The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-08-02
T0RYISM'S IRISH TRAP.
THE DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF
COMMONS STILL ON.


honorable Double-Dealing Openly
Charged.
LONDON, Aug. 1.-Ou the resumption Of
the debate in the house of commons on the
Parnell commission bill to-day, Mr. Balfour
said that the speech of Mr.. Matthews last
night, in which he said: The judges
already had power to select such of the
charges as they deemed worthy of an
inquiry" contained what the government
had all along stated.
Sir Lyon Playfair QiberaD con-
tended that Mr.. Matthews had extended
the scope cf the bill to an enormous extent.
Mr.. Matthews now said that the inquiry
was into an organization which induced
crime, whereas the house had been led to
believe that the bill was intended to enable
certain members to clear their characters.
Mr.. Matthews said that Mr.. Bradlaugh
had made out an absolutely new case.
Mr.. Chamberlain repeated the statement
that he would have been glad if the range
of the proposed inquiry had been limited,
but said he had never suggested limit re-
garding persons.
Mr.. Gladstone said the governments
covenant had been entirely and absolutely
CndukeU. TO SdlO ulS pdibH Ohho
care that the country should understand
these proceedings. [Cheersl
GLADsToNE's OPINION.
Mr.. Balfour said that Mr. Gladstone, on
the evening of the inquiry, had pronounced
the opinion that the Times letters were
forgeries.
Mr.. Gladstone said that was justified
in concluding that there must be motive
for'the extraordinary way i'll which the
letters were now being thrown into the
shade.
Mr. Balfour said that Mr. Gladstone's re-
marks were most improper. He denied that
the government had altered the bill or
changed their position.
Mr. Reid (liberaD offered an amendment
providing that the commission shall inquire
into charges and allegations only in so far
as the same may bear upon charges and
allegations against members He argued
that the amendment would not limit the
inquiry so far as members were concerned.
In the interest of members it might be
necessary to inquire into the conduct of
other persons, but he wished to guard
against an unlimited extension of the in
quiry.
A ROWING INQUIRY.
Mr.. Sexton said that he had gathered
from the speeches of the ministers and their
supporters that they only desired an inquiry
into the alleged completely of members with
crime. To include the conduct of outside
persons was irrelevant, except in so far as
it might throw light on the assumed guilt
of members. Mr.. Smiths friend. Mr..
Walter, at first did not wish that other
persons should be included, but when he
visited Mr. Smith he knew that the letters
he had published in the Times would be
proved to be forgeries, that bis charges
against members would break down, and
that the only chance he had of escaping dis
grace and ruin of the Times was to get a
rowing inquiry into the conduct of persons
over whom members had no control, and
thus mislead the public mind.
MATTHEW'S EXPLANATION.
Mr.. Matthews said: "The primary OBJ
iect of the bill is to secure an investigation
into the charges of what have been properly
described as "a catalogue of melancholy and
disgraceful crimes, regarding which the
government thought it of public import
ance that the whole truth should be known.
The inquiry is not into the conduct of mem
bers as members, but in their capacity as
members of an outside organization. |
should have thought that in order to COM
pletely establish their innocence they would
have desired the inquiry to be full and COM
plete. O'Donnell, in a published letter,
said that Frank Byrne was only the agent
Of more guilty and wicked persons.
7. P. O'Connor-Does the right honor
able member insinuate that he meant u.s."
[Cries of ''order" and ''hear heart.
NO INsINUArIoN INTENDED.
The speaker called Mr.. OConnor to order
and Mr.. Matthews continued He said he
had conveyed no insinuation against any
one If he had intended TO make personal
charge, he would have made it in plain
terms.
Sir William Vernon Harcourt said if
protraction OF the debate on the bill
required any justification it would be found
in Mr. Matthews speech. 1t was only by
persistent pressure that the
opposition were at last beginning to
detect the real meaning of the
bill. CHEERS II now appears that the
governments object in creating the com
mission was not 10 give the Parnellite mem
bers an opportunity TO clear themselves of
the foul and calumnious charges, but to in
Quire into political organization. II that
we're so. why had not the government insti-
tuted the inquiry long ago. LCheersl
sHIRKINa THE Responsibility.
The government wishing to escape the
responsibility for the commission, asserted
that its formation was proposed at the in
stance of Mr.. Parnell, yet the house was not
told that its object was to inquire INTO a po-
litical organization.
Mr.. Healy said he believed the change
in the bill was the result Of Mr.. Walters
visit TO Mr.. Smith.
Mr. Balfour admitted that the committee
of the cabinet on July IL decided to include Q
"nnd oteersn in reference TO the commits
sion, and the next day the whole cabinet
assented. If Mr. Smith, in announcing re-
ference in the house. did not read the words
"and other persons, 10 was doubt ss slip.
Mr.. Gladstone said he thought the con
duct of minister in sitting silent when Mr..
Smith announced the commission, leaving
out these ail-important words, deserved
severe censure.
GoscHEN CHIDEs GLADSTONE
Mr.. Goschen said he did not think that
Mr. Gladstone in the whole course Of his
life had acted as now In declining TO recog-
nize the truth of a minister's words No
rhetoric nor ingenuity Of speech could alter
tho fact that the intentions Of the govern
ment from the first were to include "other
persons"
Mr.. Gladstone said that he had not the
smallest intention TO deal with LiiS matter
as question involving the truthfulness Of
the government, but the statement OF tho
government was not rational or intelligible.
[Cheers.J
Sir William Vernon Harcourt said that
the whole course Of tho government had
been refusal 10 accept tho words of the
Parneilltes, while ready 10 indorse and pro-
mote every calumny Of the foulest kind
TCheers. Would the government now
accept Mr Parnelis denial or proceed to
sl.. a,xf