Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-02-21

1852 was due TO the arrears Oh rem. 40
! and adds: The question is not whether
other causes can be suggested: the l&st
being that the increase from 1879 to less,
though not exclusively ascribed to aglta-
ton, was mainly dus to the action OF the
! league and its founders and leaders. In
! the Judgment of the court the denuncla-
tions of the crimes quoted for the defense
were of little avail, because contemporane-
ously with them the leaders and organizers
we're carrying on agitation by means of
speeches and conduct tending to en-
courage crime. The sentiment IN
Ireland against aiding the police i'll
the discovery of criminals was not
confined to the ignorant, but was spread by
those from whose education justcr views OF
duty could prevail. Proof has been given
that the league Systematically and lhd's-
criminately betrayed the expenses for the
defense of persons charged with agrarian
crime. knowledge that such assistance
will in all cases be afforded must have eff
fected to encourage persons SO disposed to
commit outrages. The same observation
implies to the support Of their families.
Numerous books and documents, which.
if produced. might have thrown light upon
the leagues proceedings, were not pro-
duced. Generally we have not received
from Parnell and the officers Of the land
league the assistance We were entitled to
expect in the investigation of the.league's
accounts"
The report proceeds to trace the course
of the leagues movements in America and
its connection with the Clan-na-Gael.
Touching the contradictory evidence Of LIE
Caron ana Parnell over the interview in
the corridor of the commons in 1881, the
balance of probabilities was in favor Of the
probable Parnell would say to any one
whom he regarded as a member of the
physical force party in America that an
understanding ought to be brought about
between that party and the Parnell sup
porters in the league. 1t is also probable
Parnell would mention Dewey as the
person best able to arrange sucn az
understanding, for Dewey had been
among the principal agents through whom
the support Of the Fenians had been OBJ
tanned. The purpose of such an alliance
may be disputed. but the desire Of Parnell
and Davitt that the parties of physical
force and open political movement should
act in harmony has been proved by De-
voy's letter and corroborated by LIE Caron.
1t is not impossible that in conversing
with a supposed revolutionist lie Caron)
Parnell expressed himself SO as to leave
the impression that he agreed with those
who favored revolution.
Touching the tenth convention of the
Clan.na-Gael, at which Sullivan presided,
the proceedings proved the dynamite
policy was definitely adopted by the Chi
cago convention of 1881, at which L. P.
O'Connor was q delegate from Parnell.
The Washington convention Of 1882, the
Aston house meeting and the Philadelphia
convention of 1883, are successfully quoted
as proving the identity and sympathy of
the Irish leaders with the American phvsi-
| cal force party. The Clan-na-Gael circu-
lar Of October, 1882, clearly pointed
to the use of dynamite. 1t was
this Clan-na-G Gael, whose leaders,
closely associated with the Irish lead
ers, finally obtained in April, 1883,
control of the entire movement in Amer
lea. henceforward retaining it. The mass
OF evidence proved that the Irish league in
America had been since directed by the
Clan-na-Gael and had been actively en-
gagged in promoting the use of dynamite
for the destruction of life and property in
England. 1t further proved that while the
Clan-na-Gael controlled the league in
America these organizations concurrently
collected sums amounting to over $500, 900
for a fund wherefrom payment should lie
made to Irish members of the
1t has not, however, been proved that
Parnell knew the position of the Cian-na-
Gael. The circulars of LIE Caron, show
ing Its operations, were kept secret.