New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-10
NOME RULE WITNESSES.

Mr. parpelI has retired from the witness
chair without seriously compromising hiuiseiI
or the Irish cause. Once only has his ludg-
mani been az fault. This was when he al
n,itted lat he had made grossly exaggerated
statements in Parliament respecting the reduc-
uon Of secret societies effected by the organiza-
ZION 81 the League. lie had no difficulty sub
seouently in explaining the passages OF his
speeches cited by the Attorney-6enelali ou'
The nonchalance with which he had biurt-
ed out the truth that he had leit )usu-
fed in misrepresenting facts in conducting
his movement undoubtedly produced ali I'M
favorable impression on the judges With TINS
one execution, of which Sir Richard Webster
and the Unionist leaders will be certain to take
advantage, Mr.. Parnelps testimony has been
singulary helpful 10 the Home Rule cause
He has disayowed at every turn sympathy WIN
outrage mongers, murderers, Fenian despers-
does and dynamite conspirators, and has de-
monstrated the political and constitutional char
actsr Of his work as leader and agitator. All
attempts of the Attorney General to confuse
him and TO involve him in contradictions by
confronting him with his own speeches IN
Parliament aud in America have been toiled'
In a straightforward and most explicit way nc
has repudiated the main charge OIL ms oppo-
nerts that there was any connection between
parnellsm and crime.
The prosecution has exposed itself to crltl-
cism by conducting the cross-e1amnanon on
lines tending to misrepreSent Mr.. Farneil
action. This is perhaps one OF the privileges
Of counsel who are employed 70 make out as
strcnp n case as possible for their clients; but
in judicial investigation OF the conduct OF the
Irish members the ordinary devices and tricks
Of n cross-examiner are out OF keeping with inc
non.partisan ends to be accomplished by tho
tribunal. Sir Richard Webster arcbed HIS eye
b-oyS with an expression Of establishment ana
isdaip when Mr.. Parnell boldly admitted that
n. certain stage Of the Home Rule agitation
he deliberately misled the Commons; but he
has himself been guilty Of similar otence IN
producing extracts from the Irish leaders
speeches in America, and in enuu1eraung the
Fenians and Extremists prominent In his auoi-
ences. II was a shrewd manoeuyre to select the
most compromising passages and to identity
him nom:aally with leaders of the physical
force, nary but il was unfair misleading and
nartisan TO ignore the general tenor Of those
sneeches and to suppress the fact that ninety
ont Of every hundred Of Mr.. ParnelPs sympa-
thizers and supporters in America were unihs-
| taISably in favor of constitutional rather than
| revolutionary action. Similar structures may
he passed upon the Attorney Generals attempt
to impIicate the Irish leader in giving assistance
| N two Of the Phoenix Park assassins II Sir
Richard Webster were not legal officer Of the
| Crown. or il the Commission were not an
extraordinary tribunal designed to deal equ-
tabIy with members Of Parliament whose pubic
| conduct has been challenged, the usual arts Of
| the cross-examiner might escape scrutiny. AS
| il is, the prosecution and those who instituted
| il are compromised by such displays OF par
| tisanship.
| The Protestant leader has given place ou the
witness-stand to Archbishop Walsh, one Of the
most patriotic Of the Irish prelates de has
| corroborated Mr.. ParnelPs statement that the
| Land League condemned outrages, and has as
serted that many priests became members OF
the organization with his full approval. lie has
lent his high authority to the denial that Par
nelism had anything to do with crime. On
| the contrary, ID had substituted constitutional
forms OF agitation for revolutionary agencies
| and criminal excuses. and had involved dla
appearance Of secret societies from the island
The defence was fortunate in securing so ais
tinguishsd prelate as the Archbishop as one o.
the chief witnesses for the Home Rule cause
No man in Dublin has had larger facilities fol
acquiring precise information respecting tn
operations Of the League and the tendencies O
recent political agitation. His vindication O
the Protestant leaders reputation is Withou
qualification or reserve.