Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-03
A WILLING WITNESS.
Davitt Gives His Testimony Before
the Parnell Commission.
TIE CLAN-NA-GAEL is ALL RIGHT,
Although Some of its Members May Have
Been Criminals.
PROMINENT IRISH LEADERS IN AMERICA

LONDON, July 2.-Mr. Michael Davitt
was examined before the Parnell Commits
sion to-day. Mr.. Davitt declared that there
was no truth in the account given by LIE
Caron before the commission concerning
proposals of John Dewey being submitted
to Mr.. Parnell. Mr.. Parnell had nothing
to do with witness visit to America in 1878.
Mr.. Davitt stated that while in America he at
tended meetings of the Clan-na-Gael. at which
he explained the object of the Land League,
and tried to win the Clan-na-Gael to its sup
port.
The Clan-na-Gael, he said. included some
of the best Irshmen in America 1t was no
more a murder club than was the Carleton CLUB
of London. There was no alliance between the
Clanna-Gael and the League in Ireland. The
League movement in America won the support
of all the Irish in America to Mr.. Parnell. Mr..
Davitt said he never met a better man as a
philanthropist and Christian than Patrick
Ford. He was very sorry that for a few months
after the League was established Mr.. Ford
openly advocated the use of dynamite.
Witness wrote to him expostulating against
his indorsement of such a line OF acton, and
adopted by Mr.. ParnelPs followers, and now
honestly advocates constitutional agitation.
Witness said he himself was opposed to the use
of dynamite because it was an immoral aud
unmanly style of warfare.
WHEN FORCE IS ALL RIGHT.
He was not opposed to physical force if in
resortng thereto there was reasonable chance
of success. The League did not provide for
the circulation of the Irish World IN ireland.
Mr. Ford sent copies over through the
'spread-the-light fund" and witness paid
the postage. The League did not cir
culate the letter of John Dewey
on a new departure, extracts from
which were quoted by Attorney General Web
ster, counsel for the Times.
Mr.. Davitt said he had known Alexander Sui
nvan since 1873. and had the highest opinion of
his ability a lawyer, his character as a citi-
zen and his honor as a man. He did not be-
lieve him to be capable of any dishonorable
act. Witness returned to Ireland from Amer.
ica in December, 1880. He had then framed
and issued a circular to the Irish people, and
had delivered 80 speeches denouncing outrages.
He believed outrages were due to the agitation
of local agrarian bodies composed chiefly OF
sons of small tenant farmers.
When the witness was released from prison
on May 6, 1852, Mr.. Parnell and Mr.. Dillon had
informed him that they were hopeful of e
change in the Governments policy. Witness
was glad that there was prospect OF agitation
ceasng He disliked agitation and would will
ingly abandon it tomorrow if he saw some JUS
tice done to Ireland He could not abandon it
otherwise.
ONE EPISODE.
In reference to the Phenix Park murders,
Mr.. Davitt said: "Mr. Parnell came to me on
the Sunday following the day of the murders
utterly broken down at the news He said,
'Davitt, shall send my resignation to Cork to-
night. l refuse to stay in the movement when
irresponsible men of whom we know nothing
can come behind our backs and perpetrate
such deeds 1T took all my influence" said
the witness, 'to dissuade him from resigning.
We Immediately had circulated throughout
Ireland manifesto condemnIng the murders.
There was absolutely no ground for the sug-
gestion that or any of my colleagues were in
any way prlyy to the crimes"
MrlDavitt continued: Beyond stating pub
licly in New York in July, 1882 that i had
severed my connection with the revolutionary
body, expressed no dissent of the Fenians. i
did not attend any meeting of the Clan-na-Gaei
in 1850. / believe that murders were COM
mitted by the Clan-na- Gael, but the perpetra-
tors certainly did not have the sanction of the
governing body, nor the approval of the
leaders, When was Organizing Secretary
communicated with the member of the Su-
preme Council for my district"
Attorney General Webster-Who was he?
Mr.. Davitt-I cannot tell you. 1t would be a
gross breach of trust to diyulge his name. If
he is still in business in En- land he might be
ruined If the fact of his connection with the
council became known.
A CHANGE OF WORDS.
The Attorney General said he would not
press the question now, and the witness, con-
tinuing. said that in a letter which he had writ
ten he had used the word ''pen," meaning re-
volver. He declined to say to whom the letter
was addressed.
The Attorney General-Was it Arthur For
rester?
Mr.. Davitt-T cannot say without possibly in
juring man who greatly wronged me.
Presiding Justice Harmon said the Court re-
spected the motive for witness reticence,
but could not recognize it as an excuse for not
answering. Mr.. Davitt thereupon explained
that the man to whom the letter was written
had conceived a hatred of another member of
the League, and wished to murder him. Wit
ness wrote to him, appearing to sanction the
act he medtated, but really TO gain time until
he could write to two superior officials and
ask them to dissuade the man from carrying
out his purpose. The expression used IN the
letter was: "Whoever is employed do not let
him use the pen we have been using"
Witness wrote to the two superior officers
about the matter. He could not tell their
names He believed that both were now in
America. Mr.. Davitt said the friend to whom
was addressed the letter in which the word pen
appeared was now in America, and he now pub
licly appealed to him to allow him to diyulge
his name.