Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-02-11
FOREIGN intelligence.
PARLIAMENT.
Chief Secretary BalfOur Presents to the
Common a Statistics in Favor
Of Coercion.
John Morley Replies and States
Some Reasons Why the Statistics
SO Show.
House Of Commons.

LONDON, req. ~.
In the Commons this evening the Rt. Hon.
Sir James Ferguson, Parliamentary Secre-
tary, for the foreign office, referring to Eng
lands position towards the European powers
said that no agreement pledging any materi-
al action by the country had been entered
into with any power. BY material action he
meant military responsibility.
The Rt. Hon. A. J. Balfour, Chief Secre-
tary for Ireland, continuing the debate on
the address in reply to the Queens speech,
commented on the changed tone of Glad
stone, as manifested in his speech last even
ing. Where, he asked, was the impassion-
ed orator who used all the resources of rhe-
toric to infiame the public mind against the
law and against the policemen. Gladstone
here interrupted the speaker saying there was
not an atom of foundation for such assertions.
Balfour, continuing, recalled the melting Ian
guage in Gladstone's Nottingham speech and
said that he didn't complain of, but rather
congratulated Gladstone on his change of
tone He would have liked it if all the
speakers of the opposition had followed
Gladstone's example, aud he would have
liked it still better if he had refrained from
attending the meetings of the Irish tenants
conniving at violence against the officers
of the law. Grave reflections had been cast
upon resident magistrates in Ireland. 1t was
true that they were dependent for appoint
ment upon the executive government, but
out of "A total of 73 magistrates whom Earl
Spencer had appointed, he had approved of
only 60 when he revised the list. Referring
to statistics he said that the number of per-
sons tried under the crimes act was 659, 229
of whom had been acquitted. In 1856 the
number of agrarian offenses reached was
~ l.. H.,
total number of cases of ordinary crime
reached was 1868 in 1886. In 1887 it was
1868. The number of agrarian offenses for
the six months ending January, 1887, was
was 455. For the same period ending JAN
uary, 1888, 364, or a decrease of 80 per cent.
The statistics of boycotting especially showed
striking results under the crimes act. The
number of persons boycotted at the end of
July, 1887, was SO; now it was only POS.
The governments efforts to protect persons
from boycotters had been notably successful
in the counties of Claire and Kerry, where
the national league had been suppressed.
Those people who are now travelling in Ire
land declared the condition of the country to
be greatly improved. The judges charges
confirmed this opinion. The government
was engaged in an old struggle. Never be-
fore had ~ government arrayed against it
forces recognized by opposition.
CHEERS from the Irish members) He con-
demned that mendacious vituperation re-
sorted to by certain members of the oppos-
ton and said that it was blemish
on their political life and ought
to help no cause. He claimed that the
figures adduced justified c,'ertion and
proved the governments policy to be sue
cessful. (cheers)
John Morley said that the House could
which he administered coercion. (Parnellite
cheers) Regarding the Irish criminal sta
tisties, he said that the period showing the
decrease of crime, included SIX months of
calm, during which eviction notices could
not be executed. The diminution in boy
cotting is due, not to coercion but to the en-
tirely changed state of feeling deeper sense
of the responsibility toward the liberal men,
bers who were co-worker. with the Irish, to
obtain justice for ireland. (cries of hear,
hear
Edward Harrington, member from West
! Kerry, (Nat.) called Baifour's speech "a
choice example of his mendacity."
The Speaker called upon Harrington to
withdraw the expression. Harrington acaui.
esced and he said he did so only under com
mand.
| Harrington continuing. said the govern.
ment manipulated the figures relating To
crime every body conversant with the state
| of affairs in Ireland knew that the magis
| trates who administered the crimes act, did
all they could to intimidate the people.
| Parnell moved an adjournment. The mo
ton was agreed to.