Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-08-02

Gladstone Makes Violent Onslaught on
the Government.
'CopTfgH. 1883. by lte California Associated Press;
LONDON, August 1st-In the House of
Commons this evening the debate on the
Parnell Commission bill was resumed.
Gladstone made bitter attack on the Gov
ernment, and severely denounced the con-
duct and policy of Balfour, Matthews and
Goshen.
During the delivery of this philippe
there were some exciting scenes in the
House.
The Government announced that at |
o'clock on Friday morning, if the debate
on the bill was not finished, the closure
would be applied.
SYNOPSIS OF THE DEBATE
LONDON, August 1st.-On the resumption
of the debate in the House Of Commons
today on the Parnell Commission bill,
Balfour, Chief Secretary for Ireland, said
that the speech of Home Secretary Mat
thews, last night, in which he said " The
Judges already had the power to select
such of the charges as they deemed worthy
of an inquiry" contained what the Gov
eminent had all along stated.
Sir Lyon Playfair, Liberal. contended
that Matthews had extended the scope of
the bill to an enormous extent.
Playfair added that Matthews now said
the inquiry was into an organization which
induced crime, whereas the House had
been led to believe that the bill was in
tended to enable certain members to clear
their characters.
Bradlaugh declared that Matthews had
made out an absolutely new case.
Chamberlain repeated his statement that
he would have been glad if the range of
the proposed inquiry had been limited, but
he said he had never suggested limit re-
garding persons.
Gladstone said the Governments coven-
ant had been entirely and absolutely
changed.
Balfour said that Gladstones remarks
were most improper. He denied that the
Government had altered the bill, or
changed their position.
Reid LiberaD offered an amendment
providing that the Commission shall in
Quire into crimes and allegations only in
so far as the same may bear upon charges
and allegations against members.
Matthews said the prime Object of the
bill is to secure an investigation into
charges OF what had been properly re-
garded, and Of which the Government
thought of sufficient public importance,
that the whole truth should be known.
"
members, as members, but in their ca
pacity as members of an outside organ
ization. Mr.. O'Donnell, in a published
letter, said that Frank Byrne was only the
agent of more guilty and more wicked
persons.
T. P. O'Connor-" Does the Right Hon
orable member insinuate that he meant
us?" [Cries OF Order" and " Hear !
hearr'1
The Speaker called O'Connor to order,
and Matthews continued. He said he had
conveyed no insinuation against any one.
If he had intended to make personal
charge he would have made it in plain
terms.
HARcoURTs 5 HIT PROM THE SHOULDER.
Sir William Vernon Harcourt said that
if the bill required any justification ii
would be found sin Matthews speech.
| 1t was only by persistent pressure that the
| opposition were at last beginning to detect
the real meaning of the bill. [Cheers.] It
now appeared that the Governments
J not to give the Parnellite members an
opportunity to clear themselves of foul
and caluminous charges, but to inquire
| into political organization. If that were
| so. why had not the Governm ment insti-
tuted an iquiry long ago? [Cheers. The
Government, wishing 70 escape RESPONSE
| bility for the Commission, asserted that its
| formation was proposed at the instance OF
| Parnell, yet the House was now told that
its object was to inquire into political or
ganiZation.
Balfour admitted that the committee of
the cabinet of July 10th declined to include
any other reference TO theCommission, and
the next day the whole Cabinet assented.
If Smith, in announcing the reference in
| the House, did not read the words land
other persons it was doubtless slip.
| Gladstone said he thought the conduct Of
members iE sitting silent when Smith an
nounced the Commission, leaving out all
the important words, deserved severe cen
! sure.
| Sir William Vernon Harcourt said that
| the course of the Government had been q
refusal to accept the words of the Parnell-
ties, while ready to indorse any calumny
of the foulest kind. [Cheers.l
| A division on Reid's amendment was
then taken, and it was rejected-24l 10 1874