The Herald of Wales. — 1887-05-14 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

SWANSEA LIBERAL CLUB.  The adjourned debate on the Coercion Bill was resumed on Monday evening, at the Liberal Club, there being a large number of leading Liberals and Unionists present. Mr. Perkins was voted to the chair.—Mr. Malden, in reopening the debate, said he believed that all Liberals, Liberal Unionists, and Tories believed in the maintenance of just laws and the repression of crime in Ireland, but he maintained they should give np coercive measures and try others. He believed there was a slight increase of crime in Ireland, hut he did not think Vast that slight increase justified the Government in pressing such an extreme measure as the Crimes Bill. His contention was that the increase lof crime was caused by the Tory Government in refusing Mr. Parnell's just claim that a bill should be passed, relieving the Irish tenants tewporararily from paying rent The speaker then touched on the attitude of the Unionists, and proposed the following resolution :—" That this meeting, whilst agreeing with the maintenance of all just laws, and the repression of crime, considers that the present condition of Ireland does not justify the introduction of the Bill new before the Hon‘ea of Commons, which is not designed to suppress crime so much as to interfere with the Irish people to combine for the reduction I of unfair rents, and the power to manage their ' own affairs. Further, this meeting condemns , the sction of the Dissentient Liberals in I supporting such a meautre."—Mr. W. Howell seconded.—Mr. Perkin., in a vigorous speech, strongly condemned the Crimes Bill The question was hare put to the meeting, whether Liberals who were not members of the club, were entitled to speak, and it was resolved that all true Liberals were entitled to express their views.—Mr. Hughes, a Unionist, then asked if it was right that the Irish people should be allowed to murder, to boycott, and burn the dwellings. He contended it was a disgrace to the Engli.da people to allow su3h thiegs to go on in the light of day, without using lawful means to put them down. —Mr. Howell was glad to see that Mr. Gladstone had changed bin views as regards Ireland within the past few years, He was glad to see that Mr. Gladstone was taking a broader view of the Irish question. Mr. Fox contended that the plan, of the I Government was not coercion, but a mere enI forcement of law, th tt was net coercion. He remarked, for his part, he was for giving Home Rule to Scotland, Ireland, England, and Wales.—Mr. Livingston thought it was unfair to suppose that Gladstonian Liberals wished separation and that gentlemen who called themselves Unionist Liberals had no right to say so. Mr. Davies trusted that the present Government would be soon overthrown, and that the Grand Old Man would have another chance of remedying the evils of Ireland. He thoroughly believed in Mr. Gladstone's present policy. —Mr. Heald criticized the remarks of Mr. Grant on the previous week, and contended that when Mr. Gladstone brought in his Bill he said he was willing the Till should be remodelled. He criticised the statement that the Crimes Bill was not I eoereive.—Mr. Tutton believed that the only reason the Unionists had for turning away from Mr. Gladstone was one of spite.—Mr. Harry condemned the action of the 'Tories with regard to Mr. Parnell.—Mr. Grant expressed surprise at the speeches he had heard that night by the Gladstonians and upheld the a3tion of the Government. Subsequently he proposed the following resolution :—"That dais meeting, eernestiy desiring that law and order might be maintained in Great Britain and Ireland, believes it to be the duty of every Government to punish crime, and heartily approves of the action of Lord Hartington, Mr. Goschen, Mr. Bright, Mr. Chamberlain, and Mr. Jesse Collings and the several Liberal Unionists who support the Criminal Law amendment Bill in Ireland. —Mr. Maiden's amendment, on being put to the meeting, was carried by a large majority, only five voting against it.