Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-02-18
House Of Commons.

LONDON, Feb. II.
In the House of Commons this evening
Balfour resumed the debate on the address
in reply to the Queens speech. He com
mented upon the vehement character of
O'Brien's attack last evening and said that it
was nothing but what he (Balfour) was ac-
customed to from the same quarter in the
weekly attacks in the United Ireland; that
his palate for such stuff was ,ded by having
had to consume diet of the same kind for
some time that he had consoled himself with
the reflection that attacks of even worse
character had been made upon O'Brien's
present allies. He stated that the United
ireland had compared Treveiyan to a skunk,
a cutie fish and hangman; that
O'Brien likewise had drawn a compar-
ison between Gladstone and Judas Iscarot ;
that for continuous weeks the United
ireland had insinuated that Trevelyan and
the Earl of Spencer had conspired to shield
men guilty of the most horrible and name
less chimes. (Cries of "hear, hear Mr..
O'Brien here interrupted Balfour, saying,
II never did. | stated that the result of
their misguided action was to shield those
persons but never alleged that they did so
wilfully.' Balfour said that he could refer
to the words in the United Ireland to prove
the statement. (cries of quote, quote.
Balfour replied, certainly not" and then
said he would never think of sullying his
lips by repeating such language, Cheers as
had been used toward Trevelyan and the
Earl of Spencer in July, 1885 he declared
that blame from the same source where such
founess proceeded, was indeed the highest
of praise. (Cries of 'hear, hear"
Referring to the allegations that the Earl
8 f,x-a r,I thn hnhl liav -
and had opened negotiations with Parnell
with the knowledge of Salisbury, Balfour
quoted the denials of Salisbury aid Carna-
Won. He said that he hoped these denials
would satisfy Parnell; they would at least
satisfy Parliament. Cheers
Comparing the crimes acts of 1882 and
1887 Balfour maintained that the latter did
not while the former did create new crimes :;
that the Curfew clause of the act Of 1887
aimed to give to the executive better powers
to enforce the existing laws; facts had prov
ed how beneficial was its operations. He
stated that O'Brien had boasted that his
(OBrien's) advice to the people at Mitchells-
town had combined with portion of public
opinion in England, to save the people from
a wholesale eviction. The governments
action, Balfour declared, had been modified
by neither: it was nothing new for the Irish
party to preach res stance to eviction; that
was their policy it had never been disavow-
ed.
O'Brien rose to explain his advice to the
Mtchellstown people applied to special case.
He denied that he had in any other instance
counselled resistance to law.
Balfour referring to the Imprisonment of
members of the House, twitted Treveylan
with making a weak remark to the effect
that it was a sickeniDg thing for members of
/ Parliament to be imprisoned; it was a sick
ening thing that they should deserve it, said
Balfour it would have been much worse
! if the government had given the leading yio-
| laters of the law special privileges to defy
I it with impunity; a childish fuss has been
made about prison clothes which was hardly
worth while noticing: complaint was made
of the letter he wrote during 0'Brien's
/ imprisonment at the time when O'Brien'
+ friends were spreading every kind of calum-
ny regarding his treatment with the object o1
stirring the passions of the British democra
cy; all the letter stated was that O'Brien',
suffering from weak lungs was due to hi:
excitable disposition. Regarding the alleg
ed tortures in the prisons, he requested ths
English Prison Inspectors to make specia
inquiry the result would show the charge,
we're utterly untrue; O'Brien's health has
improved in prison, (Cries of hear, hear,
he was two pounds heavier when he ief
than when he went in.
O'Brien-"That is inaccurate was -fiv'
pounds lighter"
Baifour said he could lay upon the table o
the House official reports on the rise and fal
of O'Brien's weight. (Laughter-)
Turning to the operation of the crimes &C
BaIfour contended that the condition of Ire
land was immensely improved compared witt
the period of Gladstone govern
ment. H.. said the opposition talke'
about the union of hearts policy
doubtless the Irish party meant t