Morning journal and courier., 1888-07-25
News by Telegraph
FROM ALL QUARTERS.
LABOUCHERE RESUMES
Serious Charges Against
The Government.
CHAMBERLAIN REPLIES.
The Debate Continued At
Length.
SAD CASE OF DROWNING.
A Disastrous Fire In
Springfield
SAD CASE OF DROWNING.
Disastrous Fire Ii
Springfield.
THE mIToHELsTOwN DEBATE.

bate on the commission. He said that he
had as low an opinion of the Times as most
people could have, but not so low as that of
Mr., Matthews, who seemed to think that the
Times would plead the right of privilege re-
speeding a certain letter on the ground that
the letter had not been published in the
Times, but only read by Mr.. Webster, the
attorney general, in the court during the re-
cent trial of Mr.. O'Donnell. The commits
sion, he said was not as good tribunal upon
these matters az Parliament. No three
Judges on the bench could see or so well ad-
Indicate these questions as those of commons.
The commission had the power to rectify any
ruffian who would criminate himself, proVid-
ed he was accommodating enough to inerimi-
nate someone else. It was fishing commits
sion intended to evade the real issue to be
decided. The circumstances should show,
for instance, that Mr.. Egan and Mr.. O'Brien
'conld not appear. Yet in their absence the
commission was to investigate their conduct
Mr.. Matthews said the widened scope of the
inquiry might reveal some undiscovered
murder. Did that mean the members of
Parliament against whom the bill was direct
ed were murderers? (Hearl HearD Would
the House tolerate these insinuations.
Could they suffer the commission to
begin the inquiry without the charges
being strictly specified and without the usual
safeguards for the accuseda Never was the
effrontery of the government so complete as
when they said the commission was granted
at the request of the Parnellites, while in the
meantime the government was arranging with
the Times what sort of commission should
be proposed and what ought to be the scope
OF the inquiry. The commission bill was
actually framed by the Times and promoted
by the government in order to divert atten-
ton from the mischievous proceedings in
Ireland. The opposition wanted an inquiry,
but it was into the conduct to the govern
msnt. They wanted to know about the muir
ders at Mitchelstown and about the murder
of Vaudeville. He had proposed moving that
the commission bill receive its second read
ing that day six months hence, but Mr.. Par
nell was anxious to come before any tribunal
and urged him to Withdraw the motion.
Mr.. Chamberlain said that Mr.. Labouchere
had developed his wonted cynical vein in
imputing to his political opponents mean and
unworthy motives. Many members were
now incredu1ous and the charges against Mr..
Parnsll still deserved the fullest inquiry. He
himself had sat beside and co-operated with
Parnel1 and had formed an opinion of his
character for honesty, sincerely and patriot
ism which would make him slow to accept
the charges against him. He had been active
in securing the release of Mr.. Parnell from
Kilmsinham Jail. The only thing that could
shake his confidence was Mr.. Parnells reluct-
ance to face the charges. (Cheers) Mr..
Parnell felt that he could not trust an
English Jury. That distrust was not
shared by English or Scotch members. An
English jury might be trusted to do justice.
If not Mr.. Parnell could have gone before a
Dublin jury. (Hear, hear.) 1t was surpris-
ing that he did not do SO. It was more sur
priaing that the Parnellites sought to curtail
and hamper the inquiry. This was an ex-
traordinary judicial proceeding. If it was re-
stricted 1t might be used to shield guilty
parties Mr.. Parnell and his friends were
charged with completely with great crimes.
How were they to show themselves
innocent unless the inquiry covered
House of Commons and persons
outside who were accused of crimel
Regarding the statement that it was neces-
sary to formulate definite charges against the
Psrnellites he said that specific charges would
be made, the government being party to
the Indictment, and whatever the Parnellites
might say in the heat of debate, ne did not
believe that they thought the government a
party to the accusations of the Times. (Cries
"Oh, ohm The Parnellites, Mr.. Chamber
lain continued, ought not TO grudge pro-
longed inquiry to bring out truth. 1t would
be an expensive undertaking, but in the
event of q conclusive judgment the govern
ment ought to allow q reasonable part of the
expenses to be paid by the nation.
