New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-26
THE PARNELL COMMISSION.
FEATURES OF THE AITORNEY-GENERALS
LONG OPENING FOR THE TINES"
AN ELABORATE AND vENEMoUs ATTACK UPON
IRISH PATRIOTS IN AMERICA-soME OF
~THE TIMEs's" LETTERS ADMITTED TO
BE FoRGERIEs-CoMMENTs OF THE
PREsS-A LONG TRIAL IN
BIZ CABLE TO THE TRIBUvR

London, Oct. 25.-The fourth day OF tne AT
torney-Generars opening speech before the Parnen
Commission is marked by no change in manner
and no increase in public interest. The court
is not crowded, and the long reports OF the
proceedings given in the papers are not read.
What is read is the summary with which some
papers preface their moro less verbatim re-
ports. 1t begins to be seen, nevertheless that
there is some method in the Attorney GeneraIs
unrelieved duness There is little that is new
in his long history Of the League and the leaders
OF the League, or the endless catalogue Of
outrages and crimes. Never before, however,
has this history been narrated in quite the same
way. Sir Richard Webster discusses the most
momentous passages in the recent history OF
Ireland as il he were dealing with an action on
a promissory note bill of lading There is no
oratory. no rhetoric seldom touch OF feeling,
never a passion 1t is all business-like, explain
atory, commonplace This four days speech has
thus far been devoid of all dramatic effect The
Attorney General appears unaware of the existence
of the public. His one aim is to
impress the three Judges perched up aloft
with their three separate desks in front OF him.
He talks on in a matter-of fact way, as if in
different to the fact that the tribunal which Will
really determine the questions at issue consists
of the people of the United Kingdom. This very
indifference, perhaps, impresses them More
people begin to wonder whether the mere mass
and number of allegations do not constitute a
presumption against Mr.. Parnell
One or two things happened yesterday which
will not tend to strengthen this presumption, If
it exists The fact was brought out that The
Times possesses certain letters not hitherto
mentioned publicly, which they bought and paid
for but admit to be forgerics, these purporting
10 be signed by Mr.. Parnell and Mr.. Dillon
Others are understood to have come from America
Sir Charles Russell wanted these disclosed and
handed TO him for examination The At
torncy General resisted. I'VE were trcled,' he
said. We admit it.: and we should like to
know how the other side became aware that we
had been tricked" The other side did not seem
inclined to say. Ultimately it was arranged that
the court should first of all examine these mys
terious forgcr;cs Then Sir Charles Russell tried
to induce the court to direct the plaintiffs to
furnish additional particulars, saying what crimes
were alleged to be due to the inctement OF
what particular individuals. But here too the
court said: Not yet"
The chief sensation thus far had been the
Attorney Generals avowal that he intended, when
the proper time came, to say how they got the
Parncn letters. This followed up ycster-
day by the statement that Captain O'Shea would
be called to witness to the kilmainham negota-
tions and other matters. Captain O'Shea, who
then acted for Mr. Parnell and was
for long time intimate with him,
can undoubtedly tell much, If be chooses
The two are not now on speaking terms.
Captain O'Shea is expected. among other
matters, to explain Mr.. Parnelrs relations with
Messrs Sheridan, Bovton Egan and others, who
are accused of organizing outrage. IT, SAID
the Attorney General Mr. Parnell was in posi-
ton to put down outrages, as he offered to do on
his release from Kilmainham, shall ask HIM why
he did not put them down." Before then he pro-
duced the original of the famous letter IN which
Mr. Parnel is supposed to have apologized for con-
demning the Phoenix Park murders. lie was
in danger from his own friends when he wrote it,
said Sir Richard He asked for police protec-
ton But this line not long followed up
We wore soon taken back to the League and
League outrages,
The freshest point in this narrative touched
unon finance Out of the total receipts OF the
League. there are half million dollars never ac-
counted fer Why? If you believe Sir Richard
because the use made of this large sum Will not pear
the light of day. No more, i'll his oplnlon' VIII
the relations between Mr. Parnel and his Amerl-
can friends, Mr. Patrick Ford especially III Is 10
them that the Attorney General has been dcVo'-
ing great partuof his speech to-day. lie mas
painted Mr.. Ford in blacker colors than anybody
q
arch-dvnamter and arch-assassin of the party 10
have had anything to do with such man. s'iii
more to have recognized him as an ally ana re-
ceived money from him. ought, in SIT kichards
vie,y 10 be enough to convict Mr Parneli OF COM
nlicitv in crime-nay, the worst offences OF the
Irish League seem to have been, on the present
theory committed in order to secure the support
and subscriptions of the 1rish-American party.
They demanded moneys worth for money, ana
noney's worth in their minds meant outrage ana
crime This part of the Attorney-Generars case
has perhaps been more deliberately worked up IMAM
any other He had not finished 1t when the court
adjourned this afternoon but Will conclude To-
morrow morning.
This four DAYS opening has dispelled all notion
of the plaintiffs case being completed IN tort-
night and the whole business over by Christmas.
The papers are supposed to make no comment on
the proceedings before the Commission Most OF
them had something to say, each from It's 'own
pont of view, the day the Commission opened
Some of them have since written on one poiht or
another of the proceedings, but wlth cauuoh
MANY papers, however,, continue TO publish daiIy
what is in fact comment, criticism ana argument
~ a very marked kind. Their summaries are
nerbans inevitably partisan on one side or the
other Letters, too, appear, and interviews carl
o.,,r.s and lampoons. all tending, as the Judges
,,orId cay 10 prejudice the public mind. No
,o,ioo has vet been taken of these performances
h,, ,bere are hints that objection Will soon be
mod. The Times" continues to advertise ana
ell ;,s namphlets on Parnclsm and Crime and
Che court will probably be asked TO say whether
,ho. ~ itself does not constitute contempt
'""' u G. W. S.