Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-11
TALK In PARLIAMENT.
DEBATE on TIE Address IN REPLY
TO THE QUEENS SPEECH.
Bslfoui's Remarks on Irish Affairs John
korley's and Edward Harrington's
Rejoindsrs-Debste Adjourned.
by Anglo-American cable to the Dispatch.


by Anglo-American cable to the Dispatch.I
LONDON, February l0.-In the House
OF Commons this evening Right Hon.
Sir James Ferguson, Parliamentary Sec
rotary for the Foreign Office. referring to
England's position towards the European
Powers, said that no agreement pledging
material action by the country had oeen
entered into with any Power. BY ma
terlal action he meant military response
bility.
Mr.. Balfour, Chief Secretary for Ire
land, continuing the debate on the adj
dress IN reply TO the Queens speech,
commented on the changed tone OF
Gladstone, as manifested in bis speech
of last evening. Where, he asked. was
the imprisoned orator who used all the
resources Of rhetoric to inhame the pub
Tic mind against law and against police
men?
NJ. Gladstone here interrupted the
speaker, saying that there was not an
atom OF foundation for such assertions.
Mr.. Balfour. continuing, recalled the
melting Language 10 Gadstoue's Noting
ham speech, and said that he did not
complain OF it, 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, and ne would have liked it still
better if they had refrained from attend
ing meetings of Irish tenants aud con-
~ Of
the law. Grave reflections had been cast
upon resident magistrates in Ireland.
1t was true that they were dependent for
appointment upon the Executive Govern
ment. but out of a total OF seventy-three
magistrates, Earl Spencer had appointed
or approved sixty when he revised the
list Referring to statistics, he said the
number OF persons tried under the
crimes act Was G59. Of whom 229 were
acquitted. in 1886 the number of
agraran offences reached total of ,, 1876,
while in 1887 the total was ouly 1887.
The total number of cases of ordinary
crime reached 1863 in 1885, and in
1887 it was 1853. The number
of agrarian offences for six months
ending January, 1897, was $50; and Tor
the same period ending January, 1888. it
was 36i-a decrease Of 30 per cent The
statistics of boycotting especially showed
the striking results OF the crimes act.
The number of persons being boycotted
at the end OF July, 1887, was so,
whereas now it was only 20S. The
Governments efforts to protect persons
from boycOtters bad been notably sue
cessful in Counties Clare and Kerry,
where the National League had been
suppressed. People now travelling
IN Ireland declared that the condition
of the country was greatly improved
and the judges charges confirmed this
opinion. The Gov rnment were en-
gagged IN an old struggle, but never be-
fore had any Government aTayed against
it the forces recognized by the opposi
ton. Cheers from Irish members.
He reprobated the mendacious vitupera-
ton resorted to by certain members Of
the opposition 1t was a blemish on
political life and ought to help no cause.
He claimed that the figures adluced JUS
titled coercion, and proved that the Gov
ernments policy had been successful.
Cheers.
Mr. John Morley said the House
would infer from Mr.. Ballour's speech
the temper in which he administered
coercion. rParnelIite cheers. Regarding
Irish criminal statistics, he SAID the
period showing a decrease OF crime in
cluded the SIX months of calm during
which eviction notices could not be ex-
ecuted. The dlminution of boycot'ing
was due not to coercion but to an entirely
changed state Of feeling, and a deeper
sense of responsibility toward Lib
eral members who were co-workers
with the Irish to sustain justice for Ire
land. Cries Of Hear Hear The
Irish party was now assured that it would .
realize its aspirations If it F.
should ever be deprived Of that hope the .
effects OF coercion in aggrayating social 4
disorders would become painfully appa-
rent. ICheers
Edward Harrington, member for West .
Kerry and n Nationalist, called Blfours .
speech "choice example OF his menla-
city"
The Speaker called upon Harrington
to withdraw the expression. Harrington F.
acquiesced. but said he did so only uu- /
der command. Harrington, continuing, /
said that the Government manipulated .
the figures relating to crime. Every /
body conyersant with the affairs of Ire
land knew that the magistrates admins
tered the crimes act and did all they
could to irritate the people. The Bal
four regime had oppressed the people,
and had tried to suppress those vlndi-
eating the peoples rights but the prin-
cipes OF liberty would be fought for I'M
til they triumphed.
Mr. Parnell moved adjournment Of the
debate, and the motion was agreed to.