The Portland daily press., 1888-02-17
o'RRIEN SPEAKS.
The Irish Leader Tells British Conn
moners Of His Treatment.
Balfour Challenged to Produce
Proof to support His Assertions.
Various Topics Of Interest from the
Old World

LONDON, Feb. 16.-In the Commons today,
Mr.. Labouchere asked II any despatch from
the British Ambassador at Berlin suggested
that England give assurances TO Italy which
would induce her to enter the Austro-Ger-
man alliance.
Sir James Ferguson, under foreign secre-
tary, replied that he must again decline to
produce the correspondence between the
British government and foreign powers re-
garding affairs in Europe The House
would recognize that at the present time 1t
would be unwise to produce such cores
pondence.
Mr.. Labouchere thereupon gave notice
that he would offer an amendment TO the adj
dress. shat the House be Informed definite
Iy that no correspondence exchanged with
Italy had resulted in binding action on the
British government In the event Of war be-
tween Italy and France, or. II any assur-
ances have been given, that they be commu-
nicated to the House." [Cheersl.
In reply TO a question, Mr.. Ferguson said
he was happy to Inform the House that
telegram from Mr.. Chamberlain reported
that a fisheries treaty had been signed at
Washington. The treaty the government
believed to be satisfactory, although they
were, as yet unaware Of the precise terms.
He said that questions relative TO Alaska
had been discussed by the plenip0tentlary az
Washington, but he was not yet aware OF
Mr. William O'Brien resumed debate on
the address In reply to the Queens speech.
He said Balfour had failed 70 smash the
Irish organization, OF weaken the spirit OIL
the Irish people, or degrade them In the eyes
of the world Affect discontinue and dis
grace had attended the crimes act, the oper-
alton Of which proved 1t 10 be one OF the
most horrible measures ever directed against
human liberties. Regarding his own I'M
prisonment, he said he did not feel wounded
nor In the least degraded. With all his
jaunty bravery, Balfour's conscience was
not as easy as his own; When ne was In
prison, he resented and felt keenly the letter
which Balfour wrote, conveying the stealthy
and loathsOme iDsinuation that ne sheltered
himself whilst In prison under tne plea OF
illness. Now they were face TO lace, ana ne
challenged the government 70 produce tne
prison doctors to prove the truth Of the in
sinuati0n. Parnellite cheersl. IL nad Deen
asserted that the imprisoned leaguerS tried 10
secure distinction between the treatment
given imprisoned members Oh farllament
and that given imprisoned peasants, but
there was not little Of foundation Tor the
assertion. What the imprisoned members
complained Of was the moral torture infilct-
ed upon them, from which ordinary crimi-
asked them to voluntarily acknowledge their
kinship with criminals, they answered, I'VE
will die first. You will have TO- learn the
difference between the representatives OF the
criminal classes and irish poltlcal prisoners,
even If it takes a coroner's jury to announce
Reverting to the failure Of coercion, he de-
clared the crimes act had not stamped out
single village club. Inc plan OF campaign
was unerippled, every evlcted tenant was re-
stored and every shilling Of law costs incur
red had been repaid as an indemnity by the
landlords. [Cheers
Mr.. Stuart, repeating the Doping story.
said that the gentleman may not have in
tended to shoot, bnt his conduct was ealeu-
lated 10 lead to a breach of the peace.
Sir Richard Webster, Attorney General,
said o. 'Brien's speech was doubtless animal
ed by some real passion, but It was impoSsi-
BILE to doubt there was a deal Of acting about
Morley took the floor. and after reviewing
the situation in Ireland, said that In congrat-
ulating himself on the success OF coercion,
Balfour was in the same fools paradise that
Forster and Spencer had been In.
On motion Of Mr.. BalfOur the debate ad-
4journed.
How They LegisIate In England.
The governments new rules Of procedure
provide that the Commons shall sit from
D. m. until a. M, with a dinner hour. The
cloture rule may be applied If there is ma
iority OF 100, instead IF 200 as at present, In
favor of such action. The Speaker may sus-
pend from sitting grossly disorderly MEM
bers The other rules greatly increase the
Speakers powers. Committees to deal with
bills relating TO law, trade, shipping and
manufactures are revived
The Reichstag Excited.
There was much excitement in the lobby
of tho Reichstag today, owing to the rumor
that bill was to be submitted for the pur-
pose of transferring the regency to Prince
William, the eldest son Of the Crown Prince,
in case of the REIMBURSEMENT Of the throne
by the Emperor.
Churchill and the cxar.
The report from St. Petersburg that Lord
Randolph Churchill made proposal TO the
Car for an agreement between Russia and
England, based on mutual concessions in re-
gard to Eastern Europe and Afghanistan. Is
not credited in London. 1t comes by the
way OF Paris, a suspicious channel for Rus
sian news. Lord Randolph was not charged
with any diplomatic duty at st. Petersburg
He had no authority to speak for the En-
glish government. If he raised a question
of foreign policy, 1t was purely on his own
initiative, and represented nothing more
substantial than his private opinion.
Even II proposition for an arrangement
on the terms named were received from Rus
sia in regular form, Lord Salisbury would
not entertain 1t. He will never consent TO
give the Car free hand on Balkan matters
In exchange for tiimsy pledge to refrain
from interference in Afghanlstan. 10 do so
would be to lose the friendship of Germany
and Austria, and to get nothing in return
but a promise Of abstentiOn, which would be
broken at the first temptation. Lord Sails
bury has a profound distrust OF Russia, and
the keynote of his foreign policy Is to main
tain good understanding with the great
powers Of Central Europe.
The Crown Prince.
BERLIN, Feb. 15.-In the Crown Princes
case, the doctors now fear that laryngotomy
will be unavailable. and are discussing
whether the partial or complete removal Of
the larynx will be advisable. The present
treatment will be continued three months,
and the question Of an operation will be de-
ided afterwards.
Mr.. Pyne Injured.
DUBLIN, Feb. 16.-While Mr.. Pyne was
being taken to the depot for conveyance TO
Clonmel last evening" large mob congre.
gated and stoned the police. One Of the
missiles struck Mr.. Pyne on the head, Sc.
verely ininring him. Upon his arrival at
Clonmel, Mr.. Pyne was taken before mag
istrate, who remanded him for week With
out bail, 70 answer the second charge on
which he was arrested.
aiotous Socialists.
ANsrERDAM Feb. 16.-The Socialists Of
this city made demonstration against the
militia law today. The police interfered,
and dispersed the crowds. Several persons
were injured, and number Of arrests made.
--
Not Worth a continental.
belfast Journall
Mr. James II. Pendleton has shown us