The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-05-29
WOULD REBEL IF HE COULD
o'BRIEN BEFORE THE Commission
The Fearless Editor of Omitted Ireland
Concludes His Testimony-He Admits
the Writing of Several Letters
Gladstone Present.

LONDON, May 23.-Mr. Gladstone was pres
ent at the session of the Parnen commission
to-day. The cross-examination of Mr.. William
O'Bren was continued by Atty. Gen. Webster
Mr.. O'Brien declared that United ireland (his
paper worked according TO constitutional
methods and advocated nothing but peaceful
means to attain the end sought by the Irish
parliamentary party. He admitted writing an
article, which had been printed in United Ire
land, in which it was stated that Queen Vic
toria was only known in Ireland by her scarcely
decently disguised hatred of Ireland and by her
inordinate salary. He also admitted having
written another article declaring that Earl
Spencer would be the last strong Englishman
who would attempt to rule Ireland by barbar-
ism, paid perjury, butchery and the use of the
sacred rope. He admitted the authorship
also, of an article declaring that the chairman
of the committee selected to receive the prince
of Wales on the occasion of his visit to Ireland
would be hunted from public life.
Continuing, Mr.. O'Brien said he personally
had never spoken disrespectfully or Extensively
about the prince of Wales. No people, he de-
clared, ever suffered more for loyalty than
Irishmen, and none profted more by their
protestations OF loyalty than the people who
pressed them. II 1t was clear that England
would not satisfy the aspirations Of Ireland,
and if there was any rational chance of success,
an attempt should be made to rebel. He de-
clared that the London papers were more re-
sponsible for the actions of the dynamite party
than was either Finerty or Ford. But for the
views those papers had expressed $1,000 would
not have been collected in America for the
dynamiters.
Referring to articles concerning the queen
and the prince OF Wales, previously mentioned
in his testimony, Mr.. O'Brien said they were
justified at the time they were written, but
were not justified in the present state OF the
lations between England and Ireland. The arti-
cles were not intended TO calm the peoples OBJ
iections TO British rule as then administered.
He thought British rule hateful then and he
thought il hateful now. The Parnellites, when
the visit of the prince of Wales was under dis
cussion by the authorities, passed resolution
advising the people that the visit was not in
tended for party purposes, and should not be
made the occasion for trouble. This action of
the Parnellites resulted in creating a feeling of
calmneSs in public opinion. The prince OF
Wales was allowed 10 pass throughout Ireland
untroubled until the Times published articles
declaring that his visit had crushed the power
Of Mr.. Parnell. 1t was then thought desper-
ately necessary to show Englishmen that this
was a mistake, and that the princes visit was
being used to strike down the Irish cause.
Mr.. O'Brien explained that when he made
are in a state of civil war tempered by
scarcity OF firearms" he was exasperated by his
expulsion from the house of commons and
spoke under intense feeling, caused by the
fearful hatred displayed by the majority OF the
house of commons against the Irish members
of that body. lie declared that if any people
ever had the right 10 rebel the Irish people
then had the right, if there WAS any chance OF
success.
Atty-Gen. Webster interrupted the witness
at this point, saying: you only objected to
rebellion because it was hopeless"
Mr.. O'Bren-"In the circumstances of the
time, unquestionably. Violent language could
have further inAamed the peoples mind
against England. Their minds have become
like a lightning conductor when the air is
charged with electricity"
Mr.. O'Brien justified certain articles written
by him and printed in United Ireland to illus
trate the brutal argument that because the
English people numbered 30,OO0,000 and the
Irish people 100000, the English were entitled
to do as they liked.
Atty.-Gen. Webster quoted from an article IN
United Ireland headed ALLEN, Larkin and
O'Brien Honored by Their Chicago Kindred
and asked the witness whether it referred 70
the Manchester murderers.
Mr. O'Bren replied "Not murderers, but
men engaged in open warfare who shot pO-
liceman by accident"
The Attorney-General-"The shooting at
the police in van at Manchester was legiti-
mate warfare"
Mr. O'Brien-"It was not criminal. Men who
openly take risks TO release their comrades are
no more murderers than anybody here. They
acted from the highest and noblest motives"
Atty.-Gen. Webster holding up a paper
'Do you see the heading, Allen. Larkin 4
O'Brien hOnored by their Chicago kindredr
Mr. O'Bren-"Yes; and the article was writ
ten by me-"
The proceedings were here interrupted by
cries OF "hearp hearw
Atty. Gen. Webster-"Why those 'hearsT"
Presiding Justice Hanen threatened that If
order was not maintained he would have the
courtroom cleared. He said he understood
that Mr.. O'Brien did not consider the shooting