Sir William Harcourt held that in the de-
tense of the bill offered in behalf of the gov
eminent there was the least possible refer
ance to the letters which were the occasion
for demanding an inquiry. The governm emit
evaded the question in regard to these letters
and tried under the cover of an inquiry to
make an attack upon their political oppon-
ents. IF the Judge were to act upon judicial
principles in conducting the inquiry the
charges must be specific. It was a Judi
cial tribunal who were to be arraigned and
what were the accusations they were required
| to meetl If Sir Richard Webster believed
one charge that he had tried to fix upon Mr..
Parnell as counsel for the Times, it was
/ his duty as attorney for the crown to
indict Mr.. Parnell. Proof that he
1 did not believe the charges was found in the
/ fact that he had not advised the government
| to risk prosecution. Nobody in Sir Rich
| ard Webster's position had ever taken such
| an extraordinary course. This course was
| entirely contrary to the traditions of the bar.
| The object was to blast the reputation of the
1 leaders of the Irish party. Parnellite cheers.
| Would Parliament assent to an inquiry which
| implied simply an endeayor to ascertain
whether the hocus-pocus speech of Sir Rich
/ ard Webster had q basis of truthi Was Mr..
1 Smith prepared to answer the charge that he
/ had had personal interview with the pro-
| prietor of the Times and had arranged the
| charges against the Parnellites and agreed to
1 the appointment of commission to be work
| ed as q subsidiary agent to the coercioni
| (Heari HearD The crimes alleged against
| the Parnellites were chiefly mmitted during
the Liberal administration.
The opposition objected to the present form
| of the bill. As now framed the bill was vi
olation of every form of Judicial inquiry and
| thoroughly unfair to the accused, and it must
! be amended. The solicitor general for Scot
4 land reproved the previous speaker for his
/ imputations upon the competence of the
commission. He had fagrantly misrepresent'
position afraid of the widest inquiryi If the
i Parnsllites were acquitted the aequittal
| would restore them to the ranks of good
men. Until acquitted they stood stained and
suspected.
n. M. Healey denounced Sir Richard Web
star for making q series of infamous charges
and then declining to prove them. Patrick
| Ford was as honest man as Sir Richard
he ought to say an honester man. The Irish
members must decline to submit to fishing
inquiry. They wanted definite charges
The inquiry to be effective must be definite
| Several other members having spoken, Sil
Richard Webster that the part he had taker
in the O,Donnell case preluded his taking
| part in the debate. In regard to the charges
| against him, he was content to leave his con.
duct to the Judgment of those who had had
| experience of him in his profession
he thought it right, however, to state tina
| every step in the action he had taken wa
after consultation with, and with the ful
concurrence of Sir Henry James. (ShoutI
ssOh, ohHD He was quite prepared for thos
| cheers, but he was not ashamed to own tina
| he had taken advice. Sir Henry James hac
had experiencs. Upon him (WebsteD reste'
the responsibility in the matter. He pro
oeeded to explain that after Mr.. Reugg, o.
Donnell's COUNSEL had made prima faci
. case he (Webster) was compelled to open tn
whole of his case In reply, and then fully ez
| pected to have to prove it in detail. In re
peIling Sir William Harcourts attack, whic
he characterized as unjust, he said he shout
have been unworthy to be a member of th
bar if he used information obtained as cour
sci fer the Times to institute prosecution
| his official capacity.
Mr.. Parnell, who upon rising was receive
| with cheers, said: sfAre we to understan
!. that information was put into the hands
I the learned gentle as counsel for the Tim
which is not available for the purpose
public justicef' Shouts of "Oh, OH"
Sir Richard Webster-"This Observable
e 4 does not in the least bear on the matter"