The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-03-23
FACE TO FACE WITH IRISH LEADERS.
Attorney General Webster Defends
His Course.
His Opponents Questions Make His
Task One Of Difficulty.
Copper stlIi an Absorbing Topic In
European Financial Circles.

LONDON, March 22-In the House Of Com
mons today, Sir William Vernon Harcourt.
during the discussion regarding the Parnell
Commission, declared Attorney General
Webster's Identification with the Commits
sion destroyed the impression that the gov
ernment would be impartial, and added
weight to the Times's charges. If the At
torney General had not advised the govern
ment, Parliament should not vote salary
for services he had not performed. He con-
demned the Attorney Generals apology for
the ,Pigott forgeries as mean, contemplate
and disgraceful, and expressed tine hope that
he would make better apology.
Attorney General Webster replied that but
for the duty he owed those who trusted him
he would not notice the charges made by
Harcourt III he was capable of the conduct
imputed to him, he would be a disgrace to
the English bar He was private counsel
fer the Times, and 1t was immaterial wheth-
or he was right or wrong In assuming that
position. 1t was doubtful whether he had
been prudent.
Mr.. Redmond's motion to reduce the At.
torney Generals salary was rejected. 286 to
206.
Sir William wanted to know whether the
Attorney General had the letter in which
Pigott admitted his inability to stand cross
examination. Ii Mr.. Soames had the letter,
and kept it from the knowledge of the At
torney General, he had no hesitation in say
ing that the name of Soames ought to be
stricken off the rolls.
In the course of the Attorney Generals
reply the chairman called upon Xavier
OBrien to retire for interrupting. Mr..
OBrien denied that he had opened his
mouth. The chairman repeating the order
70 retire, Mr.. Pinkerton corroborated Mr.
O'Brlen. /. p. 0Connor protested against
the chairman's putting lie to the honorable
member without inquiry. The chairman ac-
cepted the disclaimer, adding that Mr.
O'Brien could not deny that he had repeat
edly Interrupted, and warned him not to re-
peat the conduct.
The Attorney General declined absolutely
to say whether he had advised the govern
ment on any point. He had never vouched
to the government for the authenticity of the
letters. Harc0urt's argument that counsel
ought to satisfy himself of the accuracy
OF the statements witness would make
was preposterous. de accused Harcourt Of
asking questions because he knew certain
section OF the press was only too ready to
turn his suggestions into accusations. Re
garding Pigott, the attorney general, argued
that he had no right TO keep him from the
witness box because he said he could not
stand cross-examination. He informed the
Commission and put Pigott's letter in Sir
Pigott went into the box. Loud ministerial
cheers. He protested strongly against Sir
Williams references to Mr.. S0ames who was
not there to answer to the charges. In regard
to Sir WIlllm's statement that the Times
apology had been written by pettifogging,
ccozening knaye, that knave stood before
them at the present moment. GConserv-
ative cheers.l He asserted to the
gentlemen opposite that all the
charges made against him failed to give him
the slightest anxiety or a s'eepless night.
Mr.. Parnell said that if Lord Salisbury
still chose to pin the relic of his faith to the
letters the consequences would be upon his
own head. In the witness box, Mr.. Parnell
had testified that he had neither signed,
written, authorized nor know of any of the
letters. The attorney general had not ven
tured to put a single question. Was there
any member who ventured to express doubt
now that the letters were forgeries?
Loud cries were heard for Fowler who.
Mr.. O'Connor said had expressed doubts:
Mr.. Fowler did not respond, whereupon Mr.
OConnor exclaimed, Hes a cowardl" but
subsequently Withdrew the expression at the
request of the chair.