The Indianapolis journal., 1889-07-04
DAvITT's TESTIMONY.
His Efforts to Make the Struggle for Irish
independence an Open Movement.

His Efforts to Make the Struggle for Irish
Independence an Open Movement
LONDON, July 3.-Mr. Davitt continued
his testimony before the Parnell commits
sion to-day. He stated that he would not
object to joining any movement to secure
the independence of Ireland if such move
ment 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. but applauded
the men who made the attack for trying to
save their fellow-men. When in prison he
concluded that secret societies would do
no good, and when released he held con-
ference with tho brotherhood in Paris re-
garding the advisability of an open move
ment. Mr.. Harris one of those with whom
he had 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 Hannen said that Attorney
general Webster was entitled to press the
question as to what others were present.
nation to do SO.
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 Harris.
He intended to make the land question
stepping stone to the independence of
Ireland, treating the landlords as an En-
glish garrison. The leagues programme
had now become the programme OF the
Tory government. Laughter;l
NJ nax 70 hath mt
Mr.. James OKelly, member of the House
of Commons for the north division of Ross
common, had been engaged to distribute
firearms, and declared that he did not
know whether the trustees of the skirmish-
ing fund-Dr. Carroll and Messrs Breslin,
Luby, Dewey, Burke and ROssa-belOnged
to the Clan-na-Gael. There is a hue and
cry against the Clan-na-Gael in America
for political purposes. Witness declared
he must be careful of what he said. but he
would say that they are all extreme Ma
tiOnalists.
Mr.. Davitt said that many persons op-
posed his scheme on the ground that if tho
people became tenant-farmers they might
grow lukewarm in the case of independ-
ence. A majority of the people opposed
Fenianispl and secret societies. Irish
Americans objected to the scheme, holding z
that it would give the politicians too much
power Witness had converted many Ma
tiOnalists to his views.
/, Attorney general Webster read resolu-
tions demanding the overthrow of the
British domain and the establishments of an
Irish republic.
Mr.. Davitt admitted he was present at
the meeting in America when the resolu-
tions were passed. He stated that he did
not dissent. He said: IL am Republican
by principle" The resolutions were cabled
to Mr.. Parnell, but never reached him.
Witness had never discussed them with Mr..
Parnell. Mr.. Davitt said: Mr.. Par
nell and l differ because Mr.. Par
nell is opposed to complete separation,
but If he got his measure through,
j would Loyalty support it. If he was sue:
cessful the demand for separation would
eventually die" Continuing. the witness
said he had made fifty speeches in America,
in which he asked the extremists, to fairly
try Mr.. Parnelps movement. The league
was founded as the peoples league. 1t then
got into the hands of politicians.
Witness disapproved of the appeal to the
Americans to support the Nationalist fund,
which Attorney general Webster had read.
He never approved of the skirmishing fund.
Mr. Davitt said that while he was CORE
spondent of the Irish World he used the
expression spread the light" meaning
simply to circulate the paper. Witness dis
approved of much that the man signing 2
himself Transatlantic" wrote.
Mr.. Parnell entered the courtroom while
Mr.. Davltt was testlfying, and remained
until the session closed