St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-02-14
FINAL CONCLUSIONS.
The Report Of the Parnell
Commission Presented to
Parliament.
Specific Charges Against the
Nationalist Leader We're
Not Proved,
But He and His Lieutenants
Are Guilty Of Inciting
Sedition.
Irish Leaguers and the Amer
lean Extremist Party
in Touch.

LONDON, Feb. 13.-In the house of
commons to-day Home Secretary
Matthews presented the report of the
Parnell commission. The report is
dated to-day and is signed by all three
OF the judges. 1t extends to 12l closely
printed pages and gives details of the
made of procedure adopted. The court
recites the charges. dividing them into
nine categories. The greatest interest
centers in the final conclusions, which
are as follows, Seriatim:
First-We find that the respondents mem
bers of parliament were not members of n
conspiracy having for its object to establish
the absolute independence of Ireland; but
we tino that some of them, together with Mr..
Davitt. established and joined in the land
league organization, with the intention by
Its means to bring about the absolute inde-
pendence of Ireland as a separate nation.
The names of these respondents are Michael
Davitt, NJ. Harris, John Dillon, William
O'Brlen, W. Redmond, j. O'Connor, Joseph
Condor, j. j. O'KeIley.
Second-We find that the respondents did
enter into conspiracy by system of CO.
erclon and intimidation to promote an agra
r1an agitation against the payment of agri-
cultural rents for the purpose of impoyerish-
ing and eXpelling from the country the Irish
landlords, who were styled the English gar
rlSOn.
Third-We find the charge that when on
certain occasions they thought 1t polite to
denounce. and did denounce certain crimes
In public, they afterward led their supporters
to believe that such denuncIation was not
sincere, is not established. We entirely ac-
quit Mr.. Parnell and the other respondents
OF the charge of insincerity In their denunci-
alton of the Phoenix Park murders: and we
find that the fac smile letter upon which
this charge. is chiefly based as against Mr..
Parnell is a forgery.
FOnrth-We find that the respondents did
disseminate the Irish World and other news
papers tending TO incite sedition, and the
commission of other crimes.
Fifth-We find that the respondents did
not directly incite any persons to the com
mission OF crime other than intimidation.
but that they did incile to intimidation, and
that the consequence of that Indictment was
that crimes and ontrages were committed by
the persons so melted; but we find thatIt has
not been proved that the respondents made
payments for the purpose of inciting persons
to commit crime -... s---.
Sixth-We find as to the allegations that
the respondents did nothing to prevent
crime and that they expressed no bona-fide
dlSapproval of crime. that some of the re-
spondeutS - in particular Michael Davitt-
did express a bona-iide disapproval of crime
and outrage; but that respondents did not
denounce the system OF intimidation which
led to the commission of crime and outrage,
but persisted in this abstention of denuncia-
LlOIl WIN LOe kUOWIGOSe OF ltS eHeGt.
Seveuth-We find that the respondents
did defend persons charged with agrarian
crimes and supported their families. but
that il has not been proved that they sub
scribed to testimonials for, or were init
mateiy associated with notorious criminals,
or that they made payments to procure the
escape of such criminals from justice.
Eighth-We find as to the allegation that
the respondents made payments to com
pensate persons who had been injured in the
commission of crime, that they did make
such payments.
Ninth-As to the allegation that the re-
spondents invited the assistance and COOP
Grafton of and accepted the assistance of
money from known advocates of crime and
the use of dynamite, we find that the re-
spondents did invite the assistance and CO.
operation of and accept subscriptions of
money from Patrick Ford-knoWn as an ad-
vocate of crime and the use of dynamite:
but il has not been proved that the respond
ents, or any of them, knew that the Clan-na-
| Gael controlled the lanu league, or was col
| lecting money for parliamentary fund: but
| it has been prove tnat the respondents in
| vited and obtained the assistance and CO.
operation of the physical force party in
| Notwithstanding the Clan-na-G Gael-and
| in order to obtain that assistance abstained
| from repudlating or condemning the action
| of the party.
Beside these there remain three
| specific charges against MIR. Parnell
personally, namely:
A-That at the time of the Kilmainham
| negotiations MIR. Parnell knew that Sheridan
and, therefore, wished to use them to put
down outrages. We find this charge not
proved.
B-That Mr.. Parnell was intimate with the
| leading "Invincibles:" that he probably
! learned from them what they were about
| when he was released on parole in April,
| 1892 and that he recognized the Phoenix
| Park murders as their handiwork. We find
| that there is no foundation tor this charge
| and that the "invincibles' were not branch
| of the Land league.
C-That Mr.. Parnell on Jan. %, 1888, by
an oppoltune remittance enabled f. Byrne to
| escape from justice to France. We find
| that Mr.. Parnell did not make any remittance
| to enable Byrne to escape from justice.
Regarding the two special charges against
| Mr.. Davitt that he was Fenian and assisted
| in the formation of the land league with
money contributed for that purpose of out
| rage and crime; that he was in close and in
| innate association with the party of violence
| in America, and was mainly instrumental in
| bringing about an alliance between that
| party and the Parnellite and home rule party
| in America, we find it proved that Mr. Da-
| witt was Fenian and received money from
| the skirmishing fund contributed for the
| purpose of outrage. This was not, however.
for the formation of the land league itself.
| but for the promotion of agitation leading
| up to it. 1t has been shown that Mr.. Da-
| Wit returned the money from his own re-
! sources. We find, also. that he, in such
| close and intimate ASSOCIATION with the party
| of violence in America. was the man mainly
| instrumental in bringing about the alliance
| referred to.
Here follow the signatures of the
| judges.
In the opening OF the report the
| judges refer to the unprecedented
character of the inquiry, and say they
| had no example to follow upon tile
mode of procedure, as the act empow-
| cred all persons implicated to appear
| by counsel. it was decided that the in
| quiry should be conducted as though
the issue was directed to determine
| whether the persons charged were
guilty of the acts alleged. The in
quiry, therefore, was based upon the
laws of evidence and procedure pre-
vailing in the ordinary courts. The
history of the actions of the leaders of
| the Irish party from 1877 is recited !:
the relations are traced that existed be-
| tween the founders of the land league
| and the Fenians and Irish-AmericanS.
The land league is described as il was
originated by Davitt and adopted by
| Parnell. with the support of the extreme
| party both in Ireland and in America
| Referring to boycotting, it declares that
| the instances adduced before the COM
| mission proved that it constituted a
| system of intimidation of the most
severe and cruel character, and that it
was directed not only against those who
| took land whence another had been
| evicted. but against every one who
/ directly or Indirectly offered any OBJ
| stacle to the reign of the unwritten
LAW OF THE LEAGUE