The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1890-03-18
THE PARNELL COMMISSION
An Exhaustive Report Presented TO Par
lament by the Three Judges.

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 l62 pages. Each
member OF the House against whom
charges were made is treated separately.
The Judges find that the speeches made
bymany of the Parnellites were intended
70 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 openingof 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 eN-
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 il constituted system Of intimlda-
ton of the most severe and cruel charac-
ter. The boycott combination was He
cal both in its objects and the means
adopted 10 carry II out. 1t was an
elaborate. all-pervading tyranny, aim
inv 10 iuiure landlords as q class and
drive them out OF the country. THIS &C
ton of the League lar exceeded the limits
of the lust force OF public opinion and
created well-grounded terror in the
minds Of those suffering under II.
The Commission comes to the conclu-
sion that this was the intention OF those
devising and carrying out the system,
and saws: In our Judgment, the leaders
OF the League, thus combining 10 carry
out the boycott, were guilty Of criminal
conspiracy"
Under the charge Of disseminating
newspapers tending TO inclte to crime,
the report LAYS stress upon the fact that
Parnell did not produce q report OF any
speech wherein be denounced the use
OF dynamite: also, no deuunciation by
Parneu Of the action of the physical
force party in Ireland and America has
been given in evidence. Parnell adj
mitted that he was unable 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 Tor 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
De 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 denunclatlons
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 dlscoy-
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 OF
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 books
and documents, which, If produced
might have thrown light upon the
Leagues proceedings, were not produced.
Generally we have not received IRON
Parnell and the officers OF the Land
League the assistance We were entitled
to expect in the investigation OF the
Leagues accounts"
The report proceeds TO trace the course
of the Leagues movements in Amerlca
and its connection with the Clan-na-Gael
Touching the contradictory evidence Of
lie Caron and Parnell over the interview
in the corridor Of the House of Commons
in 1881. the balance OF probabilities was
in favor Of the accuracy OF lie Caron':
statement 1t was highly probable thai
Parnell would say to any one whom ne
regarded as a member OF the physical
force party in America that an under
standing ought to be brought about be
tween that party and ParneU and III:
supporters in the league. 1t was alsC
probable Parnell would mention Dewey
as the person best able to arrange suct
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 NAV be disputed, but the desIr'
of Parnen and Davitt that the parties o
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
eonversfng with the supposed revolution
list lie Caronl Parnell expressed hlmsel
so as to leave the impression that N
agreed with those who favored revolution
The mass Of evidence proved that tn
Irish League in America had been since
directed bv the Grammatical and ha'
been actively engaged in promoting tn
use of dynamite for the destruction O
life and property in England. 1t turthe
proved that while the Clan-na-Gael con
troIled the league in America, thes'
organizations concurrently colecte'
sums amounting to over sSOO, 600 Tor
fund wherefrom payment should d
made TO Irish members OF the House
Commons. 1t has not, however, beel
! 81 DarnaII kuoW the position Q