The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-02-15
Tie Arrest Of Irish Members Of Parliament
Brought up in the Commons.
The Home Secretary Apologies for the
o'Brien In Dcident-Proposal to Re-
fer to a Committee Rejected
Debate on the Address.

week, of Pyne, Patrick 0'Brien and Gil.
hooly. Irish members Of Parliament, which
he claimed constituted breach of privilege,
The Speaker said, Pyne and Gilhooly
were arrested on a criminal warrant. In
their case no breach Of privilege has been
committed. The arrest of O'Brien, how
ever, was not breach of privilege.
Mr.. Matthews, Home Secretary, apollo
gized for the indignity to which Mr..
0Brien had been subjected.
The occurrence was unfortunate.
Sir r. Z. Webster, Attorney. General,
denied that any privilege existed. Expla-
nations and apologies had been given, and
if they did not suffice to satisfy O'Brien
he coul prosecute the remedy elsewhere.
Mr.. Picton was not satisfied with the
Attorney-Generars opinion. Parliament,
he said, must clearly vindicate its right.
He therefore moved that the wrongful ar
rest of Mr.. O'Brien, when leaving the
House of Commons, was a breach of the
privilege of Parliament
Mr.. McLaren (Radical) seconding the
motion, referred to the arrest of Gilnooly
and Pyne within the precincts of the Com.
mons.
The Speaker reminded Mr.. McLaren that
the cases of those gentlemen were not be-
fore the House.
The Attorney.General moved an amend
ment to the effect that the House regretted
the indignity to O'Brien, but, considering
it mistake, did not think it necessary TO
proceed further.
Mr.. Gladstone admitted that as far SIS
the apology was concerned the Home Sec
retary had done all that could be expected,
but Mr.. o. Brien, he said, was not only ar
rested within the precincts of the House,
but was seized by a constable without
warrant. The circumstances afforded rea-
sonable grounds for referring the case to
the Committee on Privileges. The incident
was not merely an innocent error. 1t
was either careless or worse
procedure, which demanded inquiry. If
the Attorney. General persisted in his
amendment. and if it was carried, he would
move that the matter be referred to the
Committee on Privileges.
Sir Edward Clark. Solicitor. General,
announced that the government could not
adopt Mr.. Glaastone's suggestion, there
being no breach of privilege, and there vas
nothing to refer to the commistee.
Mr.. Parnell said the government
would have taken a fsrent course
If ii had been an English men,
Der, and would have sent detectives
who knew the member wanted. He pro-
tested against the duties which the govern
ment now thrust upon constables guarding
Parliament Surely it was q question OF
privilege whether members were entitled
to 90 to and fro from the House without
being molested.
Mr.. VIII. Smith, Conservative leader,
denied that the Government imposed
duties o.. espionage upon any officers OF the
House.
John Morley, Liberal, iutimated that the
opposition would allow Picton's motion to
be negatived without division. He then
moved that the matter be referred to the
Committee on Privileges. Rejected, 246. to
151.
James C. Flynn, Nationalist, resumed
the debate on the address in reply to the
Queens speech,
Mr.. Parnell said his party in these days
had q special interest in facilitating busi.
ness, and were prepared to 90 further than
the Government In new rules to expedite
legislation. 1t was mistake to measure
their attitude by their action in respect to
| the coercion bill. Looking forward as
| they did to the introduction in the near
future Of better government in Ireland /,
| it was to their direct interest to assist thu
Government to diminish the facilities,
| obstruction. In reference to Lord Sc
ries' action in 1885 did much more tbs
sist the Irish members to oust the Libe
for an understanding had been con
through Tory whip,
longer member of the Ho1
Whatever the Earl of CnnavonY
views now were, when he became LorS
Lieutenant of Ireland, in 1885. They werel
absolutely identical with ParnelPs ow n
views. Lord Carnarvon then expressed to
him q strong belief that only the
concession of an Irish Parliament
would settle the difficulty, such
Parliament to have extensive power.
even that of fostering Irish industies by
the imposition of protection duties. Lord
CaInarvon then conveyed to him what he
understood to be the assurance that Lord
Salisbury was also in favor of the Irish
Parliament. It was an extraordinary COM
mentary on the result of one year Of Tory
rule that whereas Ireland might have been
entrusted with Parliament, SIC could not
now be intrusted with the duty OF
building bridges and repairing roads, and
was therefore excluded from the local Gov
eminent scheme. Cheers
He complained that the Government had
broken its prom ise that there should al
ways be right of appeal from mAgesterisl
decisions under the crimes act. He argued
1smsSi. SiTinuti0p LEGISLATION Of crime and due the to
action of the Liberal party,
which worked q miracle in Ireland, The
| government seemed to have no idea of the
| gravity of the situation in Ireland.
Affairs there were in state OF tension, but
the people would suffer with cheerful
hearts because they were convinced that
their country was on the eve OF prosperity
and progress.
Parnell laughs at Balfour's meanness in
his treatment of political prisoners. The
hand OF Forster had struck down the
league in q single night 30 they did not
dare hold q meeting. There was the same
difference between Balfour and Forster as
was between the scratch of q cat and
blow from the paw of the British lion.
| Laughter and cheers
Parnell concluded by moving the pre-
viously drawn amendment to the address.
The Solicitor.General for Ireland replied
that Parnell's remarks were not relevant
to the amendment and that his charges
were trivial, while he admitted the ben6-
cisl result Of the remedial legislation for
Ireland.
On motion of Sir G. o. Trevelysn the,
ebate was adjourned.