Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-03-04
THE PARNELL REPORT.
Smith Moves It's AdOption-A stormy
Debate.

DeOAGcs
LONDON, March 3.-In the Commons
tonight, Smith moved the adoption of
the report of the Parnell Commission
He considered that the course proposed
would do absolute justice to the members
whose conduct had been impugned, and
all persons included in the allegations of
the newspaper which published the
charges. There were certain features of
the publications which were deeply de-
plored, but other accusations were justi-
fled by the report. 1t was unique re"
port deposition laughter], but the i'm
partiality of the judges had been ac.
knowledged by the accused members,
whose acquittal from personal charges
he thought subject for hearty congrat-
ulation. Regarding the commissions
finding that certain respondents were
guilty of conspiracy, the Government
might be asked why it did not take
action thereon. He held that it was no
part of the intention Of the Government
to continue the commission with view
to the inflicting of punishment upon the
Parnellites. (Grosns and laughter from
the Opposition).
Gladstone moved an amendment, an,
nounced by Morley, declaring that the
House reprobates the charges, based
upon calumny, that have been made
upon members of the House and, while
expressing satisfaction at the exposure
made of evil-doers, regrets the wrong in
f1icted and suffering and loss endured
through those acts of fagrant iniquity.
Gladstone said the Governments
motion was utterly insufficient to do JUS
tice to the members impugned; it failed
to represent the sense of the opinion
which the House and country formed
upon the commissions report. Was it,
he asked, ever before proposed to an
authoritative body that it should accept
in a lump a report of 160 folio pages,
bristling with controversial matter? In
what respect had the judges of the com.
mission more weight and authority than
other experienced men in deciding how
far crime was due to the League and how
far to oppressive evictions? AS an in
stance of their disproportionate and un
balanced judgment, a judge had
unearthed an obscure paper, the
Irishman, filling several pages of
their report with extracts therefrom,
which had been termed by Arch
bishop Walsh ''most abominable."
Were they equally liberal in according
blame for other things that were quite
as abominable, when they dealt with
the grand capital offenses into which
they were especially directed to inquire
All that was said without one single |
word of denunciation was that the letter |
on which the detestable charges were
founded was a forgery. [Cries of "hesr,
hear."l The report convicted the re-
spondents of joining the League with the |
view to q separation of Ireland and En-. |
gland. This occurred in 1880. In 1890 |
be reioiced to believe that the idea of
was dead (cheers), but he
maintained that the debate of the moral
of the union was in
[rishmen no moral ofense whatever.
Cheers.] The report said the Parnell-
tes, by speeches, melted intimidation
which led to crime, aud that they had
lot assisted in maintaining order by de-
,ouncing the advocates of physical force.
These charges were ten years old. It
vas bad and dangerous precedent to
ecur to these long dates in order to
,btain matter to hurl at the heads of
political antagonists Did not the tories
themselves think something could be
aid in behalf of Parnell's policy when
ord Carnarvon, under the assent Of
.ord Salisbury, asked Parnell to devise g
cheme of government for Ireland
yhanges had already taken place in Ire
and, and reforms would be accomplished
Without violence, largely through the
7ise and constitutional methods of the
rish party. The report said nothing on I
aese matters. He (Gladstone) hesitated '
. embody in the amendment an expires. 1
ion of thanks to the commission, be- I
ause it was hazardous and unprece. Z
ented to render thanks for the perform i
nee cf Judicial duty. c
Gladstone further said, in asking the | /