The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-09-30
DRIVING A NAIL IN ITS OWN COFFIN.
John Morley on the Governments
Course at Tipperary.
Shooting His Audience a Novel Way
To Punish a Speaker.
How Batons Were Welded and Blood
Shed at the Trial.

LONDON, September 20. = John Morley
spoke at st. Henen's tonight, to large au-
dlence He gave a graphic account of his
experiences during his recent tour of Ireland
referring particularly to the condition of af
fairs at Tipperary and scenes in which he,
himself, took personal part. He gave in
stances illustrating the arbitrary and tyran-
nical methods of the Irish authorities. He
said week ago John Dillon went to address
his constituents at East Mayo. Upon arriv-
ing at the town where the first meeting was
to be held, Dillon found the platform of the
station surrounded by police and military,
and was told by Unionist magistrate that
if he used illegal language it would be the
magistrates duty to disperse the meeting
This simply meant the divisional magis-
trate would be judge as to whether Mr.. Dill
Ions Language was legal or illegal. 1t
meant that if Dillon used language the mag
istrate considered illegal. it was the magis-
trate's duty to disperse the meeting with
baton and rifle. After over four years of
resolute government, could not an Irish
member of Parliament be trusted to address
his constituents without the adoption of
such measures? Suppose at that meeting he
Mr.. Morley! said something the chief con-
stable of the district chose to think illegal.
Was the constable, instead of arresting the
speaker, to baton and shoot the audience?
The Tlpperary prosecutions had cruelty
blighted the hope of the Unionists. The
proceedings of the last fortnight in Tippera-
ry would have the inevitable effect of rally.
ing every Nationalist, lay and clerical, and
once more closing the Nationalist ranks
No wonder the coercion party had teen
thrown into state Of CONSERVATION.
Turning to the problem of contested dis
tricts, the speaker said it opened questions
0f the prqVncf anmnlnyifu Whof xuoc fha
use OF appealing to ministers capable of
the acts of criminal folly now being perpe-
trated? He Mr.. Morley went to Tipperary
because he felt the proceedings there marked
the turning point in the great battle; be-
cause he felt the government was going to
drive good strong nail in its own coffin, and
he wanted to see the first blow of the ham
mer When he arrived at Tipperary with
his political friends, he walked peaceably
across the road without any fear of disorder
Suddenly he was hustled, pushed and men
aced by constables in a state of great fury.
The gathering of people was very few in
number, and no kind of obstruction was of
fered. The nearest approach to riot was the
shrlll Tipperary cheer raised on his account.
He never saw such an act Of folly as the at
tltude of the authorities. The proceedings
would have been ridiculous if not so danger
Gus. 1t had been asserted that he and his
companions were followed to the entrance to
the court house at noon by an immense mul
tltude. This he absolutely denied. He be-
lleved at no time did the armed men defend
Ing the court house number less than three
to one against the civilians. 1t was as insig-
nifcant and harmless a crowd as he ever
saw in his life. With or without orders, the
police drew their batons without shadow
OF pr9vocation. and blood began to flow free
ly.. He saw no stones thrown, and would
undertake to say that couple of English
constables would have done everything
necessary to guard access to the court.