Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1893-02-18 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

THE DYNAMITE PRISONI.:I:,4.  The debate on the Address was resumed by Mr. J. Redmond, vho moved an amendment representing that the cases of all prisoners convicted under the Treason Felony Act, now undergoing punishment for otfeeces arising out of insurrectionary movements connected with Ireland, might be advantageously reconsidered, lie urgf d the release of these men on the grounds that they were political offenders, that a reconsideration of their convictions Would shew that many of these were of a dubious chisracter, and that even if an amnesty Nws riot approved of the men had been punished sufficiently for their crimes.—Mr. Clancy having seconded the imendment.  Mr. Asquith stated that since he had become Voffie Secretary he had most carefully considered all the cases, and all the facts aod Allegations of and if he entertained any doubt as to the propriety of the convictions or the extent of the punishment he should have acted upon it. In the case of Egan there was nothing to connect him with participation in the conspiracy for using dynamite, ind considering that he had been sufficiently punished for the offence of treason-felony he (the Vome Secretary had ordered his release. The evidence of the guilt of the other prisoners was conclusive; they had been guilty of a most heinous crime, next only to that of murder, and so long as he was Home St cretary none of them would receive reatment different from that of other criminals. By such terrible and reckless methods as the dynamiters adopted against society they put themselv,s outside the pale of political prisoners, and such persons, he declared, amidst cheers from both sides of the House, should receive 110 consideration or indulgence from any British Government. . .  , Mr.- F. Harrington deplored the unconciliatory tone of the Home Secretary, and declared that it would increase the difficulties of the Government. —Colonel Nolan described the Home Secretary's speech as an electioneering move for the purpose Of getting English votes.—Mr. B. Coleridge agreed with the conclusions of the Home Secretary, but regretted the tone of his remarks. He hoped that whatever vote they might give it would not be considered that they had finally closed the iion deors.—Sir F. Milner thought that the ir i4nly and satisfactory speech of the Home ecrt tary would reassure the House and the c.untrv. Mr. Justin M'Carthy agreed with previous speakers in regretting the tone of the Home Secretary, which suggested the closing of the gates of mercy with a clang. While he and his friends considered that the motion was brought forward at a time which was not opportune or favourable, they could not refuse to support it. He suggested that the grant of Home Rule would be an appropriate occasion for the exercise of clemency. —Mr. A. J. Balfour expressed his hearty concurrence with the speech of the Home Secretary, and congratulated the Liberal Party and the country upon having the services of a politician who knew his own mind upon the questions with which as Home Secretary he had to deal, and could state it without circumlocution or ambiguity. On a division the amendment was negatived by 397 against 81. Mr. O'Neill moved the adjournment of the debate on the Address, which was resisted by Sir W. Harcourt, and, after an acrimonious discussion, it *as negatived by 263 against 183.