Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-15

home rule by paclne means. 1ne 1aOot
conference called by the German Emperor
has assembled at Berlin.
LONDON, February 14-Amid cheers of
the Opposition in the House of Commons
to-day Mr.. Psrnell asked what action the
Government proposed to take upon the re-
port of the special commission appointed to
investigate the charges made by the London
Times against Parnellite members of the
House.
Rt Hon. William Henry Smith, the
Government leader, replied that the report
only came into possession of the ministers
at 10 o'clock last evening, and that they had
not yet had time to decide upon the course
they would adopt. The debate on the ad-
dress in reply to the speech from the throne
was then resumed.
THE GOVERNMENT ATTACKED.
Mr.. Parnell moved the amendment of
which he had before given notice, asking
the repeal of the coercion act and addressed
the House He attacked the pettiuess of
Tue Prosecutions Tie OOfCTuuGub WAS
daily inficting upon many persons in utter
gratuitousness, and the coercive action of
Mr.. Balfour, Chief Secretary for ireland.
Almost every act of Mr.. Balfour, Mr..
Parnell said, appeared to be directed
toward driving the people of Ireland to
crime. He compared the coereive admin
istration of Earl Spencer with that OF Mr..
Bslfour and 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.. Balfour it was directly against
the right to combine to secure the freedom |
of the press and the liberty of speech.
ONLY ONE EXCUSE.
The Governments excuse for its action |
was the existence in Ireland of boycotting. |
He had never denied that there had been |
much unjust and criminal boycotting dur
ing 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 moder-
6ted in recognition of the efforts to secure
the passage of ameliorative measures for
Ireland.
The League of to-day, Mr.. Parnell de-
clared, differed widely from the Land
League OF 1880, and Mr.. Balfour could not
plead as an excuse for his course that crime
was being revived. On the contrary, the
people were quiescent, in expectation of
soon obtaining their rights. Yet Mr.. Bal
four's regime had been distinguished BY
petty prosecutions and frivolous charges,
often brought against children and old
women. His campaign against the press
commenced with the pewsbovs snd was
winding up with fusillade against the edi-
tors.
PURELY PACIFIC METHODS.
The motion of the Government tended to
its own defeat and could not succeed in turn
ing the tide of aspirations of the Irish peo-
pie. Despite the petty exasperations of the |
Balfour policy, the Nationalists had not |
Swerved from pacific methods TO attain their |
aims [Cheers.
Sir Richard Webster, Attornev-General.
charged Mr.. Parnell with making grave ac-
cusatIons against Mr.. Balfour without pro-
ducing any evidence in support of his allie
cations. He could not adduce single in
stance OF unjust ruction. While calling the
administration to account of the future he
would at least be limited by some facts. He
could not disproYe the figures showing that
crime had decreased and that boycotting
had been repressed.
THE COMMISSIONERS REPORT.
Interviews have been sought with ali the
leaders of parties in the House of Commons
as to their opinions on the Parnell report.
They decline to give any opinions
The Irish Nationals hold that the
report improves their position. They criti-
else it freely, and point out various errors
and anomalies in its censures.
Leahy, for instance, is censured for a
speech delivered bv Beamy. The report
omits Biggar from the list of separatists,
although he swore that he belonged
to the Supreme Council of the Fenians
T. Harrington is pleased, but complains of
the undue Importance attached to the reso-
lutions OF obscure branches of the league.
Both the Harringtons accuse the Judges of
bias because they did not censure the
Times and Houston. Chance, of Kill
kenny, says it is qualitative
rather than quantitative analysis, as he
condemns all Tor half a dozen violent
speeches made in advocacy of boycotting
during decade.
Mr.. Crilly says it simply proves that an
ordinary crop OF disafection is inseparable
from such q movement
ALL ARE ExoNERATED.
Mr.. La6Ouchere SAYS it exonerstes all
against whom there were specific charges.
and dlsapproves of the general political con-
ditlon OF the agitation. Mr.. Bradlaugh de-
vides the charges into personal, political
and agrarlan, and say that on the first,
which was the gravest point, the charges
have failed.
Sir Edward Reed says it is s very bad re-
port for the Tory party, who are the great
est practicers of boycotting. Thomas w
Russell says: "Psrnell is personally ac-
quilted, but L know the value OF the verdict
mot proven"