New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-24
PITCHING INTO BALFOUR.
PLAIN ADVICE AND CENSURE FROM ME-.
PARNELL.
HE DECLARES THAT THE IRISH PRISONERS
ARE HALE STARVED. AND ACCUSES THE
CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND OF
GREAT NEGLECT.

London, Aug 23-In the House of Commons this
evening" in the debate on the prisons vote, all attack
was made upon the tr ament Of Irish political prs-
oners. The Of Mr. COnybearc having been re-
fcrled TO- Mr.. Balfour announced that Mr CohypeaIe
was now cured and the only question remaining was
as to the origin OF his disease. McFadden, he sad'
was the previous occupant Of the cell. th0louSn
examination revealed of disease in the prison
or among the prisoners. At the conclusion OF the
examination he consented the transfer OF Mr. Cony-
beafe 10 another Jail.
Mr.. Blame followed with An account Of his ex-
perience in Londonderry Jail. He declared that sick
prisoners never sent TO the hospital until they
were nearly dying. He had seen Prisoners arrive
suffering from lice. The closets in a filthy
condition. lie and other prisoners had been ex
hbited from the balcony to ladies, friends Of the
officials. lie had meyer complained of his treat
ment, because he knew 1t was useless TO do so.
Mr. Sexton violently attacked Mr. Balfours al
lusion TO McFaddsn. Mr. Balfour, nterpoSing, said
he intended insinuaton Mr.. Sexton, contlnu
ing, described the Londonderry Jail as pest
house, where prisoners contracted fever and wero
thrust out 10 die. He detailed of fever anld
groans from the ParnellItes, who crying, Another
muTder!" There's the assassin" invited Mr. Bal
four to smile.
Mr. Bafour said that long familiarity with such at
tacks induced contempt After adducing statistics TO
show that there was lower of mortality in irish
than in English prisons, he said that the Humanitarian
ism of the Parnellltcs only awakened when their
friends were imprisoned.
Mr. Sexton, complaining of personal attack drew
indirect rebuke from the Chair on both himself and
Mr. Balfour
T. W Russell CUnionsD. member for Tyrone, urged
that in order 20 satisfy the public sanitary en-
gineer be appointed TO inspect the prisons
Mr. Parncll, in his speech, conended that oakum-
picking was il-paid work. and that endcavor was
made TO compensate even for this outlay by reducing
tho food supply. Tie result the permanent en-
feeblement of the prisoners For himself he was
convinced that the Irish prisoners halfstarved
They ought be provided with plenty of rcmuneaNe
work. and should be better fed All the Older prisons
are in bad sanitary condition. He had himself seen
I'm the older part OF Kmanham Jail the liquid sewage
leaking through the foundations of the walls and
bursting into the very yard lie was convinced that
Derry Prison required to be entirely rebuilt. Other
wise its objectionable condition is rcmediabe. The
medical officers tried hide the fact OF the existence
Of fever under the medical of tuberculosis. Mr.
Tafour had been guilty OF cupabe neglect. He was
glad that Mr. Conybeare had been removed, but he
urged the House forget that the humber victims
of Bafour were Liable TO lie stricken at any
moment while Mr. Balfour dispOrted himself Win
charac terlstc nonchaance. He hoped Mr. BalfOur
would give assurance that an engineer would
be appointed lay the truth before the country. Mr.
Balfour would find that HIS procedure would only
strengthen Irishmen I'm their determination not 10
yield. Mr. Balfour did not compel his pet Belfast
fOrgers TO clean the prison cesspoOls as he dd
FitzgibbOn The Parneites would force this question
until justice was obtained.
The prisons vote was adopted, 113 to 90, and all
the other votes were agreed to.