Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-03-23
Badgeriing Webster.
The British Attorney General
Harassed by Questions.
GREAT DISORDER IN THE COMMONS.

Ahe SoHu Ohouhst majority Comes up
Smiling, Howevsr-ParnelI Holds Aloof
How Consul Knappe. Late of Samoa,
Misrepresented Germany, Accor riding to
the white BoOk'-The Pope Declines
to Interfere In French Politics-Suffering
Chinese.
mons last evening Harcourt declared that
Attorney General Webster's identification
with the proceedings of the Parnell commits
sion had destroyed the impression that the
government was impartial, and had added
weight to the charges made by The Times.
If Webster had not advised the government
in this matter parliament should not vote his
salary for services he had not performed.
He strongly condemned Webster's apologies
for the Pigott forgeries
Webster said that if he were capable of the
conduct imputed to him he would be a dis
grace to the bar. He had acted in the ca
pacity of private counsel for The Times and
it was immaterial whether he was right or
wrong in assuming the position, although it
was doubtful, he admitted, whether in doing
so he had been prudent
Harcourt questioned Webster extensively
concerning his knowledge of Pigott's letters
The attorney general, he said, would doubt
less now tell the house when he first learned
of Pigotts character and also whether he
was informed when Houston burned Pigotts
correspondence.
Webster said he had never vouched to the
government for the authenticity of the let
tiers. Harcourt ought to know that no coun-
sci ever vouched for the truth of what he
proposed to prove by the evidence Harcourt,
he said, was questioning him because he knew
that a certain section of the press was only too
ready to turn suggestions into accusations
Regarding Pigott he argued that he had no
right to keep him from the witness box be-
cause he said that he couldn't stand cross-ex-
animation. He IWebsterl had informed the
commission of what Pigott had said, and
had put PiSott's letter into the hands of Sir
Charles Russell five days before Pigott went
into the witness box. ministerial cheers
Regarding Harcourt's statement that The
Times apology could only have been written
by pettifogging, cozzening knave, he would
say that that knave stood before him and the
house at the present moment. conservative
cheers.l He could assure the gentleman that
the charges brought against him had not
made him anxious in the slightest degree,
nor caused him to lose a moments sleep
There was much disorder during Websters
remarks and James f. Y O'Brien member
for South Mayo, was several times warned
by the chair to cease his interruption.
Parnell said he should not have interviewed
in the discussion but for the fact that Web
ster's remarks gave faint echo of Lord Sal
isburys equivocal language respecting the
forged letters. If Lord Salisbury chose to
pin the relic of his faith upon those letters
the consequences would be upon his own
head In the witness-box he [ParnelIl had
testified under oath his entire lack of knowl-
edge of any of the letters and Webster had
not veutured to put to him single question
concerning them. what member" he
asked, would now venture to express doubt
that the letters were forgeriesf"
At this point loud cries arose for Fowler,
who, OConnor said, had expressed doubts
that the letters were forged. Fowler did not
appear, and O'Connor said: He is cow
ard"
Subsequently O'Connor withdrew this ex-
preston at the request of the chair, and Red
moud's motion to reduce Webster's salary
was reJeced by a vote of $50 to 206.
Six of the counsel for the Parnellites in
their case before the commission, and also
several lawyers among the Liberal members,
abstained from voting in the division on
Redmond's motion.
The New York Tribune's correspondent
here telegraphs his paper as follows, refer
ring to the persistent cross-eXamination
which the Gadstonians and Home Rulers are
treating the ministers to as to the Pigott
case, O'Brien's prison treatment, etc: Mr.
Parnell holds aloof. He takes no share in
these performsnces-at any rate, no open
share--and | believe, thinks them an entire
mistake There is no pretence that the min
istry try to stifie discussion or refuse in
quiry. Smith has twice challenged the OPP
position to move vote of want of conf
dence, and has offered to give every facility,
ample time, and all the time they want for a
full debate. Questions are answered with
fulness