The Herald of Wales. — 1887-05-07 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

SWANSEA LIBERAL CLUB.  The Coercion Bill, now before Parliament, was the subject of an animated discussion at the Swansea Liberal Club, on Tuesday night. Owing to an alteration in the arrangements, Mr. Vicsry occupied the chair. There was a large number of well-known Liberals and others present. Mr. A. Gnat , opened the debate as a Unionist, and said the real title of the Bill was Crimes Bill, not Coercion ; in fact it was nothing more or lees than a Protection Bill for the innocent and loyal people in Ireland, who were now coerced by the National League to such an extent that they could not call their lives their own, or anything they possessed; they were entirely at the mercy of the National League, and it was to put an end to that state of things that the present Bill was sought to be . Liberty and right would be upheld; the law-breakers alone would be ooereed. lie maintained that no true hearted Irishman would feel anything like coercion were the Bill to pass. The administration of law in Ireland had fairly broken down; juries were really afraid to give any verdict against a Nationalist because if they did their lives were imperilled. The speaker then read extracts sheering the state of thing," existing under the tyrannical power of the National League. Ile characterised the Plan of Campaign as being illegal, and moved the following resolution That this meeting, earnestly desiring that law and order should 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 Hertington, Mr. Goechen, Mr. Bright, Mr Chamberlain' and Mr. Jesse Cuttings, and the several Liberal Unionist members of Parliament who rtriftpfi,rt C.liiml!ialillayeire.Am. Amendment (Ireland)r, V. Blewett regretted Mr. Grant had only advanced the opinions of other men in favour of the Coercion Bill, and had not given his own idea of the proposed legislation As to the loyalty of Irishmen they would find more mimes were committed in Ulster than in any other part of Ireland with a similar population; and yet Ulster was held up as a model dietriot. The present Bill would not only punish crime, but create crime.—Mr. R. Edwards said Mr. Grant had been trying to bolster up the action of the Government, which was a miserable failuie. —Mr. J. Fox supported the proposition remarking that the purport of the pr,posed Coercion Bill was simply the enforcement of the law of England in Ireland—Mr. J. W. Williams touched upon the psychological aspect of the question—Mr. James also spoke against th 3 proposed legislation.—Mr. Rutledge, an Irishman, spoke in favour of the resolution.—Mr. J. Livingston in a spirited speech, condemned the proposed Coercion Bill.—Mr. Sydenham Jones was of opinion nothing had been said by the Unionist party that night for the other aide to refute.—Mr. Heiden moved the following amendment:—' That this meeting, while be lieving in the maintenance of all just laws, and in the repression of crime, considers that the present condition of Ireland dose not justify the introduction of the bill now before Parliament, which is designed not so much to suppress crime as to interfere with the rights of the Irish people to combine for the purpose of obtaining a reduction of unfair rents, and the power to manage their own affairs; farther, this meeting condemn,' the action of the dissentient Liberals in supporting such a measure,"—Mr. W. Howell seconded—lt was then proposed to adjourn the debee till Monday next. This was agreed to, Mr. Hidden intimating he would then speak to his amendment. The meeting broke up at 10.40.  Jonas Rivett, who was sentenced to death fcr the murder of an &Hoer in Konainghall Workhouse haa been reprieved on the ground of it.. salty.