The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-24
Tells the Commons His People VIII
Teach the Chief Secretary to
Repent His Action.
BRIEF REPLY BY MR.. WYNDHAM
WHO SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS
TRYING TO DEAL JUSTLY.
AIIusions Made to "Curs'' and
GWretched BuIIying"-The Bor-
CHEESE Art Collection Not Sold.

LONDON, Jan. 23.-The debate on the ad-
dress in reply to the speech from the throne
was resumed in the House of Commons to-
day by John Redmond, the Irish National
list leader, who moved an amendment rails
ing the whole question of Irish grievances.
He declared that, instead Of remedying ad-
mitted wrongs, the government had fallen
back on the old methods of coercion. The
Irish people would yet teach Mr. Wynd-
ham, the chief secretary for Ireland, to re-
pent his rash refusal to grant the reason
able demands of Ireland in regard to the
compulsory sale and purchase of land.
There was no country in the world where
crime was less frequent than in Ireland,
yet the coercion act had been resurrected
after decade and had been ruthlessly
applied. Scores, including members of the
House of Commons, had been unjustifiably
imprisoned and trial by jury had been abol
ished. The whole intellect of Ireland was
against the government, and in such cir
cumstances resistance to the government
was a duty, and rebellion became merely
question of expediency. Though a hun
dred years had passed since the union Eng
liSh rule of Ireland still rested on force and
corruption. Irishmen would never be well
affected until they were masters of their
own country John p. Hayden, Irish Ma
tionalist, seconded the amendment.
Replying to Mr.. Redmond, Mr.. Wyndham
traversed almost all of his statements and
declared that no government expected to
settle the Irish question, but only hoped TO
do little toward improving it. He said
the land act Of 1881 was too drastic a meas
ure. having produced litigious war which
had ruined many people. The strongest
argument against introducing compulSion
in the purchase and sale of land, Mr..
Wyndham said, was that such action would
provoke every landlord and every tenant
to fi4ht from court to court on every dis
putable point He reiterated his conviction
that the power of the United Irish League
was declining, that it had only seventy-four
branches and that it was having a preju-
dicial effect upon economics. The present
agitation, declared Mr.. Wyndham, was the
work of a few determined persons, and no
man who was not cur would hesitate to
take such steps as were open to him to
suppress this wretched form of bullying the
government. He was determined, he said,
while dealing justly with Ireland, to fight
for liberty and the protection of property.
The war secretary, Mr.. Brodrick, was
asked by Mr.. Redmond, Irish Nationalist,
why Commandant Scheepers was executed
last Saturday at Graaf Reinet, Cape Col
ony. The secretary replied that Scheepers
was shot because he had been convicted Of
various offenses against the usages of war.
including seven cold-blooded murders of
natives and the fiogging of a white man.
Mr.. Brodrick added that the fact that Com
mandant Scheepers was a prisoner of war
carried no exemption from trial for muir
der other violations of the rules of war.
Mr.. Balfour, the government leader in the
House, partly parted an interesting question
put by Mr.. McLaren, Liberal. to whether
any proposals in behalf of the leaders of
the Beers with the view Of bringing about
a settlement of the war had been received
by the government since the negotiations
between General Kitchener and General
BOtha. mo proposal of that kind said
Mr.. BalfOur, has reached US on the part
of any one able to speak for the leaders of
the Boer forces"
The evasive reply of the government lead
er was taken to be a confirmation of the
reports that proposals had been received
from the Boer delegates in Europe, but had
been rejected.
the colonial secretary, said that although
communications were proceeding with
France, his MaJesty's government was not
| yet in position to make a definite state
ment on the French shore Newfoundland
/ question.