Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-06-05
NEWFOUNDLANDERs.
BENEATH THE IRON HEEL OF
OPPRESSION

From the Imperial Government-They On
pose STARE hambcr Sessions of the Colo
NAL Legislaturc-The Action of the
Observation-Disclosures Causes u Sensation in
Parliament.
The Newfoundland House of Assem-
bly, met at st. Johns for the purpose of
passing local coercion act identical
with the imperial act, with the excep-
ton of provision that it shall be en-
forced one year only. This provision is
considered a blind, because it would be
renewable unless similar permanent;
act was passed.
Morine, one of the delegates, sent a
protest against passing the Imperial act.
He arrived on the Allan steamer from
England and made long statement be-
fore both houses of the Legislature.
Inc antl-coercion members protested
against keeping the public out but, were
outvoted. At the close of his speeeh
Morlne gave notice that he would intro
duce coercion bill.
The rules of the Assembly having
been suspended, the bill was rushed
through its first and second readings
and afterward passed the committee
stage, Morine styling himself the leader
OF the opposition He was unable to get
single member OF his own party to fol-
low him. The Government party, which
a few days ago passed resolutions de-
nouncing local coercion and repudiating
delegates unauthorized proposals, under
Waterways threat of dissolution voted
to give naval officers the right to remove
persons and property of every descrip-
ton on the so-called French shore,
where the lobster arbitration is accepted.
Great Indignation prevails at the re-
versal OF policy of the delegates. Most
OF the members stayed away. Only four
teen voted for and five against coercion
In the Assembly OF thirty-six members
The position of the people generally is
that II corrective measures are adopted,
the imperial authorities should bear the
expenses and assume the responsibility
and odinm of cutting down the halyards
from the tlagstaffs of the colonial build
ing.
Tho Government created sensation
by discharging seven of the Fortune Bay
prisoners. One Of the ringleaders,
Hynes, is to be tried for carrying bait to
ST Pierre. Stewart, the other ringlead-
er, is still at large.
Since the agitation commenced public
indignation has never, been so intense as
at present. The Daily Colo,,tst, voicing
public sentiment, says that the back
down is cowardly and contemplate,
Newfoundland being scourged with scor-
pions and by masked executioners for
the purpose of making her accept con-
federation.
At the request of the English Liberal
leaders the Assembly recommitted the
local coercion bill for the purpose of en-
acting that it be enforced till the end of
! 1898, instead of one year. On division
the Assembly met again with closed
doors. Three Government members
Study, Finance Minister, Dove and
Duffy-yoted with the anti-coercionists.
Strong indignation and disgust are ex-
pressed at the star chamber proceedings
of the Legislature
The action of the Newfoundlanders on
the Queens birthday caused quite a
shock in the Hobbies of the British Par
Lament. 1t is taken as proof that the
colony@is desperate and will not submit
quietly to coercion. This is regarded a.
astonishing by the Tories and with pair
by the Liberals. 1t is no part of Sails.
bury's programme to drive the New.
foundlanders into revolt, while he is de.
sirous of both humiliating them and OF
removing all cause for complaint on the
part of the French. The Tories feel
that the coercion of Ncwfoundlan
might be the entering wedge to sever
Canada from the Crown.