DISRAELI AND BRIGHT ON THE KENEALY FIASCO.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 163, 5 July 1875, Page 2

DISRAELI AND BRIGHT ON THE KENEALY FIASCO.

In the debate in the House of Commons upon the motion of Dr Kenealy for the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into, the conduct of the Judges who tri^d the Tichborne claimant, Mr Disraeli said :— I think this debate should not be entirely confined to gentlemen of the long robe, and, therefore, I am anxious to make a few remaakg. This to-night \a the coneequenfle of ao alleged miscarriage of justice, brought about by corrupt motives on tbe part of the Judges. Now, there can be no subject more deserving of the attention of Parliament tban a case of this kind, provided the j charge is well founded. I have listened with great care to tbe hon. member who has introduced the matter to our notice to-night, anel have done so as impartially as I can do in regard to a matter that for a considerable time has occupied the attention of everybody; and I am bound to say that it does not appear to me tbat he has brought fo.w.rJ a case that would justify us iii interfering. (Hear, hear). The hon. gentleman has appealed to tfie Houst/ of Commons, and he cannot complain of 'jnot having received calm attention. Yeßwhat is tbe result of all these great preparations, and why is tbe House off Commons arrested in the, progress df its labors— '•tCgJfeers)— and why a.c w*e threatened through the land with bo_jrible catastrophes and impending revolutions ? (Laughter). Why ara Ye called upon to listen to a thrice-told, tale— (cheers)— by one who, like thy actor who has starred the province^ desires to seal his reputation in -the metropolis ? (Laughter) The hon. member makes a charge against the late Government, but they oniy did what aoy other Administration in power would have bad to do — (bear, hear)-—&nd they only did .their duty'; and they wouldbave been liable to the gra vest, (impgattdns if they had not done so. He charged the late Government with befog engaged in a dark conspiracy, but he has not brought for-, ward ther* evidence in support of that charge. fCheers); He apeaks of evidence which was not called, and which would bave strengthened the defendant's case. Well, we all know that when q mjnority is beaten in the Houae it's ail through somebody hay/ ing been snowed up. (Laughtefj. Another poiut id one wbicb, if true, would be of the gravest character, 1 allude to tbe allegations against the Judges; I call upon the Honse to observe that as regards two of these Jadgeß there is not the shadow of an allegation, but the name of ihe Lord Chief- Justice has been mentioned. It is against the Lord Chief Justice ihat the country hss been qgUatedj apd wjjat h the evidence which has been brought forward by the hon member in order to substantiate a charge which never ought to be ventured upon unless it can be vindio«te4 by .eß_i_nony qf tho most.

incontestible character? We know something about the Lord Chief Justice. He is a mau of transcendent abilities. -He was for a considerable time a member for this House. He did not belonz to the political connection of which i am proud to be a member, but I was proud of being a member of the House of Commons in which he aat. His eloquence is remembered iv this House and when he left us to ascend to the highest place io the highest tribunal almost of the nation, he sustained his reputation with learning aod majesty. But it is not only as ao eminent Judge that be has distinguished himself. He has shown himself a jurist and a publicist of the highest character, aud a man who can be intrusted with the most unpor tuft national interest,, and who at a critical period vindicated those interests (loud cheers)— and sustained the honor of his country. (Cheers.) We are told we are advancing on a volcano, and that there will be a revolution to-morrow— (laughter)— and if a certain resolution is not oarried to-night all is to be dark to-morrow, and this House of Commons may never assemble again. (Laughter.) Ihis, I must say, is one of the most' preposterous things— l am not talking of the trial, or of that singular history which posterity will not easily forgetbut I say tbis interlude, this second piece, this divertissement, is the most preposterous, the most absurd, and the flimsiest business that was ever brought beforo us. (Loud Cheers.)' .Twill v venture to express my belief that the condition of England and the House of Commons is no; so terrible aa the hon member has said., I trust the House' will to-night, iW manuer wbich caZ not be mistaken, show to the counjTy that we have treated this question in tbe spirit which it deserved, and failed ourselves of this opportunity/which has been given to the hon. member in a manner becoming to this House, aud, I hope, reassurlog to the country. The hon. gentleman has had his occasion. He has been before the House of Commons assembled ia no slight number^. He has stated his case with great ability and art. He has hud efory opportunity of marshalling his facts ami managing his inferences. He has put forward his strongest points; and what have they amounted to? They have amounted to this— to bring conriction to the fliind of everyone who has heard him that i-tvUhia agitation and all this tumult, whiafa have disturbed the country for month^ have no solid foundation j tbat there has been no mtscarriag^ of justice; and that England and Eirgiishmen may well be pcoud of /heir legal institutions, aud confident/in the administration of justice. (Loud and continued cheering.A He was followed byWr Bright, who said :— lt seems to me a most extravagant thing to say that the ca.e has not been fairly tried. There has been no trial so iong, I think— certainly not since the days of Warren Hastings. fact, I mink it was a trial ot a length perfectly without example. Four Judges— one ot ihem the Chiel- Justice of ihe Court of Cohimou Pleas, auother the Lord Chief-Justice, and two other Judges, ail of reputations equal to those of aay Judges oa (he Bench— theso four Judges have had the case under

(.For continuation see Jourlk payc.)

tbeir view, and tbeir fl-ptnent bas been perfectly unanimon^ There bave been two juries, and no one can say tbey were packed. No one could look over tbe names, or rather the designations, of tbe jurymen, without acknowledging tbat tbe last jury waa aa representative in its character and apparently as impartial as any jury could be, (dear.) There is no criminal trial, io my opinion, in which it is lesß just to quarrel with facte tban thiß one. (Cheerß } If you go among the people and teach them there was come dark design in tbat trial, come dark and mysterious conspiracy, you do a great barm to tbem, you wound them ia tbeir dearest interests. (Cheers) You turn them against tbe institutions which exist oniy for tbeir guardianship. (Loud cheerß.) I confess lam not / squeamish abont the dißCus.ion of eitheV Judges or juries. I don't want to s/y that fiUher of them are immaculate ; bot I say tbat after tbe facts we know in this case it is a great public injury —nay, it is a great public wrong^ — ibat gentlemen of education, occupying a position as members of this House, should try to sbow to persons wno by no possibility bave had so good an opportunity of judging the question as the Judges and juries whose conduct was condemned, tbat tbe verdict was unjust. (Cheers.) I would uphotft ibe institutions of tbis country in the main as they exist— -(loud cheers)— iu regard to tbe administration of justice, and I believe the poorest in the land has at least as great an interest in tbat view as the riohest in tbe land. (Cheers.) It is because I believe that, tbat I cannot fcr a moment think of giving a vote to tbe hon. member for Sioke. (Loud cheers.) Dr Kenealy then replied, after wbich the House divided, when tbe numbers "were;— For the motion... • 1 Against.. 433 The gentlemen wbo supported the / motion were Dr Kenealy and Mr Whai-' ley, the two tellers, while the solitary member io the lobby with them was Major O'Gorman. -k ■ " - »