Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-15
THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
Speeches by MIR. Parnell and Attorney
General Webster.

,Dv Anglo.Americen cable TO the Dspatch.l
LONDON. February 14.--Amid the cheers
Of the Opposition in the House OF Com
mons TO-DAY MIR. Parnell asked what act on
tbe Government proposed TO take upon the
ronort of the special committee appointed
10 investigate the charges made by the
London Times against the Parnellite mem-
bers of the House.
MIR. William Henry Smith, the Govern
ment leader. replied that the report came
into possession of the Ministers at 10
o'clock last evening, and that they had not
vet had time to decide upon the course
they would adopt: -,
The debate on the address in reply to the
speech from the Throne was then resumed.
Mr.. Parnell moved amendment, of which
he had before given notice, asking repeal
of the coercion act, and addressed the
House. He attacked the pettyness OF the
persecution which the Governnent was
daily inhicting upon many persons In ut
Ter 9ratuitousness and the cocrciye action
under AIR. Balfour, Chief Secretary for Ire
land.
DRIVING THE PEOPLE TO CRIME.
Almost every act of Balfour, Mr. Parnelll
said appeared to be directed toward
driving The people of Ireland to crime.
He compared the coercive administration
ot Earl Spencer with that of Mr.. Balfour.
md said that though many actions OF Earl
Spencer had been faulty the law under HIM
had been directed against actual crime and
secret conspiracy, while in the case OF Mr..
Ralfour il was directed against the right 10
| combine to secure the freedom OF the press
md the liberty of speech. The Govern
ment's excuse for its action was the exist
ence in ireland of boycottIng. lie mad
never denied that there had been much
uniust and criminal boycottlng during
1880 1881. and 1882. The history OF the Irish
movement since the last-named year
showed that the action of the Nationalist
| had been constantly modified and mode
rated in recognition of the efforts TO secure
| The passage of an ameliorative measure for
| Ireland. The league of to-day, Mr. Far
nell declared, differed widely rom the
Land League of 1880, and MI, baiiour
| could not plead as an excuse tor ms course
that the crime was being revived. On the
| contrary. the people were quiescent, IN ex-
nectation of soon obtaining their rights.
| Vet Ralfour's regime had been distin-
/ guished by petty prosecutions ana iriv9-
/ Ions charges, often brought against chill
dren and old women.
FuslLIADE AGAINST EDITORS.
His campaign against the press com
menced with the newsboys and wlnq III :
up with fusillade against editors; me
action of the Government tended to its own
defeat and could not succeed In turning ing
/ the tide of the aspirations OF the
Irish people. Despite the petty ex X,
asperattons of the Balfour pohcy
the Nationalist had not swerved ron
pacific methods TO attain their AIMS
| lCheers.l Com
Sir Richard Webster, the Attorney-pen-
eral, charged Mr.. Parnell with inaSlns
grave accusations against Mr.. Balfour
without producing evidence in support OF
his allegations. He could not addnce .
single instance of unjust eviction. Wine
calling the administration TO account N
the future no would at least be limited py
some facts. He could not dlsprove tns,
/ figures showing that crime had decreased
and that boycotting had been repressed.