Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1888-08-02
THE PARNELLnrE COMMISSION.
MIR. Gladstone StiM supports the Par
nellites-Mr. Parne1I's Charges To

THE PARNELLHTE COMMISSION.
MIR. Gladstone Stfu supports the Par
\ nellftes-Mr. Parne1I's Charges II
he Sabstantiatea.
LONDON, Aug. 1.-The debate on the Par
\ nell commission bill was resumed in thu
House of Commons to day. Mr.. Balfour
chief secretary for ireland, said that the
speech of Home Secretary Matthews last
night in which he said, "The judges already
had the power to select such of the charges
as they deemed worthy of an inquired" con-
tanned what the government had all along
stated. Mr. Gladstone said the governments
covenant had been entirely and absolutely
changed. He added his party would take
care that the country should understand
these proceedings. (Cheers.) Mr.. Balfour
said that Mr.. Gladstone on the eve of in
quiry had pronounced the opinion that the
Times letters were forgers.
Mr. Gladstone-'I said that was justi-
fed in concluding that there must be mo-
tive for the extraordinary way in which the
letters were not being thrown In the shade. D."
Mr.. Balfour said Mr.. Gladstone's remarks
were most improper. He denied that the
government had altered the bill or changed
their position.
Mr.. Reed, Liberal, offered an amendment
providing that the commission shall inquire
into charges and allegations only in so far a.
the Same may bear upon the charges and al
legations against members.
Mr.. Sexton said he had gathered from the
speeches of the ministers and their supporters
that they only desired an inquiry into the al
legged completely of members with crime. To
include the conduct of outside persons was
Irrelevant except in so far as it might throw
liu1ak fho a6 of
Mr.. Matthews said: "The primary object
of the bill 10 to secure an Investigation into
charges that have properly been described an
q catalogue of melancholy and disgraceful
crimes, regarding which the government
thought it of public Importance that the
whole truth should be known. The inquiry
is not into the conduct of members as mem
bers, but in their capacity as members of an
outside organization. I should have thought
that in order to completely establish their in
nocence they would have desired the inquiry
to be full and complete. Mr.. O'Donnell in d
published letter said that Frank Byrne was
only the agent of more guilty and more
wicked persons"
Mr.. T. P. O'Connor-"Does the right hon.
orable member insinuate that he meant usl''
LCries of order and hear, hesr.l The speak
er called Mr.. O'Connor to order and Mr..
Matthews continued. He said he had con-
veyed no insinuation against anyone. If he
Qao 1uL0QO6O TO uak6 poEbOuAl CQATko uo
would have made them in plain terms.
Sir William Vernon Harcourt said that if
the protraction of the debate on the bill re-
quired any justification, it would be found
in Mr.. Matthew's speech. It was only by
persistent pressure that the opposition were
at last beginning to detect the real meaning
of the bill (cheers.) It now appears that the
governments object in creating the commits
sion was not to give the Parnellite members
an opportunity to clear themselves of foul
and calumous charges, but to inquire into a
political organization. If that were SO why
had not the government instituted the in-
quiry long ago (cheers.) The government,
wishing to escape the responsibility for the
commission, asserted that its formation was
proposed at the instance of Mr.. Parnell, yet
the house were now told that its object was
to inquire into political organization.
Mr.. Healy said he believed the change in
the bill was result of Mr.. Walters visit to
Mr.. Smith.
Mr.. Balfour admitted that the committee
of the cabinet on July II decided to include
land others" in the reference to the commits
sion and the next day the cabinet assented.
If Mr.. Smith in announcing the reference in
the Honse did not read the words 'and other
persons" it was doubtless slip. Mr.. Glad
stone said he thought the conduct of the
ministers in sitting silent when Mr.. Smith
announced, leaving out these all important
words. deserved severe censure.
Mr.. Goschen said he did not think that Mr..
Gladstone in the whole course of his life had
acted as now in declaring to recognize the
truth of minister's words. Not his rhetoric
nor ingenuity of speech could alter the fact
that the intentions of the government from
the first were to include ''ether persons"
Mr.. Gladstone said he had not the smallest
intention to deal with the matter as ques-
ton involving the truthfulness of the gov
eminent, but the statement of the government
was not rational or Ineligible. Sir William
Harcourt said that the whole course of
the government had been a refusal
to accept the words of the Parnellites,
while ready to endorse and promote every
calomny of the foulest kind. (Cheers(.
Would the government now accept MIR. Par"
nelI's denials or proceed to fix upon them
the charges of perjury and falsehoodi If the
members wanted to see the true unfairness
and hypocrisy that lay behind the bill he
commended them to the frank innocence of
Mr.. Coschen's remarks.
The chairman here advised a cessation of
recrimination.
A division. Mr.. Reeds amendment was
taken and the amendment was rejected, pa
to 1914
Mr. Goschen, in the absence of Mr.. Smith,
who was unable to be present on account of
domestic affection, stated that if the bills
were not passed by the close of to-morrow's
sitting he would move that the remainder of
the clauses and amendments be forthwith
put (Cries of "Oh, oh!')