The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-02-21
ACROSS THE OCEAN.
Debate in the British House of
Commons
OVER INDIGNITIES TO 0'BRIEN.
GREAT BRITAIN.


LONDON, February lin the house of COM
mons this evening, Mr.. Balfour chief secreta-
ry for Ireland, resumed debate on the address
in reply to the queens speech. He commented
upon the vehement character of Mr.. O'Briens
attack last evening aud said that it all was
nothing but what no Q5alfouD is accustomed
to from the same quarter in weekly attacks in
the United Ireland. His palate for such stuff
was iaded by his having had to consume diet
of the same kind for some time. He had been
told that he took a strange pleasure in the
mere purposeiess human suffering, which to
his languid life impaired delicious excitement.
[I.aughter.l
There was much more said about him in the
same strain. lie consoled himself with the
rejection that the attacks of even worse char
acters had been made upon Mr. OBrien's
present allies. United Ireland, Mr.. Balfour
said, had compared Sir. q. o. Trcveiyn to q
skunk, u cuttleiish and hangman and Mr..
O'Brien had Ike wise drawn comparison be-
tween MIR. Gladstone and Judas lscariot and
for continuous weeks United Ireland has in
simulated; aye, more than insinuatcd, that Mr.
IreVelyan and Earl Spencer had conSpired to
shield men guilty of the most horrible and
nameleSs crimes Cries of hear, hear.
Ny. O'Brien-I never did. stated that the
result OF their miSguidance was to shield those
persons, but never alleged that they did SO
wilfully.
Mr.. Balfour said he could refer to fireworks
of United Ireland to prove his statement
Cries of "quote.''l
Mr.. Balfour replied-"Certainly not"
He said he would never think of sulying his
lips by repeating such language [cheers] as
had been used toward Sir G. o. Trevelyan and
Earl Spencer in July, 1885. Blame from the
source whence such foulness proceeded was in
deed the highest praise. [Cries Of "hear,
hear!"l
Mr.. Gladstone followed Mr.. Balfour. He
said he found little in the chief secretary's
speech that tended to assist them in getting at
the truth of the questions before the house.
There was question whether the conserva-
tive leaders had communicated with Mr. Par
nell on the subj ect of home-rule. The denials
made by Mr.. Bafour did not get rid of the
Irish members assertions. Mr.. Parnell had
stated that he found himself in entire agree
ment with Lord Carnarvon on the home-rule
question. That had not been denied. [Cheers
1t was stated that Lord Carnarvon spoke for
himself; but he was viceroy of ireland at the
time Tor conservative government, which
now held that home-rule in any shape meant
the separation of Ireland from the empire.
Mr.. Gladstone declined to accept, as anthem
tic, government statistics of crime. The
Irish nation and growing English popular
feeling was on the side of home rule. To de-
lay the settlement of the question of this kind
between nations was dangerous in tho extreme.
If resistance to the national voice of Ireland
was pushed too far, those who now guided the
lullIu VI tibb DdtlOu might lose tDelr power
and be displaced by rudcr and more dangerous
spirits. Let the government bethink them
selves and consent to legisate for Ireland, as
they did for England and Scotland in accord
ance with the constitutionally expressed wishes
and permanent convictions of the people, and
thus, at last, present to the world the blessed
spectacle of truly and not nominaliy united
empire. Loud cheers.
Mr.. Balfour's speech has greatly enhanced
his reputation as parliamentary debater He
spoke throughout without heat, but with keen
and deliberate emphasis, that was more effec-
tive than passion. The speech was distin-
guished from previous efforts by the entire abb
sence OF any hesitanoy i'll his utterance.
Mr.. Gladstone's reply was more rhetorical
than argulnentatiye. His voice at times had
renewed symptoms of weakness. While re-
ferring to an extract from q newspaper he
found difficulty in reading tho passage, and
turned to Mr. Morley to help him, when the
latter whispered the cue to the extract. Mr..
Gladstone tried to resume the reading, and
then turned to Sir William Vernon Harcourt
for assistance, after which he said to the house:
'This, regret to say, is not the only point
on which begin to find that warning has been
given me that [ am not so young as l was''
At the end of this touching allusion, SYM
pathetic cheers burst fourth on both sides of
the house.
MI. Gladstone speech isconsidered one of the
finest effort of his parliamentary life. Michael
Davitt, who was in the lobby listening to Mr..
Gladstone, remarked afterWard to Mr.. Par
nell:
1.-THE grand old man is good for fifty years
more.'
Mr.. Parnell replied: eyes, he will live to
witness the triumph of home rule