Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-07-10
STRENGTH IS LACKING.
why Ireland is Not Made Free by Fore,
of Arms.


why Ireland is Not Made Free by Force
of Arms.
LONDON, July 3.--Mr. Davitt continued
his testimony before the Parnell COM
mission to-day. He stated that he
would not object to joining any move
| ment to secure the independence of
Ireland if such movement was backed
by force strong enough to justify the
hope of it's SUCCESS
Mr.. Davltt said he did not ap prove of
the Clerkenwell explosion. He regret
ted the attack upon the prison van in
which brave policeman was killed,
| but applauded the men who made the
attack for trying to save their friends.
While In prison he concluded that
movements Dy secret societies would do
no good, and when [ released he held
conference with the leaders of the
! Irish Republican Brotherhood in Paris
| regarding the advlsability of an open
| movement. Mott Harris, one of those
! with whom he conferred. had given
| permission for his name to be div1leed.
! but at present the witness could moi
dlvulge the names Of tho other Irish
Brotherhood leaders without their per-
mission.
Chief Justice Hammer said ATTORNEY
General Webster was entitled to press
| the question as to what others were
| present, but could wait until-the end
| OF the examination to do 3d.
Witness further SAID that he failed TO
| win the Irish Republican Brotherhood
leaders to approve OF the adoption of an
open movement, with the exception of
Harris. He intended to make the land
question stepping stone to the indie
pendence OF Ireland, treating the land
lords as an English garrison The
Leagues land programme, witness said.
had now become the programme of the
Tory government. Laughter
Mr.. Davitt refused to say whether or
not James O'kelly: member of the
House of Commons for the North Di-
| vision OF Roscom mon, had been engaged
| to distribute firearms, and declared that
he did not know whether the trustees
of the skirmishing fund-Dr. Carroll
and Messrs. Breslln, Luby, Deyoy.
Burke and Rossa-belonged to the Clan
na-Gael. There is hue and cry against
the Gamma Gael in America for politl-
cal purposes. Witness declared that he
must be careful OF what he said but he
would say that they are all extreme
Nationaists
MIR. Dsvitt said that many persons
opposed his scheme on the ground that
If the people became tenant farmers
they might become lukewa in the
cause of independence. majority of
the people then opposed Feniansm and
secret societies. Irish-Americans OBJ
Jected TO the scheme, holding that it
would give the politicians too much
power. Witness had converted many
Nationalist to his views.
Atty. Gen. Webster read resolutions
demanding the overthrow of British
domination and the establishment of an
Irish republic.
Mr.. Davitt admitted that he was pres
ent at the meeting in America when the
resolutions were adopted. He stated
that he did not dissent. He said: ST
am Republican by principle"
The resolutions were cabled to Mr..
Parnell, but never reached him. Wit
ness had never discussed the IN with Mr..
Parnell.
Mr.. Davitt said: "Mr. Parnen and I
differ because Mr.. Parnell is opposed to
complete separation, but if he got his
measure through, | would Loyalty sup
port it. If he was successful the de-
mand for separation would eventually
die'
The League was founded as the Peo-
pies League, Mr.. Davitt said, but it
the1 got into the hands of the poll
tlclans. Witness dlsapproved of the
appeal to Americans to support the
Nationalist fund, which Attorney-Gen-
eral Webster had read. Witness never
approved of the Skirmishing fund.
Mr.. Davitt said that while he was
correspondent of the Irish World he
used the expression "Spread the light"
meaning simply to circulate the paper.
Witness disapproved of much that the
man signing Trans Atlantic" wrote.
Mr.. Parneli entered the court room
while Mr.. Davitt was testifying and re-
NAMED until the session closed.