q cell on the third floor,
giving the final touches to Christmas story
for Christmas-keeping Irishmen. He had
begun this story before his arrest, and had been
allowed by the authorities to bring it to u con-
clusion. Mr.. Killen is doubtless known to many
people in America. About eight years ago he
spent year and q half there, and has always
expected to go again and live there. Killen,
like DAILY and Davitt, denied the accuracy of
the government reporters in making notes Of his
speech at Gurteen. He said that the
people were entitled to defend them
selves with pen and pencil, but not
with tho sword. A government witness
swore that he called for armed resistance. Mr..
Killen believed that agitation was the only
remedy for the evils which now beset Ireland
That violence should be employed would be UNI
fortunate, but no great popular reforms had
ever been gained without some disorder. The
government has doubtless cause already to re-
greet the prosecutions, which would surely
break down. The government believes there is
To-. al l.. 4
Mr.. Killcn, "and don't say there is not But
they think we shall be easily broken up. The
object of the government is to drive the agitators
to acts of desperation"
THE GOVERNMENTS DEcoY DUCKS.
All that the authorities sought was an
excuse for military interference The speak
ers would never have gonc so far as
they did except for the opposition of
the Catholic priests who had gone on the
them, and so, making them angry, had driven
the prisoners, thus bullicd. into saying stronger
things than were altogether advisable. Mr..
Killen complained of the prison discipline. Hc
was obliged to retire at five in the afternoon
and get up ut six in the morning Thrce-q,iar-
tiers of an hour were allowed for exercise
In the open air. No communication might be
held with one another. No lights were fur
nishcd, or newspapers or books. Mr.. Kilen
said he would never cease from his task of agi-
tation till the great work of reform was accom-
plished Mr. Davitt is in a cell near by. He is
comfortable and cheerful as, indeed, he well
might be If his only hardship lie Imprisonment.
He has already served nearly eight years in
Her Majcsty's prisons for his Fenian propensi-