The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-02-28
The london Illness collapse.

Pigott's history shows that he was some
thing more than dead beat 1t seems that
for years he has been picking up his living
by forgery and vending obscene literature.
His character has been such for years that
nobody who knew anything about him
would take his word for twenty five cents.
1t turns out, however, that certain letters
furnished By this man for pay, the hand
writing of which resembled ParneIl's, were
absolutely the only evidence on which the
London Times, the greatest, and hitherto
the most trusted Of the journals of England,
based the charge 1t brought against Mr.. Par
nell OF conniving at, or approving, the assas-
sination of Cavendish and Burke, and the
conspiracy to murder Mr.. Forster, and it has
now been proved by the culprit's own con-
fession that these letters were forged by
him. OF course the case, as far as the chief
charge against Mr.. Parnell is concerned, is
ended, with the complete exoneration Of Mr..
Parnell and the complete discontinue OF the
Times.
The question yet remains to be settled
whether the Times was conspirator or
dupe. 1t is one or the other, and as regards
its influence for many years to come, unless
Its management is changed, 1t makes little
difference which. That is ruined in any
event. A more interesting question
at present Is what effect the col
lapse VIII have upon the government
for the government has been SO closely
Identified with the Times throughout
that 1t will be impossible for it to escape
without a tremendous loss of prestige. and
complete overthrow is one of the possibili-
ties. The alleged Parnell letters, it will be
remembered, were published at time when
one Of the most drastic measures ever pro-
posed for the government Of Ireland was be-
fore the House Of Commons. The measure
was so harsh and SO contrary to English
ideas OF justice that some of the Uniopists
threatened to desert the Tories and vote
against 1t. 1t was at this emergency. when
the government sorely needed votes. that the
letters appeared In the London Times impli-
eating Mr. Parnell and the other Irish lead
ers in murderous conspiracies. Mr.. Parnell
promptly pronounced them forseries, but
his asseverations were unheeded. The wav-
ering members of the alliance were con-
WINGED Of the necessity of the governments
measure, and it went through. Having sue
ceeded by means of these letters the govern
ment became so thoroughly identified with
them that 1t was quite as necessary for it
as for the Times to establish their
gennineness. Hence the govern
ment has been almost as vitality in
terested in the outcome of the Parnell in
quiry as the Times. The Times cause was
Its cause. 1t lent all its influence against
the case of Parnell and in favor of the
case of the Times. 1t did more. 1t broad
ened the inquiry as much as possible
In order to enable the Times the
more easily and the more thoroughly
to discredit the Irish leaders. II lent
Its attorney general, its paid spies, its off,
Gals, to break them down. IL the ministry
itself had been the acknowledged prosecutor
itcould not have made greater efforts to es-
tablish the charges made against Mr.. Parnell
than 1t has done to enable the Times 70 es.
tablish them. The collapse Of the Times
case cannot. therefore, fail to bring disaster
to the government 1t may not resign. It
probably will not, for new election at this
time would doubtless return Gladstoniap
majority. But 1t must inevitably be greatly
weakened. and therefore find the difficulties
of carrying out its programme Of repression
in Ireland vastly increased. In short, If the
victory Of the leaders before the court Of in
quiry does not overthrow it, 1t will draw out
most Of its teeth.