Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-05-30
EDITOR O'BRiEN.

The Editor of United Ireland Makes an
Interesting. Witness Before the Parnell
Commissioned Difference of Opinion
as Regards the Crime OF Murder
Rousing Cheers from the Spectators.
LONDON, May 24.-Mr. Gladstone was
present yesterday at the session OF the
Parnen Commission. The cross-eXami-
nation of Mr.. William O'Brien Eas con-
tinued. The witness stated that United
Ireland had advocated nothing but peace
full means in Irelapd's struggle against
landlordism. Mr.. O'Brien admitted writ
ing and printing in his paper that Queen
Victoria was only known to Ireland by
her scarcely decently disguised hatred of
Ireland and by her inordinate salary;
also that Earl Spencer would be the last
strong Englishman who would ''attempt
to rule Ireland by means of barbarism.
paid perjury and the use of the sacred
rope" He also admitted writing that the
chairman of the committee on reception
to the Prince of Wales, on the occasion of
the latter's visit to Ireland some years
ago, would be hunted from public life.
Mr.. O'Brien here excitediy exclaimed:
HE has been driven from public life,
and rather than allow Englishmen to
be deceived by a show of sham loyalty,
Iresolved to tell them the truth. 1 never
personally spoke disrespectfully or Of
fensively of the Prince of Wales. IT,"
continued the witness, at is clear that
England will not satisfy Ireiand's as
piratiOns. and if there is any rational
chance of success, an attempt should be
made on the part of the Irish to rebel"
The articles in United Ireland referring
to the Queen and Prince of Wales were,
in the witness opinion, justifable when
they were written, but he did not consid-
er them justifiable in the present state of
relations. British rule, as then admins
tered. was hateful. The Attorney Gen.
era] referred to a speech of Mr.. O'Brien's
in which he said: "We are in state Of
civil war, which is tempered only by the
scarcity of firearms" This speech, the
witness explained, was due to exaspera-
ton at his expulsion from the House o.
Commons. He spoke under strong feel
ing. and with keen appreciation of the
fearful hatred felt by English commoners
for Irish members of Parliament.
eff it was ever right to rebel" said Mr..
O'Brien, ''the Irish people then had that
right, if there had been any chance Of
success"
Attorney General Webster-You only
objected to rebellion then because it was
hopeless?
Mr.. O'Brien-Under the circumstances
at that time, unquestionably.
Inc Attorney-General then referred 20
the Manchester murders and mentioned
Messrs. Allen, Larkin and O'Brien as the
murderers of those killed in the riot at
Manchester.
Mr.. O'Brien-They were not murderers,
but were engaged in open warfare and
shot the policemen by accident.
The Attorney-General-Is shooting a
policeman legitimate warfare?
Mr.. O'Brien-It was not criminal in
this case. Men who openly take risks to |
release their comrades are no more muir |
derers than any one present here who |
would have acted for the noblest motives. |
The witness then stated that he had |
wrote an article in which he said that the !
martyrs Allen, Larkin and O'Brien were
honored by their Chicago kindred. This |
statement was greeted with rousing |
cheers from the spectators present. |
Presiding Judge Hammer thereupon |
threatened to clear the courtroom if |
such demons tration was repeated. He |
reminded Mr.. O'Brien that the court re- i
garded the Manchester shooting as MUIR |
der. and the men who were hanged for |
their crime as murderers.
The Attorney-General then declared |
that he had finished the cross -examina- |
ton of the witness, and Mr.. O'Brien was
al 70 Loo no cfo