Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-07-27
Those Internal Machines,

those Internal Machines.
There can no longer be any doubt as to the
fact OF the discovery of explosives and Internal
machines on the steamships Malta and Bava-
rian. The official statement of Sir VIM. Vernon
HarcOurt in the British parliament was based
no doubt, upon the reports of officials who in
vestigated the matter. The British home secre-
tary stated that his government had been in
formed of the consignment and names of the YES
sells in ample time to provide for thorough search
upon their arrival at Liverpool. The informa-
ton given by the secretary was very specific as
to the fact of finding the barrels, their contents
how the Internal machines were constructed
etc., but he did not throw any light upon
the character of the consignors. This is
the point in which the people of this coun-
Try are most deeply interested. The the
DRY OF the British people is that these bar
fels OF explosives were sent to England by
Fenian conspiratOrs to confederates on that side
the ocean. to be used in the destruction of life
and property there. If this is true, then it is
the duty OF this government to hunt out these
conspiratorsJTho have displayed a recklessness
OF human life that is absolutely dabOlical They
exposed the passengers and crew of the steam
ships to hourly peril. But there are facts in
connection with the discovery of the barrels at
Liverpool which tend to mystify the theory of
Fenian conspiracy. if not to disprove
1t. For instance. each barrel containing explo-
siye substance was marked with q huge black
cross, so prominent that it was certain to at
tract attention. Besides this fact, barrels pur-
ported to contain cement an article that is not
imported into England from the United States.
Then, again. is the significant fact that British
officers had information i'm advance of the ship
ment of these barrels. These facts have led to
the conclusion in some minds that there is con-
siderable humbug, after ALL about the affair
that, indeed. it was originated and carried out
by English detective agents, who are we'll paid
TO watch the Fenians in this country and defeat
their plots; that the inactivity of the Fenans
promised to cut short the profitable employment
OF these agents, and they devised the
plot to make it appear that their con-
tinued presence in the United States is
necessary There are persons in England who
take this suspicious view of the affair, while
another theory is that the ':skirmshers' really
shipped the barrels. not with the intention of
blowing anybody up, but for the purpose of
creating a furOre that would add to the sub
scriptiOns to the skirmishing fund. It is evident
that Sir Williem Vernon Harcourt honestly be-
heves that the explosives were intended for
mischief His careful and accurate manner of
giving the information in his possession shows
that be regarded the affair as serious, and that
II the idea that it was device of English detec-
tive agents be correct the Home Secretary has
been imposed upon. An investigation by the
proper authorities of this government can, no
doubt, bring out the truth.
The fact that the circuit of the late Justice
CLIFFORD includes New England seems to lead to
the conclusion generally that the new Judge
VIII be selected from that section. Ex-Attorney
General DeVens is also prominently mentioned
for the vacancy. 1t is an open secret that had
Judge Clifford died during the administration of
President Hayes, Gen. Devens would have been
nominated to the vacancy. The opinion that
some eminent jurist of democratic politics ought
TO succeed Judge Clifford is held and expressed
In some quarters There is but single demo-
xat-Judge Field-On the Supreme bench, as it
now stands, and the indications are that the
democrats will urge the prOpriety of having one
or their party named for the existing vacancy
The Boston Post. (democratic) however. con-
Guides that lit is too much to expect that a new
Judge will be appointed from the democratic
party" to succeed Justice Clifford and it recon-
mends Chief Justice Gray, of Massachusetts. as
republican who would be acceptable to the DEM
oerats, because he is in all official respects
nO-party man"