The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-07-04
DAvITr FAvoRs FORCE.
He Don't Want to Take Too Much
Risk, However.

LONDON, July 3.-Mr. Davitt continued
his testimony before the Parnel commission
to-day. He stated that he would not object
to joining any movement to secure the in
dependence Of Ireland if such a movement
was backed by force strong enough to
Justify the hope of its success. Mr.. Davitt
said he did not approve of the Clerkenwell
explosion. He regretted the attack upon
the prison van in which a brave policeman
was killed, hut applauded the men who
made the attack for trying TO save their
friends. While in prison he concluded that
movements by secret societies would do no
good, and when released he held a con-
ference with the leaders OF tile Irish Re
publican Brotherhood in Paris regarding
the advisability Of an open movement.
ONLY ONE NAME DIvULGED.
Matt Harris, one of those with whom he
conferred. had given permission for his
name to be divulged, but at present the
witness could not divulge the names of the
other Irish Republican Brotherhood leaders
without their permission.
Chief Justice HanRen said that Attorney
General Webster was entitled TO press the
question az TO what others were present,
but could wait until the end of the eXamina-
tion to do So
The witness further said that he failed to
win the Irish Republican Brotherhood lead
ers to approve Of the adoption of an open
movement with the exception of Mr.
Harris. He intended TO make the land
question the stopping stone TO the indie
pendence of Ireland, treating landlords as
an English garrison. The leagues land
programme, the witness said, had now be-
come the programme Of the Tory govern
ment [Laughterl
DISTRIBUTION OF FIRE ARMS.
Mr.. Davitt refused to say whether or not
James OKelly, NJ. p. for the north division
OF Roscommon, had been engaged to dis
tribute firearms, and declared that he did
not know whether the trustees of the skir-
nishing fund--Dr. Carroll, Breslin, Luby,
Dewey, Burke and Rosa belonged to the
Clan-na-Gael. There is hue aud cry
against the Clan-na-Gael in America for
political purposes. The witness declared that
he must be careful of what no said, but
he would say that they are all extreme
nationaists. Mr.. Davitt said that many
persons opposed his scheme on tho ground
that if the people became tenant farmers
they might become lukewarm in the cause
of Independence.
A majority Of tho people then opposed
Fenlanlsm and secret societies. The Irish
Americans objected to the scheme, holding
that it would give politicians too much
power. The witness had converted many
nationalists TO his views.
Attorney General Webster read resolu-
tions demanding the overthrow Of British
domination and tho establishment of an
Irish republic.
Mr.. Davitt admitted that he was present
at the meeting in America when the reso-
lutions were adopted. He said that be did
not dissent. He said: 81 am a republican
by principle" The resolutions were cabled
to Mr.. Parnell, but never reached him.
The witness had never discussed them with
Mr.. Parnell. Mr.. Davitt said: "Air. Par
nell and | differ because Mr.. Parnell is
opposed to complete separation, but if he
got his measure through, | would Loyalty
support it. IL he was successful the demand
for separation would eventually die.n The
witness said he had made fifty speeches in
America in which he asked the extremists
to fairly try Mr.. Parnell's movement. The
league was founded MS the peoples league
10 got into the hands Of politicians The
witness disapproved of the appeal to
fund which Attorney General Webster
had read. The witness never ap-
proved Of the skirmishlng fund.
He said that while he was correspondent
of the Irish World he used the expression,
Spread tho light" meaning simply to
circulate the paper. The witness disap-
proved Of much that man signing himself
transatlantic" wrote. Mr Parnell entered
the court room while Mr.. Davitt was testi-
flying, and remained until the session closed.