Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-02-18
FULL AMNESTY
For Irish Political Prisoners
Asked in English House.
Unexpected Kind Words for United
States in Venezuelan Matter.
numerous Expressions Favoring Settlement
OF thair by Arbitration.

London, Feb. 1.-The Commons to-
day took up The debate on the amendments
to the address in reply to the Oueen' g
speech, moved, Friday, by Timotby HAY
rington. ParI elite, favoring the release of
the Irish political prisoners
John f. Redmond, Parnel!ite. made an
impsssioned speech in which he said that
the feeling throughout Ireland was in
favor Of amnesty for the Irish politicaI
prisoners. The use Of dynamite. he said.
originated with the Irish Americans. and
was regarded by Irishmen generally as be-
ing mad and reckless. All Irishmen now
concurred in the belief that the time had
arrived for the exercise of clemency to-
ward the Irish political prisoners.
/ The Irish were blamed for a lack of
sympathy with England in her foreign
complications. They would &c hypocrites
if they were to pretend that they were in
sympathy with England We're these
| hatreds, he asked, to exist forever: He
hoped rather to see the day when England
and Ireland would face the world hand in
| band. He appealed to the government to
hasten the day of the release of the old
and dead moment Of passion and mad
| ness Urish chcers).
Mr.. Balfour said the government must
follow the regular practice. The quin-
quennial revision OF sentences would occur
| in year or two, when the revision would
be applied to Irish prisoners with absolute
impartiality.
Professor Ieckie, the historian. was
loudly cheered as he rose to make lis first
| speech in the House urging cemency for
Irish prisoners.
Mr. BalfOur moved the closure which was
| carried, 270 TO 1G7. Mr.. Harrington
| amendment was rejected, 279 to III
l.. Atherley Jones' Radical. moved an
amendment 20 the address in reply to the
Queen speech deploring the absence
from the speech from the throne of assur-
ancc that the whole boundary dispute
| with Venezuela will be referred to arbitra-
ton in accordance with the suggestion of
| the United States.
In speaking to his motion. Mr.. Atherley-
Jones declared that Great Britain had
seven times changed the boundary be
tween British Guiana and Venezuela, and
asked how it could be claimed that the
| territory in dispute could be outside the
pale of arbitration. He reviewed the
| question in all its aspects since 1914
Before the motion could be seconded
MIR Balfour, first lord of the treasury, and
government leader in the House appealed
TO the House on his responsibility as a
minister OF the crown, not to continue the
debate. lie declared that he was of the
opinion that the continuation of the de-
| Date World not serve the purpose Mr..
Atheriy Jones had in view, as it would
not make an honorable solution of the
difficulty easier. He hoped that the
House. realizing bow grave were the is
sues AT stake, would not futher discuss on
this occasion the policy that has been or
would be pursued,
Win. Allan, Advanced Radical, seconded
the amendment. The whole matter, be
declared, was q tempest in tea cup.
Sold, as usual, was 1T the bottom of the
trouble. The whole land in dispute was
q nest of yellow fever and would not be
worth fighting for.
Henry Labouchere, Radical leader, said
after the statement made l;y Mr.. Balfour,
It was impossible to continue the debate.
(Cries of Hear, Hear - He hoped
that he might take it that the dispute
would be speedily settled to the satsfac-
ton Of both countries.
John Dillon, Anti Parnellte, said that
he trusted that no appeal from the govern
ment would induce the mover of the
amendment to withdraw the motion. The
American people ought To have some in
dicatlon OF the intensity of feeling exist
ing in the House OF Commons against the
mere suggestion Of war with the United
States.
The action of the American government
had been most patient and forbearing, and
it ought to he made known to the Ameri-
cans that Lord Salisbury's dispatch to
Secretary Olney did not represent the feel
ing of the people of this country.
He was glad to note the recent improved
tone of public opinion. Even Lord Sails
bury had turned his attention to insulting
a somewhat smaller nation than the
United States.
In the view of nine tenths of the people
or Ireland, the whole question ought to
be submitted to unlimited arbitration If
the ministry tried to plunge the country
into war for an unjust cause by refusing
To grant arbitration, he had the right to
claim that there would arise from millions
of Eoglishmen and Irishmen a voice of
the strongest possible condemnation.
(Cries of Hear, Hcar.'D
Sir William Vernon Harcourt, Liberal
leader in the House, said he was glad the
amendment was moved in the interest of
arbitration, but he did not think he could
insist that the amendment was the best
way to attain the end in view. OF course.
such an amendment could not be accented
by the government and must. if pressed
to division, be lost by largo majority.
If that happened. it would go forth to
America that the House had pronounced
against arbitration, although he was con-
Continued on page2.)