St. Paul daily globe., 1885-07-18
The Government of ireland.

AONDON, july ll.-Alr. Harnel moved
this afternoon in the house of commons
that the government order a special inquiry
into the Maamtrasna murder cases.
Mr.. Paneu made long speech
in support of his motion. He dwelt
on the maladministration of criminal
law in Ireland under Earl Spencer, whereby
innocent persons had been in some cases
condemned and executed, and in other
cases had been sentenced, either to long or
lifelong terms of penal servitude. He
moved, therefore. that in the opinion of the
house, it was the duty of the government TO
Institute strict inquiry into the evidence
and sentences in the Maamtrasna, the Bar
bavilla, the Crossmaglen and the Castle
Island murder cases.
Michael Hicks-Beach said the present
government had nothing to say concerning
the merits of the case, and nothing to say
in defense OF the late government. He was,
however, authorized by the Earl of Carnar-
ven, present lord lieutenant of Ireland, to
state that the present Irish executive
will make a careful personal inquiry
into the subject submitted by Mr.. Parnell
for investigation, but must add that the
government felt themselves compelled to
ask the house to resist Mr.. Parnelrs mo-
ton, which was the prerogatOry of Earl Spen
Lord Randolph Churchill
PRAISED MR. PARNELL'S
calmness of demeanor and the argument
with which he introduced his motion. He
defended Sir Michael HickS-Beach from Sir
Vernon HarcOurt's structures, and said the
present government would successfully
govern Ireland only by diyeSting themselves
of all responsibility for all acts of the late
government If there had been miscar-
riage of justice, in regard to which
he expressed no opinion. it would be
brought to light. He, therefore, appealed
to Mr.. ParneH whether it was wise or fair
TO press the amendment. Mr.. Parnell
agreed that the request was measurable
one and asked leave to withdraw the mo-
ton. Mr. Lewis said it looked
like a compact between Mr.. Panell and the
government. The solicitor general said
that as an inquiry was likely to be inSti-
tuted it was useless to prOlOng the discus
sion. Lord Harrington said that this un-
fortunate lesson would teach Ireland that a
change of government meant
change in judicial administration. Lord
Churchilrs speech, he said. was calculated
to weaken the respect for the law in
Ireland. The experiment of governing
without coercion was about TO be tried,
under adverse conditions, as the judges
would feel unable to rely upon Lord
Churchill's support. Mr.. Pamell's motion
was negatived without division.
PRESS OPINION.
The Daily Telegraph in an editorial re-
gTets that the ministers appear inclined and
maintain themselves in their present posi-
ton by an undue indulgence of Irish de-
mandS and hopes that the Conservatives
will not adopt Lord Randolph Churchil's
policy of disclaiming responsibility for
the acts of their precursors. The Standard
says. editorially: Can Sir Michael Hicks
Beach persuade himself that the suggestion
to reopen the inquiry contains no germ of
mischief? Is ii a small thing that the leader
of Conservatives in the house of commons,
on a direct challenge from the
home rulers. declines TO be responsible for
Earl Spencer's acts and that Lord Ran
dolph Churchill should follow almost Of
fensively repudiating them? We agree
with Lord Harrington that it would be an
evil TO encourage the notion that a change of
government will open prison doors, and
we cannot express thefact that the
governments policy will encourage such
belief. The Times, in an editorial, says:
The government will suffer through the
blow which it has allowed to
his late colleagues. To give even
tacit assent to the Parnellites' charges
against Earl Spencer would falsify history
and provoke the indignation of every honest
Irish loyalist. besides the cenSure of all
fair-minded Englishmen- The News in a
leading editorial to-day saws: The sign of
an alliance between the Marquis Of Sails
bury and Parnell is obvious. We know
nothing more desirable in the history of par
lament than this combination of Conserva-
tives and Parnellites in an attempt TO decry
their predecessors, unless it be the effrontery
with which the compact is disclosed. The
Marquis of Salisbury has made Parnell more
completely than ever master of Ireland and
almost master of himself.