The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1890-03-12
THE pARNELL COMMISSION.
An Exhaustive Report Presented to Far
Lament by the Three Judges.

An Exhaustive Report Presented to Par
Lament by the Three Judges.
The report OF Judges Hannah, Day |
and Smith, the Special Commission ap-
pointed to investigate the charges made
against the Parnellite members OF the
House OF Commons, was presented 10
the House February 18th.
The report occupies 162 pages. Each
member of the II ouse against whom
charges were made is treated separately.
The Judges find that the speeches made
by many OF the Parnellites were intended
to bring about the separation of Ireland
from England, and that the speeches OF
others, in view OF the state OF the
country, were calculated to foment
crime, as the speakers must have known.
In the opening of the report the judges
refer to the unprecedented character of
the inquiry The history of the actions
| OF the leaders of the Irish party from
| 1877 is recited and the relations that eX-
| listed between the founders of the Land
League and the Fenians and Irish
Americans traced. Referring. to boycott
| ing, the report declares that instances
| adduced before the Commission proved
that it constituted a system OF intlmlda-
ton of the most severe and cruel charac-
ter. The boycott combination was lille
gal both in its objects and the means
adopted TO carry it out. 1t was an
elaborate, all-pervading tyranny, aim
ing to injure landlords as class and
drive them out OF the country. This ac-
ton OF the League far exceeded the limits
OF the just force of public opinion and
created well-grounded terror in the
minds of those suffering under it.
The Commission comes to the cOnclu-
sion that this was the intention of those
devising and carrying out the system,
and says: "In our judgment, the leaders
of the League, thus com bining to carry
out the boycott, were guilty OF criminal
conspiracy"
Under the charge OF disseminating
newspapers tending to incite to crime,
the report lays stress upon the fact that
Parnell did not produce report Of any
speech wherein he denounced the use
of dynamite; also, no denunciation by
Parnell of the action of 90 ,:hNs;~.
force party in Ireland AMI america mas
boe.- .given. in evidenre. Parnell ad'
mitted that he w. ...-ce.ole to say he had
by speech or action, found any fault with
the Fenian organization.
The commission rejects the sugges-
tons that crime was caused by secret
societies; by the compensation for dis
turbance bill; or that the decrease OF
crime after July, 1882, was due to the
Arrears of Rent Act, and adds: "The
question is not whether other causes can
be suggested, the fact being that the in
crease from 1879 to 1882, though not ex.
clusively ascribed to agitation, was
mainly due to the action of the League
and its founders and leaders. In the
judgment Of the Court, the denunciations
of crime quoted for the defense were Of
little avail, because, contemporaneously
with them, the leaders and organizers
were carrying on the agitation, by means
of speeches and conduct tending to en-.
courage crime. The sentiment in Ire
land against aiding the police in discov.
ering criminals was not confined to the
ignorant, but extended to those from
whose education juster views OF duty
should prevail. Proof had been given
that the League Systematically and in
discriminatory betrayed the expenses o.
the defense of persons charged with
agrarian crime. The knowledge that
such assistance will in all cases be afford
ed must have the effect of encouraging
persons SO disposed to commit outrages
The same observation applies to the sup
port of their families. A number of book.
and documents, which, if produced
Leagues proceedings, were not produced
| (napnra1lx- hovn roonivo1 fr0r,
Parnell and the officers OF the Lane
League the assistance we were entitled
to expect in the investigation OF thu
Leagues accounts"
The report proceeds to trace the cours,
of the Leagues movements in Americ;
and its connection with the Clan-na Gael
Touching the contradictory evidence o
LIE Caron and Parnell over the interview
in the corridor of the House OF Common
in 1881, the balance of probabilities wa
in favor of the accuracy of lie CarOn'
statement. 1t was highly probable tina
Parnell would say to any one whom h
regarded as member >of the physical
force party in America that an under
standing ought to be brought about be
tween that party and Parnell and hi
supporters in the league. 1t was ais
: probable Parnell would mention Devo,
: as the person best able to arrange sucl
an understanding, for Dewey had beer
among the principal agents through
whom the support of the Fenians ha'
been obtained. The purpose of such al
alliance may be disputed, but the desir
OF Parnell and Davitt that the parties Q
physical force and open political move
ment should act in harmony has beel
proved by Devoy's letter, coroborated b.
LIE Caron. 1t is not improbable tina
conversing with the supposed revolution
list lie Caron) Parnell expressed himsel
> SO as to leave the impression that h
! agreed with those who favored revolution
The mass of evidence proved that tn
Irish League in America had been since
directed by the Clan-na-Gael and hat
been actively engaged in promoting thu
use of dynamite for the destruction O
life and property in England. l. furthe
!, proved that while the Clan-na-Gael con
trolled the league in America, these
organizations cOncurrently collected
sums amounting to over 100000 for .
: fund wherefrom payment should b.
made to Irish members of the House 0
Commons. 1t has not, however, beer