Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-02-17

seutatiNcs OF criiniiai classes ana irish POM
ical prisoners. even if it takes a coroner
jury to announce the distinction"
Reverting to the failure of coercion he de
elared that the crimes act had not stampct
out single village club; that the plan o
the campaign was uncrippled: that ever,
evicied tenant was restored, and every shil
ling of law costs incurred had been repaid a,
indemnity by the landlords. (Cheers.)
Stuart, repeating the Doping story, said
that he may not have intended to shoot, bul
his conduct was calculated to lead to breach
of peace. Sir Richard Webster, Attorney
General said that o'Brien's speech was
doubtless animated by some real passion, bu,
it was impossible to doubt that there was q
good deal of acting about it. Interruptions
from the Irish members.) At any rate, if il
was not acting, it was neither more nor less
| than Indictment to violation of the law. Ire
newal of Interruptions
| Proceeding TO defend the administration
of the crimes act Sir Richard said that the
question was not whether the branches of
the league were suppressed, but whether
| they ceased TO operate. 1t was certain they
didn't now expose their men to popular
odian as before, and in fact that the meet
ings were held secretly was itself a great
gain for the law and order. His view was
that the government of the league was
to a great extent crushed. daughter from
the Parnellites.) A passage at arms then
occurred, Dillon accusing the Attorney Gen
eral of limiting that Parnellites suggested
the committing of crime. The speaker was
then appealed to, but il was decided that he
was unable to interfere. In the course of
his speech, Sir Richard was interrupt
ed MANY times by Parnellites.
Morley took the floor and commented upon
Balfour's silence regarding O'Brien's charges
though he had risen once 10 repel them.
Cheers Amid loud cheers from the Par
nellites. Morley described Themas Russell,
member for Tyrone, as spokesman of the
rump ascendant party in Ireland, which went
about beating an Orange drum in one hand,
while he plucked at the sleeve of Monsignor
Persico with the other.
Sir Richard Webster said the question was
whether the government was right in enforc-
ing an act which Parliament passed, but the
question on the other hand was, were they
administered with tact and fairness, or rashly
id harshly with view to crushing the
league Donations fora fortnight amounted
to 232 pounds at the beginning of 1885 to
400 pounds at the beginning of 1887, and $50
pounds at the beginning of lsSS. While
the plan of the campaign continued, it was a
growing success. Surely it was strange
doc trine that ii was good thing to increase
the tendency of lrishmen to support secret
societies which have been the bane of the
country. Cheers He condemned outrage
perpetrated upon the dignity of the House
Friday by the arrest of two members. In
his opinion parliament would have TO consid-
er whether immunity from arrest in civil
processes, enjoyed by the sitting members
should not be extended to include criminal
processes, except in grave cases such as
treason or felony; also whether political
prisoners should not be relieved of the ne
cessity of mingling with ordinary criminals.
He thought neither the House nor electors
desired that men innocent of dishOnorable
crime should be compelled to herd with com
mon criminals (Cheers.) The government
professed to be contending against the tyran-
ny of the league. In reality they were con-
tending against the opinion of the country,
and by their coercion were driving hundreds
and thousands of citizens of the middle class
who hitherto refraned from politics,
to rally to the Nationalist cause.
The Irish would be loyal when they had in
stitutions worth being loyal to. How could
they be expected to be loyal to parliament
that never granted them single boon ex-
cept as the result of successful agitation.
In congratulating himself Oh the success of
coercion Balfour was in tide same FOOLS para
disc that Forster and Lord Spencer had been
in.
On motion of Balfour the debate was ad-
journed.
The House agreed to Lord Randolph
Churchill's amendment to the address asking
that special commissioner be appointed to
inquire into the board of works scandal