The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-12
WON'T BLAME THE TINES
THE HOUSE OF COMMONS REFUSES
TO CENSURE THE PAPER.

mission-He Charges the Govern
ment With Violating the Constitu
tion - Pigott Denounced in Lurid
Terms.
LONDON, March lin the House of
Commons this evening Lord Randolph
Churchill resumed tho debate on the report
of the Parnell commission. He said that
from the inception of the commission he
had watched the proceedings with feelings
of sorrow and apprehension, which had
grown deeper and stronger as the proceed
ings developed. From the beginning to the
end these proceedings were vitiated by
their thoroughly unconstitutional char
acter. ICheers from oppositionL When
the government decided to pass by ordinary
tribunals it must have held that the charges
against the Parnellites constituted prima
fdcie case against the accused. When the
government held that there was primd
fdcie case it was its duty TO prosecute Grim
inally. [Parnelite cheersl If there was a
prtnlG fdcie case to justify an extraordi-
nary tribunal fOrtiOri there was a prind
fdcie case TO proceed by criminal prosecu-
ton. [Hear! Hearll
IGNORED THE LAW.
In the first place, the government, in
order to ascertain the truth of the criminal
charges against its political opponents, dis
carded and set aside the ordinary law of
the land. [Parnellite cheers Secondly,
the government constituted under a special
act commission consisting of three Judges
to fulfil the functions OF a Judge and jury
for the purpose Of trying a criminal con
spiracy. 1t decided to place its political
opponents on trial on criminal charges
without the protection which a jury
would give. [Cheers.] Thirdly, the gov
ernment nominated the tribunal, so that
the accused, unlike the meanest criminal.
would have no voice In selecting and
challenging the jury. If it was argued that
the commission was Il court of arbitration
where in the whole history of arbitration
was one party to a suit left voceless in the
selection of arbitratorsl [Cheers. Fourthly,
the government inflicted a heavy penalty
in the shape Of large pecuniary fine on its
opponents, amounting to nearly e4O,0 900.
WITHOUT PRECEDENT.
He argued the matter on constitutional
grounds, and defied any lawyer here to
show precedent or parallel for anything ap-
preaching the governments action. [Par-
nellite cheers.l He appealed to the House
to vote against the proceedings; utterly
unique and unprecedented. Never within a
century and half had any public man
being exposed to such tests and trials as had
Mr.. Parnell. LParnellite cheers When
certain persons imagined that Mr.. Parnell
quailed before the proposed inquiry he put
such pressure on the government that the
free gift character of the proposal disap-
peared, aud it became a measure forced
upon the House at any cost. Opposition
cheers. Every clause except the first was
fnFQaH fhrOnuh Wi hxy ha
Of closure; SO ruthless that nothing but the
most urgent consideration OF public safety
could justify it. Opposition cheers
GOVERNMENT INCONSISTENCIES.
The constitutional party that in 1889 re-
sisted closure now applied IL. No minister
could accuse him of Inconsistencies when
the enormous inconsistencies of the govern
ment were considered. In 1889 the govern
ment declared that closure was most un-
constitutional and dangerous innovation.
In 1888 it used closure in
a most unconstitutional and dangerous
manner for the purpose of forcing
upon its opponents an unprecedented, un-
paraleled and tremendous instrument of
oppression. A nemesis attended the gov
eminent for adopting such methods. What
had been the result of this mountainous
parturitions The reptile monster, Pigott
[Parnellite cheers1 What had been the
delivery, with all their skill and parlia-
mentary instrumentsi ghastly, bloody,
rotten fetus-Pigottl Pigott Pigott [Par-
nelite cheers
VIOLATED THE CONSTITUTION.
In appointing the commission the govern
ment violated the con Institution. In making
this motion the government was violating
its own law. The report condemned GER
tain persons and acquitted others. But did
it condemn all the guilty partiesa 1t con-
demned the Parnellites on certain charges.
Did it condemn the Iimes2 II the govern
ment insisted upon its motion and COM
pelled the majority TO assent to it, he would
insist upon his right to vote to condemn
not only the Parneilites but also the Times
which had been found guilty Of an afro
cious and unexampled libel and slander.
ASKED FOR BY THE PARNELLITEs.
Mr.. Chamberlain said it was on invita-
ton Of the Parnellites that the matter was
made the subject Of an inquiry. II the gov
ernment had instituted criminal proceed
ings it would have been open to all the
censure which Lord Randolph Churchill
had bestowed upon it. The government
treated the allegations as libels which might
or might not be disproved, and indicated
that the accused should take the usual steps
to defend their characters. He denied that
the commission was the result Of
his personal suggestion. Experience
showed that it was the best and
only tribunal to conduct an inquiry.
The chief objection to it was that the
Judges would not be impartial. That was
not said now [Parnell cries of "Yes". 1t
was urged that the Times, if found guilty,
would have absolute immunity In subsequent
proceedings. GParnellite cheers.]
PRAISE FOR THE COMMISSION.
But all the allegations against the COM
mission proved to be baseless. No parlia-
mentary committee could have conducted
the inquiry 50 exhaustively and well.
He urged that there was no reason for
receiving the findings of any constitutional
tribunal with suspicion. Mr.. Gladstone
had admitted the assiduity, ability, learn
ing, and perfect, absolute good faith of the
judges. [Cheers.l Sir Charles Russell had
spoken OF their Judgment as impartial.
The fact that the judges were spoken of as
having prepossessions and political senti-
ments should not vitiate their findings on
matters Of fact. The House would sim
ply adopt the general effect of
the report without pledging itself
House would appeal If it refused to adopt
fact. He warned the House, with an i'm
perfect recollection OF the terms Of the re-
port, against assuming judicial functions
by declining to accept the judges findings.
He urged the House To leave the matter in
the hands Of the nation [Cheers.l
Mr.. Jennings withdrew his amendment.
Mr.. Caine liberal unionist moved a
similar amendment cJndemning the Times,
which yvae rataetad bv a vofa ~ POI IN 0EQ