The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-02-11
A DEFENSE OF COERCION.
BALFoUR QUOTES FIGURES IN THE
HOUSE OF COMMONS.


mented on-A Nationalist Member
of Parliament Arrested.
LONDON, Feb. 10-The police to-day ar
rested Patrick O'Brien, Nationalist, NJ. p,
outside of the Parliament building, mistak-
ing him for Mr.. Gilhooly, member for West
Cork, for whose arrest a warrant has been
issued. Mr.. O'Brien was taken to the
Scotland yard where he was recognized by
the officials and promptly released The
police apologized to Mr.. O'Brien for his
arrest, but he declined to accept their ex-
PLANTATION and threatens to bring an action
against the authorities.
j. DgPyne, Nationalist member for West
Waterford, was arrested on alighting from
a cab outside of the House of Commons.
He was at once taken to Scotland Yard. He
will be taken to Dublin tonight. Mr.. Pyne
is the gentleman who shut himself up in
L.isfinny Castle id Waterford and defied the
police to arrest him and who afterward
evaded the Irish authorities and escaped to
England.
In the House of Commons today Mr..
Bafour, Chief Secretary for Ireland, con-
tinuing the debate on the address in reply to
the Queens speech, commented on the
changed tono of Mr.. Gladstone as mani
tested in his speech of last evening. Where,
he asked, was the impassioned orator who
used all the resources Of rhetoric to inhame
the public mind against law and against
policemen
GLADSTONE RESENTS 1T.
Mr.. Gladstone here interrupted the
speaker, saying that there was not an atom
of foundation for such assertions.
Mr. Bafour continuing, recalled the in
citing Language in Mr.. Gladstone's Noting
ham speech and said that he did not COM
plain of it, but rather congratulated Mr..
Gladstone on his change of tone He would
have liked it if all the speakers of the oppo-
sition had followed Mr. Gladstone's exam
pie, and he would have liked it still better
If they had refrained from attending the
meeting of Irish tenants and conniving at
violence against the officers Of the law.
Grave reflections had been cast upon the
resident magistrates in Ireland. 1t was
true that they were dependent for appoint
ment upon the executive government, but
out of total of seventy-three magistrates
Earl Spencer had appointed or approved
sixty when he revised the list. Referring
to statistics, he said the number of persons
tried under the crimes act was $50, of whom
229 were acquitted. In 1886 the number of
agrarian offenses reached a total of 2,196,
while in 1887 the total was only 1887. The
total number of cases of ordinary crime
reached 1868 in 1886 and in 1887 it was 1858.
The number of agrarian offenses for the six
months ending January, 1887, was 455, and
for the same period ending January, 1883,
it was 364, decrease of 80 per cent.
BoYCoTTING DECREASED.
The statistics of boycotting especially
showed the striking results of the crimes
act. The number of persons being boy
cotted at the end of July, 1887. was $40,
whereas now it was only POS. The govern
ment's efforts to protect persons from boy
cotters had been notably successful in
counties Clare and Kerry, where the ma
tional league had been suppressed.
People now travelling in Ireland de-
clared that the condition of the country
was greatly improved, and the Judges
charges confirmed this opinion. The gov
ernment were engaged in an old struggle,
but never before had any government
arrayed against it the forces recognized by
the opposition. [Cheers from the Irish
members He reprobrated the mendacious
vituperation resorted to by certain members
of the opposition. 1t was blemish on
political life, and ought to help no cause.
He claimed that the figures adduced jutifed
coercion and proved that the governments
policy had been successful. tCheersl
JOHN MoRLEY's REJoINDER.
John Morley said the House would infer
which he administered coercion. [Parnellite
cbeers.] Regarding the Irish criminal sta
tistics, be said, the period showing a de-
crease of crime included sixmonths calm,
during which eviction notices could not be
executed. The diminution of boycotting
was due, not to coercion, but to an entirely
changed state of feeling, and a deeper sense
4of responsibility toward the Liberal mem
bers, who were co-workers with the Irish to
obtain justice for Ireland. [Cries Of "hear
hear"
The Irish party was now assured that it
would ultimately achieve its aspirations. II
it should ever be deprived of that hope the
effects of coercion in aggravating social dis
orders would become painfully apparent.
fCheers.
Edward Harrington, member for West
Kerry, Nationalist, called Mr.. Balfours
speech "a choice example of hismendacityn
The Speaker called upon Mr.. Harrington
to withdraw the expression.
Mr.. Harrington acquiesced, but said he
did SO only under command.
Mr.. Harrington. continuing said that the
government manipulated the figures res
lating to crime. Everybody conversant
with the affairs of Ireland know that the
magistrates administered the crimes act and
did all they could to irritate the people
Mr.. Balfour's regime had oppressed the peo-
pie and had tried to suppress those vindi- !
eating the peoples rights. But the princi-
Piles of liberty would be fought for until
they triumphed.
Mr. Parnell moved adjournment of the
debate, and the motion was agreed to-
The imprisoned Parnellite members of
Parliament have arranged to resign when
ever Mr.. Parnen desires, in order not to re-
duce the strength of the Irish party in the
House of Commons.
TEXT OF THE AMENDMENT.
The text of Mr.. Parnel's amendment to
the address is as follows: "Humbly to rep
resent TO her majesty that only the remedial
portion of the last sessions Irish legislation
has tended to diminish crime, whereas
repressive legislation has done
much to ALLEVIATE the sympa-
thy and respect of her Irish
subjects for the laws, and that the admins
tration of the crimes act, as well as much of
the general action Of the executive, has
been harsh and partial" The amendment
will receive the full support of the front
opposition bench.
Mr.. Gilhooly was arrested tonight and
taken to prison on foot surrounded by a
large crowd. The police were upabld TO
take the prisoner in a carriage, owing TO
the crowd. Many members OF Parliament
followed the prisoner and tried 20 enter
the jail, but were barred out by the
police. The prisoner viii be taken
20 Ireland early in the morning. Mr.. Par