The Indianapolis journal., 1889-07-03
The Clan-na-Gael Composed of the Best Men,
Although Its Members May Have Com
mitted Murders for Irelsnd's Sake.
The House of Commons Asked to Vote
Money for the Prince Of WaleS'S Son.
An Inciter of Revolution in Venezuela Escorted
Out of the COuntry-Preparing Future
Home for the Pope in Spain.
DAvITT AND THE LEAGUE.


LONDON, July 2.-Mr. Michael Davitt
was examined before the Parnell commits
sion to-day. He declared there was no
truth in the account given by LIE CarOn be-
fore the commission concerning proposals
of John Dewey being submitted to Pa-nell
Mr.. Parnell had nothing to do with the
witnesses visit to America in 1888.
Mr.. Davitt stated that while In America
he attended meetings of the Clan-na-Gael,
at which he explained the objects of the
Land League, and tried to win the Clan
na-Gael to its support. The Clan-na-Gael,
he said. included some of the best Irish
men in America. 1t was no more murder
club than was the Carlton Club, of Lon
don. There was no alliance between the
Clan-na-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 better
man as a Christian and a philanthropist
than Patrick Ford. He was very sorry
that for few months after the League
was established Mr.. Ford openly advocated
the use of dynamite. Witness wrote to
him expostulating with him for his
open declarations, and later Mr.. Ford
returned to his Plan of Campaign.
Witness said he himself was opposed to the
use of dynamite because it was an immoral
and unmanly style of warfare. He was not
opposed to physical force, if in resorting
thereto there was q reasonable chance of
success. The league did not provide for the
circulation of the Irish World in Ireland.
Mr.. Ford sent out copies through the
''spread-the-hght fund.-" and witness paid
the postage. The league did not circulate
the letter of John Dewey on q new depart
ure, extracts from which were quoted by
Attorney general Webster, counsel for the
Times.
Mr. Davitt SAID he had known Alexander
Sullivan since 1878, and had the highest
opinion of his ability as lawyer, his char
acter as a citizen and his honor as a man.
He did not believe him to be capable of any
dishOnorable act.
Witness returned from America to Ire
land in 1880. He had delivered thirty
speeches denouncing outrages. He believed
Outrages were due to the agitation of local
agraria9n bodies, composed chiefly OF sons Sns
was released from prison on May D. 1882.
Mr.. Parnell and Mr.. Dillon had informed
him that they were hopeful of a change in
the governments policy. Witness was
ceasing. He disliked agitation. and would
willingly abandon it tomorrow if he saw
some justice done to Ireland. He could not
| abandon 1t otherwise.
| In reference to the PhGnix Park murders
Mr.. Dayitt said: Mr.. Parnell came to me
| on the Sunday following the day of the
I murder. utterly broken down by the news.
| He said 'Davitt, shall send my resigna-
| ton to Cork tonight. l refuse to stay in
| the movement when Irishmen of whom we
| know nothing can come behind our backs
| and perpetrate such deeds: 1t took all my
| influence to dissuade him from resigni1g."
| Mr. Davitt continued: Beyond stating
| publicly in New York, in July. 1882, that
had severed my connection with the revO-
| lutionary body, 1 expressed no dissent of
| the Fenians. 1 did not attend any meeting
of the Clan-na-Gael after 1880. believe
of the Clan -na-Gael, but the perpetra-
tors certainly did not have the
sanction of the governing body,
nor the approval of the leaders.
municated with the member of the su-
| preme council for my district.
| Attorney-general Webster-Who was he.
| Mr.. Davltt-I cannot tell you. 1t would
name. If he is still in business in England
he might be ruined if the fact of his con-
nection with the council became known.
| The Attorneys general said he would not
| press the question now.
| Witness, continuing. said that in letter
''pen.n meaning revolver He declined to
| say to whom the letter was addressed.
The Attorney -general-Was it Arthur
| Forresteri
Mr.. Davitt-I cannot say without posi-
bly, injuring a man who greatly wrOnged
me.
Presiding Justice Hannen said the court
| respected the motive for witnesses 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 hatred of another member of
the league and wished to muir
der him. Witness wrote to him,
appearing to sanction the act
he meditated, but really to gain time until
he could write to two superior officers and
ask them to dissuade the man from carry
ing out his purpose. The expression used
i'm the letter was. Whoever is employed,
do not let him use the pen we have been
| using" Witness wrote to the superior Off
GERS about the matter. He could not tell
their names. He believed that both were
now in America. Mr.. Davitt said the dear
friend to whom was addressed the letter in
which the word ''pen" appeared was now
in America, and he now publicly appealed