The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1888-02-18 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

THE DEBATE ON THE ADDRESS. Sir G. Trevelyan, in resuming the adjourned debate on Mr. Parnell's amendment to the Address, contrasted the Crimes Act of 1882 and its administration with that passed last session, condemning the latter mainly because it was so drawn as to include the National League amongst unlawful associations. He deprecated the infliction of punishment for speeches on the ground that they might lead to crime, condemned the imprisonment of Irish members, and censured the Irish administration of the Government generally. Their policy, instead of pacifying and conciliating Ireland, was alienating Irish sympathy and decreasing respect for the law. It was, he contended, impossible to govern Ireland by coercion; and it must be governed by a policy of consent, sympathy, and confidence. Colonel Saunderson taunted the right hon. gentleman with his change of opinion, for which he had given no grounds whatever, and complained that the Government had had to confront not only the action of the National League, whose decrees were enforced by murder, but the deliberate incitement of the Irish people by the Liberal party to disobey the law. Looking forward now to a resolute and just Government in Ireland, and the re-establishment of respect for law and order, he saw in it the only foundation that could be laid for the future happiness and contentment of his country. Mr. Labouchere charged the Government not only with having used the Coercion Act in a harsh and mischievous manner, but with having perverted it to uses for which it was never intended. Directing special attention to the Mitchelstown affair, he declared that it commenced with a violation of the law by the police officers, which culminated in murder, and that the Chief Secretary instead of trying to bring the murderers to trial, had done all he could to shield them from the consequences of their acts. • Sir C. Russell, explained in reference to an allusion by Colonel Saunderson, that Mr. Gladstone had agreed to omit from the revised version of his Nottingham speech, and to apologise for, his statement with regard ' to Colonel Dopping, before there was any mention of a lawyer's letter, or threat of legal proceedings. Dr. Commins and Mr. Murphy having spoken, Mr. T. W. Russell claimed for the Government that they had not only diminished crime by the working of the. Act of last Session, but had been able to get evidence of crime which they were totall7 unable to get before the Act was passed. He ridiculed the would-be martyrs of the National League, and exhorted the Chief Secretary to continue firmly and fearlessly to enforce the Act regardless whether it was against priest or layman, member of Parliament or peasant. The session commenced with hopeful auguries for the future, and he trusted that before it closed the Government would endeavour to deal with the question of arrears, which was now the most urgent point of the Irish difficulty. Mr. Clancy remarked that not a single moonlighter had been brought under the operation of the Coercion Act which had been used by the Government for the persecution of their political opponents, and to enable the landlords to get in their rents. The "plan of campaign," he declared, had been a conspicuous success, and it could not be suppressed. After some remarks by Mr. Handel Cossham, the debate was adjourned on the motion of Mr. J. E. Ellis. The House adjourned at a ouarter to one.