Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-03
DAvITT'S TESTIMONY.
He Talks Plainly Before the Parnell
Commission.

LONDON, July 3.-Mr. Michael Davitt re-
sumed giving his testimony before the Parnen
commission this morning. In answer to q
question Mr.. Davitt said that he had no objec-
ton to Join any movement looking to the in
dependence Of Ireland if there was force
enough to justify such movement. He said
that he did not approve of the Clerkenwell ex-
plosion. He regretted the attack on the prison
van at Manchester, whereby brave policemen
where killed, but he applauded the men who
in the attempt were trying TO rescue their
friends. The witness said that while in prison
he became convinced that secret societies
would undo all the good effected for Ireland,
and when he was released he conferred with
the leaders of the I. r. B. regarding the adop-
endeavors to win the leaders to his opinion
with the exception Of Matt Harris The wit
ness would not mention the names OF any OF
the other leaders Of the I. r. B.
CHIEF JUSTICE HANNEN SAID
that Attorney General Webster was entitled to
press the question as to what others were pres
ent, but could wait until the end Of the exami+
nation to do 80. Witness further said that he
failed to win the Irish republican brotherhood
leaders 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 English garrison. The
leagues land program, witness said, had now
become the program of'the Tory government.
Laughter.l
MR.. DAvITT REFUSED TO SAY
whether or not Mr.. Jas. O'Kelly, member Of
the house of commons for the north division of
Roscommon, had been engaged to distribute
firearms, and declared that he did not know
whether the trustees of the skirmishing fund
DR.. Carroll and Messrs. Breslin, Luby, Dewey,
Burke, and Rossa-belonged to the Gamma
Gael. There is a hue and cry against the Clan
na-Gael in America for political purposes.
Witness declared that he must be careful what
he said, but he would say that they are all ex-
treme nationalist.
Mr.. Davitt said that many persons opposed
his scheme on the ground that if the people
became tenant farmers they might become
LUKEwARM IN THE CAUSE OF INDEPENDENCE.
A majority of the people then opposed
Fenianism and secret societies. Irish-Ameri-
cans objected to the scheme, holding that it
would give politicians too much power. Wit
ness had converted man. nationalists to his
views.
Attorney General Webster read resolutions
demanding the overthrow of British domina-
ton and the establishment of an Irish re-
public.
Mr.. Davitt admitted that he was present at
the meeting in America when the resolutions
were duOpIeu. he Stateu tndt ne QlQ NOT us
sent. He said: 81 am republican by principle"
The resolutions were cabled to Mr.. Parnell but
never reached him. Witness had never dis
cussed them with Mr.. Parnell.
Mr.. Davitt said: ''Mr. Parnell and I differ
because Mr.. Parnell is opposed to complete
separation, but if he got his measure through
/ would loyalty support it. If he was success
full the demand for separation would even
tually die"
Continuing, the witness said he had made
fifty speeches in America in which he asked the
extremists to fairly try Mr.. Parnells move
ment.
THE LEAGUE WAS FOUNDED
as the peoples league. 1t then got into the
hands of the politicians. Witness disapproved
of the appeal to Americans to support the ma
tionalist fund which Attorney General Webster
had read. Witness never approved Of the
skirmishing fund.
Mr.. Davitt said that while he was correspond
ent of the Irish World he used the expression
''spread the light" meaning simply to circulate
the paper. Witness disappFoved of much that
the man signing Transatlantic" wrote.
Mr. Parnell entered the courtroom while