Widnes Examiner. — 1888-12-08 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

SUPPLY.—THE IRISH ESTIMATES. - - - •  The House then went into Committee on the Irisl. Estimates. Criticism arose on the political leanings of tho Lord-Lieutenant, on the payment of his State officers, and on the preeent distribution ot Queen's Plates. When the vote of £12,707 for the Chief Secretary's salary and expenses was reached, Mr. J. ELLIS moved its reduction by £425, and spoke with considerable irony of the Chief Secretary's Lodge in Phcenix Park. No one, he said amid laughter, occupying the position of Mr. Balfour had had less occasion for fuel there, and therefore he wished to istrike off that item. The vote raised the whole policy of the Government in Ireland, and he held that the Chief Secretary's policy had been one of brutality, concealment, and evasion. Mr. Bervonn replied with some warmth. Mr. Guterrornt followed, and in a powerful speech. brushed away Mr. Balfour. He diselaimed any intention ef attributing to the Chief Secretary personal responsibility for his Irish policy, which, he said, he threw upon the Cabinet in its collective capacity. ne severely condemned the personal attacks Mr. Balfour made upon himself and othcrs. Especially he censured his allusions to Lord Spencer's connection with the imprisonment of Mr. T. Harrington under the late Government, and taunted him with repeating his charges by additional untrue statements instead of offering the apology to Lord Spencer to which he insisted he was entitled. Touching upon the circumstances connected with the murder of Kinsella and the imprisonment of Mr. Mandeville which he characterised as shocking and brutal,—he referred to them to show the utter apathy of the Government where injury was done to Irishmen who belonged to the National party. Ha next rehearsed the details connected , with the Mitchelstown riot, contending that the action of 1 the police was/ eltogether unjustifiable, and enlarged upon the gross injUstice done to the Irish people by the incompetence of some of the resident magistrates. In Ireland the ministers of law and order trampled law and order under foot. Of all the delusions ever attempted to be practised in the country the grossest and least warrantable was this—that the administration of the law which now prevailed in Ireland was an honourable, pure, or just administration, or that the Government who supported it were champions of law and order. Mr. A. J. BALFOrrt explained that for his error at Glasgow about the treatment of the member for Dublin, he had apologised to Lord Spencer. Tfe defended the trial of Kinsella's murderer. Mandeville's death had nothing to do with his treatment in prison. Observing Mr. Gladstone leaving the House, Mr. Balfour remarked that the right hon, gentleman preferred to make accusations to listening to debate. He supported and approved Dr. Barr's action, and said the action of the police at Mitchelstown was perfectly legal. Mr. Gladstone having returned to hie place Mr. Balfour, continuing, said ho could not plead guilty to evading difficulties or shirking disagreeable points. Often as these things were refuted, the Opposition still depended on the old dishes, cooked and re-cooked, and served up time after time, till he should have thought that those who cheered most loudly were sickened and nauseated. After speeches from Mr, Flynn, Mr. A. Pease, and Mr. Waddy, Mr. Dit.tom dwelt upon the unfair and partisan spirit in which the law was adtninistered in Ireland, and charged the Government with aiding and abetting the improper acquittal of loyalists charged with crime. Sir G. TRINELYAN, detailing the circumstances attending the relaxation of the prison rules in favour of Mr. T. Harrington, contended that Lord Spencer acted in strict accordance with the law and the prison rules, and pointed out that Lord Spencer's version of the affair was a direct contradiction or Mr. Balfour's statement Mr. A. J. 11.sr.vozin persisted in his content ion that Lord Spencer had acted illegally and Irregularly in regard to Mr. Harrington. The debate was adjourned, and the House adjourned at 1 10.