The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-05-25
IRISH PAPER
IS SEIZED
oul Attack on the
Sovereign of
Britain.
A GROSS AND
SCANDALOUS LIBEL
Sensational Incident of the Irish
National Campaign Against
King Edward VII.

LONDON, May 1.-THE Times says
The Irish People was seized after
publication, and many copies had been
attack on the King in connection with
the action of Archbishop Vaughan and
the English Catholics recently in pre-
senting- royal address The libel was
to the worst outbreaks of the French
gutter press during the Fashoda period.
In the House of Commons. Mr..
Wyndham, Chief Secretary for Ireland,
said the seizure was effected without
warrant under the common law. He
had authorized the preservation of ev-
idence and the prevention of crime
by stopping the further dissemination
of a seditious libel.
Mr. John Dillon, in moving the adj
ijournment of the House, did not at
the paper, but censured the suppression
of freedom Neither the Viceroy of
Ireland, nor Mr.. Wyndham, nor the
House of Commons was competent to
| judge what was sedition. 1t was
question for the courts.
Mr.. Redmond, in seconding the
motion, said the Executive was in re-
ality attempting to suppress the United
Irish League.
| Mr.. Wyndham, in replying, claimed
personal initiative and responsibility
| for seizure. The publication was a
gross and scandalous libel. He would
not soil his lips by reading the out
trageous, scurrilous, loathsome and
false attacks on the King, and offend
1.-The ears of members of the House
| and wound the feelings of millions of
| the Kings subjects throughout the
world Not only would the Government
suppress it, but it was the duty of any
loyal subject to intervene. The libel
was eouched in language fouler than
any used abroad in regard to the late
| revered Queen A prosecution would
probably do more harm than good.
Mr.. Balfour, in the course of a
! speech, asked: us the publication OF
AN obscene libel a necessary weapon
of political agitation"
| The question was received with an
CRY Nationalist protests.
| Mr. Balfour continued: why then,
| did what is described as their leading
forgan stoop to use the foul and pol
Esonous weapon of seditious and OBJ
Escene libel?" Mr. Balfour went on to
Isay that owing to his very high po-
Fsition the King was less able than any
fof his subjects to repel attacks. gross
offense against decency and morals had
been committed. If the Nationalist
were aggrieved the courts were open
to them The suppression of nauseous
attacks on the private character of the
Sovereign did not affect the great and
; sacred cause of the freedom of the
press.
Mr.. Asquith re-echoed Mr.. Balfour'!
sentiments.
The motion for adjournment wa
negatived by 252 against 81.
Ten Radicals voted with the minority
and a number of Liberals and Radicals
abstained from voting, objeeting to MI
Wyndham acting judicially and the pc
lice not being furnished with warrants
The bulk of the Liberals voted with tn
Government.
"The Irish People" has made loni
series of attacks on the Government
and the Empire.
There is a consensus of opinion tina
the latest article will create antagon
ism between the English Catholics an
the United Irish League.