Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-12
VERY NEARLY A ROW.
Exciting Scene I'm the English House of
Commons.

Cable Correspondence New York Sun
The scene in the house Of commons on Thurs
day night. when Harrington made an effort to
infict personal chastisemeut upon Balfour, was
the first event of that nature that had occurred
since the memorable occasion when Plimsoll
crossed the floor, shook his fist in the face of
the occupants of the treasury bench and defed
that august body to combat Perhaps Balfour
does not realize how narrowly he escaped a
thrashing and parliament a fearful scandal.
The wanton and deliberate insult to Harring.
BON had infamed every Irishman present. and
the first blow that was struck would have been
a signal for conflict that might have involved
the entire house Of commons. Sexton had
already picked out his man in Col Saunderson,
whom he babe prepare to defend himself in a
voice that was heard above the imploring
shouts OF the chairman and the din of the fac
tlons, Healy was ON his feet begging somebody
TO tread on his coat, and the rest of the Parnel-
htes were beginning to turn back their wrist
bands when the badly frightened Clara as the
members of paliament term the lackadaisical
Irish secretary, hurriediy apologized If Har-
rlnstons coat tails had been made of less
strong material, or mad Mahoney, who slid
down the aisle holding them. been a stone or
two lighter, the angry Irishman would have
HAD BALroUR By THE THROAT
before he could have uttered his apology.
So brutal was the affront to Harrington that
not one OF the journals, even of Balfour's own
party, defends his conduct. All circumstances
tended to heighten the insult. Harrington. who
Is big rollicking Irishman, with kind word
for even his party enemies and not a bit of
malice in his moral composition, has only re-
Gently finished six months term in prison.
whittier he was sent at Baifour's instance and
his pale, heavily lined face bears witness to the
suffering he has undergone Harrington will
not talk to even his closest friends of the hu-
initiation he was subjected to in prison, but it
Is known that the amount of his food was re-
dueed while he was preparing his defence for
the ParneH commission, and that by Balfour's
orders everything that was possible to break
the prisoners indomitable spirit was done dur
ing those terrible six months.
BALFoUR STARTED THE STORM
that tossed him by asserting in explaining the
refusal of the notorious Rocne and Col Turner
to subscribe to o race meeting because Har-
rington was one Of the committee that Har-
rington had written Of the police in his news
paper. the Kerry SntiJtel as towards liars and
uniformed bloodhounds. Il was not much of
itself, because the Irish members do not hesitate
70 term the police towards, hars, and blood
hounds, as they are; but in this instance, as it
has been in many others, the statement was q
falsehood invented for the occasion, as the only
means at hand whereby Balfour might excuse
the ruftianly conduct of his allies. Conse-
quently Harrington rose aud demanded to
know in what number of his paper the article
had appeared Balfour fippantly responded
that he made the statement on the best authority,
and went on talking. Harrington interrupted
him to demand what that best authority was,
and the big Irishman's voice trembled with
suppressed passion Balfour, without noticing
the question, went on with his address, and
again Harrington Numbered, what il the
authority? Then Balfour, looking directly
into the face Of the man he had so recently
victinaized and humiliated, made gesture in
oieative Of such utter contempt and scorn, that
Harrington completely lost control of himself.
1t was an insult that cannot be described in
words, but that was not less bitter. The tailor
who put in the stitches that attach the skirts of
Harrington's coat TO the body Of that garment
Is to be credited with having saved the house
OF commons from as pretty a row as ever was
witnessed in . civilized legislature.