The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-08-07
BALFOUR DEFENDS THE GOVERNMENT
In an Address Before Thirty Thous-
and People at Tunbridge.
Cases Of Seized British schooners to
be Investigated.
Analysis OF African News Causes a
Feeling OF Depression.

LONDON. August 6.-Mr. Balfour deliv-
ed an address before 30,Oco persons at Tun-
bridge today. He declared that the Irish
controversy was conducted by calumny in
stead OF arguments. The people had been
told that the Parnell commission had been
appointed to crush the governments politi-
cal opponents. He asked how this could be
done II the accused men were innocent.
In the Commons.
In the House Of Commons this evening
Sir James Ferguson, Parliamentary secre-
tary to the foreign Office, stated that Sir
Lionel West, the British minister at Wash
ington had been instructed to request the
United States government to postpone the
sale at Port Townsend Of four British seh0on-
ers pending an inquiry into the legality Of
their seizure. t
Mr. Smith, the government leader, said the
government had received no information
that Justice Day had resigned from the Par
nell commission.
DIscouraging News from Africa. =
The last new from Mr. Stanley has now
been carefully analyzed. with result that
is admitted to be depressing. Reports are
both conflicting and vague; yet 1t is clear
that Mr.. Stanley had not reached Emin
Pacha last April. Where he was nobody
then knew. nor is anything gained by piecIng
out guesses. 1t is, however, believed that
Major Barttellot with 900 men is well an his
way to support his chief. That the White
Pacha is not Mr.. Stanley but DIR. Emin seems
now the opinion Of the best experts.
threatened by the Mahdi, Emin Pacha had
resolved to attack. relying on the known
hatred OF the Mahdi prevailing among his
subjects. There is talk of an expedition
from Wady Halfa. to lend Emin Paeha a
hand, but it Is most unlikely that the Eng
iish government win engage in new war in
the S0udan.
Foreign Notes.
Mr.. Parnell has written to the London
Times, challenging Chamberlain 70 pablish
thellOcal government scheme which is alleged
to be in Parnelps handwriting.
Rev. DR.. Samuel S. Harris, bishop of the
Episcopal diocese Of Eastern Michigan, has
been stricken with paralysis In London.
A despatch from Berlin says the rain still
continues to fall in torrents, but reports from
the provinces say that the floods are begin
ming to subside. Terrible damage has been
done to crops and many head Of cattle have
been lost at KOnigsberg, Elbing and Sagan.
Railway traffic Is Interrupted at C0rlitz and
Br0mberg. Great dBmBge has been done to
property in many places.
There are some very strange stories float
ing about London with reference to the one
absorbing topic In club or home-the Parnell
investigation. A prominent Irish worker
declares that he has come into possession Of
good evidence that the Times people, seeing
now that the Investigation has become an act.
uality instead Of a remote contingency. are
greatly frightened and making strenuous eff
forts to quietly send the men who gave them
the forged letters 20 foreign parts.
A lot Of trouble has been caused In Bull
garia and Turkey by the action OF a party
Of brigands. who looted railroad station on
the new direct line to Constantinople, and
carried of several officials. The brigands, in
addition TO heavy ransoms in hard cash. de-
mand that before they release their prison.
ers there shall be handed over TO them a
lumber Of Martini rifles, with ammunition,
and various other articles.
Immense damage has been caused by vol
canic disturbances in the Lipari Islands. No
details have been received. owing to the fact
that the telegraph lines between the island
and the mainland have been destroyed.
The Dublin court has refused the applica-
tion for writ Of habeas corpus in the case
Of John Dillon.
1t Is reiterated that Justice Day will de-
cline to serve on the Parnell commission and
that Justice Wells will be substituted.