The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-07-02

the question under debate was exclusively
concerned with Ireland, and that the minor
ity, small as 1t was, indisputably represented
the Irish people for 1t Is acknowledged on
all hands that In the event OF a new general
election Mr.. PARNELL's friends would con-
troll three-fourths of the Irish delegation,
were scornfully dlsregarded, though 1t is, as
we have said, notorious that Englishmen
would never venture to take like high
handed course in the making OF laws for
Scotland.
Nevertheless, Sir WILLIAM HARcoURT at
o'clock yesterday morning denounced the
legitimate opposition of the Parnellite men,
bers in such insulting terms as TO draw from
the Irish leader an acrimonious rejoinder.
Evidently the Chairman had been watching
all night for an opportunity to apply his
disciplinary powers, for he at once proceeded
to name" Mr.. PARNELL and fifteen OF his
followers who, by vote Of 1875 to q, were at
once ordered to withdraw. Now, II Mr.
PARNELL were to be suspended, justice
seemed to require that Sir w. HARooURT,
who gave the provocation, should be visited
with the same penalty. But admitting that
Mr.. PARNEJL, in a moment OF Indignation,
mentary rules, we can see no pretext for
including In the same sentence thirteen Of
his companions who certainly had not been
guilty Of tho same infraction No doubt
they sympathized with their leader; but will
the House OF Commons sustain a construc-
ton Of parliamentary law, under which,
II Sir STAFFORD NoRTHooTR should chance
to incur the censure of the Chair, the whole
Conservative party may be expelled on the
ground Of participation in his sentiments
No wonder that Mr.. JOSEPH CowEN, who
seems to be one Of the few Liberals who can
keep their heads cool at such junctures, gave
notice that he would ask on Monday whether
the suspension of the Irish members was
regular.
We have not yet named, however, the
worst feature of the action taken by the
Chairman on this occasion. 1t turned out
that two of the members suspended in COM
pany with Mr.. PARNELL had never opened
their lips during the evening, and that three
or four others, including Mr.. O'DoNNELI, had
actually been absent from the House. Their
connivance therefore, in the alleged breach
Of the rules was purely matter OF in
ference with the Speaker, who virtually
held that a member could be deprived Of his
constitutional rights on the ground of OBJ
struction offered while no was abed and
asleep. This blunder was too monstrous
even for Mr.. GLADsToNE's henchmen, and
accordingly the order of suspension was
amended so as to charge the members who
had been silent or absent during this par
ticular debate with antecedent obstruc-
ton during the discussion OF the
bill. The subterfuge merely served
to show to what extraordinary lengths Eng
lishmen are willing to go in their contempt
and detestation of Irishmcn. For what would
become OF the freedom Of debate if members
could be suspended, not at the time Of an
alleged offence, and for specific reasons
given, but weeks and months afterward,
upon the vague charge that their previous
demeanor had been unsatisfactory to the
presiding of1icer2
There is no doubt that the action Of the
GLADSTONE Ministry, in expelling from the
House OF Commons men who had committed
no offence, will have to be rescinded in the
interest Of the vital principles Of free govern
ment. AS to the nine additional members
expelled last evening, 1t may be argued that
they were actually guilty Of illegiti-
mate obstruction by reiterated motions
to report progress and that the Chair.
man leave the chair. But something should
have been excused to men who were smart.
ing under the unjust treatment inflicted on
their comrades. The net result Of the two
clearances effected by this shameful display
Of political animosity and race hatred Is that
nearly the whole body Of Mr.. PARNELL's fol
lowers have been stripped OF the functions
conferred onthem by their constituents. Sup
pose the men thus dealt with should refuse
again to enter a House from which they have
been iniquitously expelled. Suppose they
should return In vindictive and irrecon.
cilable temper to their constituents at this
juncture, when England is likely to need in
Egypt every soldier hitherto employed in
Ireland. Might it not again be demonstrated
as it was proved so signally when the wal
of the American Revolution helped GRATrAN
to demand successfully legislative indepcn
dence for his country-that England's peril is
Ireland's opportunity