The Portland daily press., 1881-02-05
Precautions to Prevent Rising in Ire.
land.

land
NEW YORK, Feb. 4-The Worlds London
correspondent telegraphs: II have just re-
turned from an interview with Mr.. Parnell.
He says that the government has made fatal
mistake in arresting Mr.. Davitt, whose acts
were done in the open light of day, with no
attempt at concealment and in the regular
and legal progress of the agitation. This
arbitrary exercise of power will excite the
people, he says, and perhaps precipitate I'M
fortunate events He assured me that he con-
sidered the government had imprisoned one of
the strongest supporters of order IN Ireland
and removed one of the strongest barriers
against agrarian crime"
At an interview of Herald correspondent
last night with Mr. Parnells the following con-
versation took place:
Correspondent-What is your view of the
suspension of the Irish members tonight?
Mr. Parnell-It was necessary to make a
protest against the arrest of Mr.. Davitt, man
who has done more to prevent crime and
outrage in Irelan1 than all the police and
legal machinery of the government and who
has been untiring in his exertions to persuade
the people to adhere strictly to policy of
passive resistance. The Speaker refused to
allow me to call the attention of the House to
the subject by motion for adjournment in
the usual way, and called on Mr.. Gladstone to
proceed with his motion. 1 then moved, as
was done by Mr.. Gladstone himself last ses
sion with respect to Mr.. O'Donnell, that the
Prime Minister be not further heard. This
the Speaker ruled to be disregardng the au-
thority of the Chair, and the only thing left
for us by way of protest was to insist on our
right to be heard, and thereby incur, after the
arbitrary conduct of the Speaker, the penalty
of being suspended for to-day's sittings.
Correspondent-Then the Speaker allowed
Mr.. Gladstone to do last year what he suspend
ed you for trying to do to-day?
Mr.. Parnell- Yes, certainly, and his con-
duct on Wednesday morning in closing the
debate and refusing to hear members who
desired to speak or to allow the member then
speaking to conclude was a distinct breach of
the privileges of the House and of its standing
orders.
Correspondence What are the powers of the
Speakers?
Mr.. Parnell-The Speaker has no original
jurisdiction, though henceforth he will have
under Mr.. Gladstone's resolutions He is the
servant of the House, and is only entitled to
carry out its standing orders, without which he
has no power at all The standing orders distinct
ly limit his functions. and he is only entitled
toact within them by ruling that every at
tempt on the part of Independent members to
make themselves heard is a disregard of the
authority of the Chair. He makes himself
practically omnipotent, and converts Parlia-
ment into a mere register to record the
opinions of the Prime Minitter, with whom he
is constantly in consultation.
Correspondent-Do you prefer the American
practice?
Mr.. Parnell-Yes The refusal of Congress
to let ministers have seats in the House is very
much to be preferred, as the tendency of re-
cent years in the British Parliament is to SUBJ
ordinate everything to to the will and opin-
ions OF the paid servants of the crown, inde-
pendent members being left practically no.
where
Correspondent respect to Mr.. Davitt's
a 1ata ant 70
him for his speeches?
Mr.. Parnell-Yes; and the present govern
ment withdrew the prosecution, thereby tact-
ly admitting that Mr.. Davitt had committed
could have withdrawn his ticket-of-leave in
stead of prosecuting him, but the Tories are
not so shabby as the SO called Liberals, and
they straight-forwardly brought him before
the ordinary tribunals and charged him with
SeditiOn.
Proceedings in Parliament.
In the House of Commons to-day the Speak
or, on taking the chair, read statement that
he would use the authority entrusted to him
with clrcumspection, so as to insure freedom of
debate and that he would shortly Law the rules
before the House. Meanwhile he will make a
rule, the practical effect of which will be to
prevent member, who is dissatisfied with an
answer to question, moving the adjournment
OF the House. The announcement was receiv-
ed with cheers.
Sir Chas. w. Dixie, replying to a question,
said he had reason to believe that Russia was
not advancing on Merv, but this, he said was
not consequent upon any negotiations with
England.
the Home Rulers gradually arrived in the
House during the question and reply.
Mr.. Forster rose at five O'Clock P. NJ, amid
cheers to move the second reading of the Pro-
lection bill.
Mr.. Bradaugh (RadicaD moved the reiec-
tion OF the bill because, he said, there is no
certainty that the House of Lords will approve
land bill as readily as they will a coercion
bill.
Modification in Gladstone's Resolution.
The principal alterations in Mr.. Gladstone's
resolution, as formally adopted by the House
of Commons. are that motion for urgency
must be made by minister, who must state
his reasons, and that the majority which voted
urgency must consist of to in House of
at least 800 members. A modification was
also introduced, making it clear that the
Speaker was intended to use the powers con-
ferred upon him only for facilitating the par
ticular business which might be declared ur-
gent.
Precautions in the House.
The most extraordinary precautions were
taken in the House last night, and almost
every door leading into the lobbies and corr-
dors was watched by detectives. Mr.. Forster's
office, the Speakers house and Mr.. Gladstone's
private room were guarded by police. The
members lobby was cleared from an early hour
and strangers were not allowed to enter for
several hours
Davitt's Arrest.
LONDON, Feb. 4.-The specific charge upon
which Mr.. Davitt was arrested is breach of
the conditions of his ticket-of-leave in connec-
ton with his association with the Land League.
He has yet to serve between four and five
years of his sentence The magisterial inquiry
was very brief. Mr. Davitt was removed in
prison van it is supposed, to Pentonville prison.
The police have strict instructions to give no
information on the subject
The Dublin correspondent of the Times says:
There is no surprise at Michael DavittS arrest
after his inflammatory and scurrilous language
in recent speeches in reference to the action of
the Government and to MIR. Forster's charac-
ter.
Mr.. Davitt, on reaching the Bow Street Po-
lice court, was Immediately taken before Sir
James T. Ingham, Chief Magistrate. The
proceedings were private, but it is officially an
nounced that Mr.. Davitt has been ordered to
finish the remainder of his sentence of penal
servtiude. He was removed from Bow street
under the escort of strong body of police.
Precaution Against Disturbances.
DUBLIN Feb. A. The authorities have just
issued instructions to the Royal Irish Coz.
stabulary to adopt unusual precautionary
measures in view of the disturbed state OF the
country. Upward of forty fresh mounts have
been provided for the horse police. 1t is in
tended to materially increase the strength OF
this branch of the force. An arrangement
will shortly be carried out by which bodies of
police will be stationed at distances of from 10
to II miles apart, SO that in the event of the
telegraph wires being interfered with, COM
munication may be kept up between various