The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1889-06-29
THE MANCHESTER MARTYRS.

THE MANCHESTER MARTYRS.
Where the Pail Mall Gazette Would Stand
on the Question.
In the great assiZe of history we
should prefer to take our stand side by
side with William O'Brien for the share
he can constructiyely be said to have
had in all the outrages of the last ten
years, rather than take our stand with
Mr.. Justice Hannen for the share he
has had in securing the execution of
Allen, Larkin and o Brien. Surely Of all
the strange ironies of history, one of the
strangest was that by which it fell to
Mr.. Justice Hannen's lot to preside over
the special commission before which
was registered the indignation felt by
the whole Irish race at the judicial
vengeance to which he had been Access
sorry. For, although most people have
forgotten the fact, it was MIR. Justice
Hannen-then plain Mr.. Hannen,
counsel for the treasury-wh0 wove the
net in the meshes of which were
strangled three patriots as devoted as
any of those whose courage and self
sacrifice irradlate she history of our
race. When William O'Brien vindi-
Gated the character of these unfortunate
victims Of national prejudice, Mr.. Par
nell and Mr.. Michael Davitt, forgetting
for the moment the reserve which they
have rigidly imposed upon themselves,
cried out repeatedly, "Hear, hear"
"Hear, hear" Mr.. Davitt cried out,
"They are honored by the whole Irish
race" The encouragement having
complained of this interruption-which,
although irregular, was exceedingly
natural-Mr. Justice Hannen, assuming
his severest tone, said: eff knew who
made that exclamation, no matter who
that person be, would order him to
leave the court at once. lam not going
to discuss the question with
MR.. O'BRIEN.
[ need only remind him and everybody
else that in this court, and in this case,
what these men did must be regarded
as murder" No doubt the president
would have been as good as his word.
Nothing but the merest accident, there
fore, prevented the grave scandal Of the
world being called upon to witness the
parliamentary and democratic leaders
OF the Irish race being removed from
court by the tipstatf for honoring the
Manchester martyrs. And by whose
command? BY command of the man
who, in 1855, acting as the sleuth hound
of the trrasury, hunted down these
popular martyrs" and who now, as
president Of the special commission, is
sitting in judgment upon the elected
representatives of the Irish people.
The men executed at Manchester,
whose death cry has sounded the note
for the marching music of the Irish
race, no more deserve to be called muir
derers than Mr.. Justice Hannen him
self; but even if we admit that the
three men executed were justly con-
demned, it must not be forgotten that
a fourth man, Mcguire. against whom
Mr.. Hammer worked as zealously as
against Allen, O'Brien and Larkin, was
also found guilty by the jury, and sent
enced to death by the Judge. Mr. JUS
tice Mellor said. in terms which deserve
to be constantly quoted against all
those who believe IN the infallibillty of
the judicial bench, that s'No person
present at the trial could doubt the JUS
tlce of the verdict, nor could he hold
out any hope of mercy" But the jour-
nalists present at the trial were so con-
WINGED Of the injustice of the verdict in
the case of Mcguire that they memorial
lied the home Office. A special inquiry
was instituted, and it was proved to
the satisfaction of the home secretary
that Mcguire had been unjustly con-
demned. He was, therefore. uncon-
ditionally partloned, and left the con-
demned cell a free man. But for the
action of the reporters he would have
been hanged, and Mr.. Justice Hannen
would have indignan thy denounced any
enc who might have said that he and
the ether counsel for the treasury were
the real Manchester murders. That is
what Irishmen think to-day, and at the
day Of judgment who knows but that
it may be found that the lrishmen are
right?
Mr.. Parnelps Ancestry.
The Parnell ancestry was English.
They were 0riQ1nallY from Cnnolef0n