Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-10-24
STURDY FIGHTERS.
Irish Leaders Keep Pounding
Away for Old Ireland.
Premier BaIfour Given Several Hard
Knocks in the Commons.
Pres. RooseveIt's Letter to Irish League
at Boston.

London, Oct 23-Wm. OBrien ere
ated great deal of excitement among
his fellow Nationalists in the House
of Commons. Wednesday, by question
ing Premier RalfOur regarding Presi-
dent Roosevelt's letter to the convention
of the United Irish League at Boston.
Mass. Mr.. O'Brien asked the premier
if he had observed that Mr.. Roosevelt
sent letter and whether in view of
the future friendly relations between
the United States and Great Britain
he could make any announcement that
this country was not indisposed to
learn wisdom regarding Irish affairs
from the head of great and friendly
ma ton.
The Speaker promptly ruled the
question out of order, to the evident
chagrin of the Nationalist, whose eA-
element increased as Mr.. O'Brien con-
tinued to press his point. He urged
that this letter of the President was an
international fact of the first impOr-
tance to the future of Great Britain
and that it would not be a friendly
thing to the head of great nation that
his letter should be treated as If the
House of Commons was disposed to
"avenge an insult to the chief secre-
tary for Ireland and his remOvableS.
The Speaker maintained his ruling
and Mr.. OBrien tried TO move an adj
tournament of. the. House to discuss the
matter. but the Speaker ruled that it
was not Il matter of definite impOr-
lance.
Mr.. O'Brien afterward gave notice of
a resolution declaring that in the Opin-
ion of the House the operation of the
Crimes Act i'm Ireland was not justified
by the condition of the country, was
urfair in it's application, opposed TO
civilized usage in the manner of its
administration, ana calculated ia an
drvmine respect for The ltW, esJTaage
The people Of Ireland and deeply in
iure the interests of peace between
England and Ireland.
The NationaIists refrained from vot-
ing on any of the amendments to the
education bill.
There was another lively though flu
tile discussion on the subject of grant
ing day for a debate on the state of
Ireland 1t only led to a great deal of
straw-splitting. allegations of dis
courtesy and a considerable increase
in the i'll feeling prevailing. The Lib
CT III fcduci. Holi IICHl
herman. again supported Patrick
O'Brien's request for day. saying that
as the premier had declined the conces-
sion ION the mere request of the Irish
members" he as a Scotchman gladly
supported the request.
Mr. Balfour explained that he could
only give day at Sir Henry's request
on the understanding that the motion
. Co., -o%a Of
the government and that it was sup
ported by the opposition as whole.
The Liberal leader. however, disclaimed
any such intention. He refused to ideri-
tify himself so completely with the Ma
tionalists. although he strongly con-
tended that the request of the Irish
members should be granted. Mr.. Bal
four said:
II think the right honorable gentle
man had better make uD his mind. IL
he cannot go further and take a full
plunge he had better defer this dis
cussion.
Sir Henry resented what he termed
the discourtesy, but Mr.. Balfour dis
avowed any such intention.
During the alteration VIM. O'Brien.
T. p. O'Connor and others interjected
comments on MI. bdlIOuT lnSultiuS
attitude toward the Irsh.' and the dis
cussion concluded with VIM. O'Brien
exclaiming: If we are not given a day
we will take one
The following result is announced of
the bye election to fill the seat in the
House of Commons for Davenport rem
dered vacant by the death of f. J. c.
Morton UiberaD: Mr.. Locke Unionist).
37S5; Mr.. Brassey (RadicaD, 1857.
The general belief that secret treaty
is in existence between Germany ana
Great Britain relative to the prospective
division of the Portuguese possessions in
South Africa, received further confirma-
ton in the House of Commons, this af-
ternoon. owing to the evisive replies oil
Under Foreign Secretary Cranborne TO
questions on the subject. The secretary
parted all queries. saying that if such
treaty existed, he. in the nature OF
things was precluded from giving it's
terms
In the House of Commons. Wednesday,
the chancellor of the exchequer Mr. |
Richie. announced that the government
did not propose to introduce the South
African bill during the present session