The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-02-11
Secretary Balfour.

LONDON, February 10.-In the House
of Commons, this evening, Balfour,
Chief Secretary for Ireland, continuing
the debate on the address in reply to
the Queens speech. commented on the
changed tone Mr.. Gladstone had mani
tested in his speech last evening.
Where, he asked, was the imprisoned
orator who used all the resources OF
rhetoric to inhame the public mind
against the law and against the police =
mer.
Mr.. Gladstone interrupted the
speaker saying: There was not an
atom of foundation for such assertions.
Balfour, continuing, recalled melting
language in Mr.. Gladstone's Noting
ham speech, and said he did not com
PLAIN, but rather congratulated Mr..
Gladstone on his change of tone.
Grave ref ,ctions had been cast upon
resident magistrates in Ireland; it was
true they were dependent for appoint
ment upon the executive government,
but out of a total of seventy three
magistrates, Earl Spencer appointed or
approved sixty when he revised the
list. The number of persons tried I'M
der the crimes act was $50. of whom 229
were acquitted. In 1886, the number Of
agrarian otfenses reached 2,196, while
in 1887 the total was only
1887. The total number Of cases
OF ordinary crime reached 1853
in 1886, and in 1887 it was 1868.
The number of agarian otfenses for the
six months ending January, 1887, was
ass. and for the same period ending
January, 1883. was 3Si. 8 decrease of 30
per cent. The number of persons being
boycotted at the end of July. 1857 was
S07, whereas nov it was only 209. The
governments efforts to protect persons
from boycotters, have become notably
successful in Counties Glare and Kerry,
where a league has been suppressed.
People now travelling in Ireland declare
that the condition of the country was
greatly improved, and judges COM
firmed Ais opinion. The government
was engaged in an old struggle, but
never before had any government ar
rayed against it forces recognized by
opposition. He claimed that the figures
adduced, justified coercion and proved
that the governments policy was sue
cessful. (Cheers.)
John Morley said the House would
infer from Balfour's speech what the
LcLup6T WdS III WuiCu uc dululuISLeTeQ
coercion. Regarding the Irish criminal
statistics he said the period showing the
decrease OF crime included the six
months calm during which eviction
notices could not be executed. The
diminution of boyeottlng was not due
to coercion, but to an entirely changed
state of feeling and deeper sense of
responsibility toward Liberal members,
who were co-workers with the Irish to
obtain justice for Ireland. (Cries,
Hear, hear.') The Irish party was
now assured that it would ultimately
realize its aspirations. II it should
ever be deprived of that hope. the effects
of coercion in aggravating social
disorder would become painfully
Harrington, Nationalist, called Bal
tours speech ''choice example of his
mendacity.
The Speaker called upon Harrington
to withdraw the expression.
Harrington scquiesced, but said he
did so only under command. Harring-
on continued. and said: Everybody
with the affairs Of Ireland
knows that magistrates who admin
istered the crimes act did all they
could to irritate the people. Bal
tours regime oppressed the people and
tried to suppress thos,, indicating the
peoples rights, but the principles of
liberty would be fought for until they
triumphed."
Parnell moved'an adjournment of the
debate. Agreed to.