IRISH AFFAIRS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1571, 21 April 1887, Page 4

IRISH AFFAIRS.

London, April 16. In the House of Commons last night, the dcbiie on the Irish Crimes Ui .1 was resumed. In the course of a speech in support of the measure, Colonel Saunderson, the Conservative member for North Armagh, denounced the Parneilites as associates of known murderers. Mr Thomas Healey thereupon called Colonel (Saunderson a liar, and was called upon by the Speaker to withdraw, luimint? to do so, be was suspended from silling in the House by 118 to 52 votes. Mr Thos. Sexton then demanded that Colonel baundereon should retract his statement, and denounced him as a “cowardly liar.” Ultimately both Mr Sexton and Colonel Saunderson retracted, and order was restored, April 17. In the House of Commons, during the debate on the Crimes Bill, Colonel Saunderson accused Mr Sexton of attending a meeting of the Clanargail Murderers Society when Egan was elected President. Mr Sexton replied that Colonel Saunderson was an “ infernal liar,” and threatened to cram the statement down his throat,, and thrash him within an inch of bis life when he got him outside. A scene of terrific uproar ensued, but finally Saunderson and Sexton, in deference to the Speaker, retracted the statements. Fearing the arrival of dynamiters, American vessels are being vigilantly watched. . , April 18., In Mill Street, County Cork, yesterterday, an attempt was made to assassinate Mr Hegarty, a - Magistrate, who received a severe .gunshot wound, i'he man. who fired, the shot is not yet arrested. The limes has published a facsimile letter, dated Jstb May, 1882, signed by Mr Parnell, which is believed to have been addressed to Patrick Egan a week after the Phoenix Park murders. Mr Parnell explains that he was compelled to denounce the outrage, as the only course open to him consistent with good policy ; and, although he regretted the accident by which Lord Frederick Cavendish was murdered, he admits that Mr T, U. Burke got no more than his deserts. Later. A tremendous sensation has been caused by the publication of Mr Parnell’s letter. In an article dealing with it, the Times says that the published views of Messrs Sexton and Healey on the Phoenix Park crime are mere unblushing denials of the accusation that Purnellites were associated with the murderers. It believes that Mr Parnell feared his life would be endangered if he publicly denounced the perpetrators of the murders. The Times challenges him to explain the letter, and calls attention to a speech he delivered two days after the tragedy, in which he suggested that the deed was committed by the enemies of the Land League, It further points cut that in this speech Mr Parnell professed the utmost abhorrence of the heinousnsss ot the crime, saying it was committed by the enemies of Ireland, and, in conclusion, charges him with having been associated with the murderers, A great scene is expected in the House of Commons to-night. April 19. Mr Parnell, in the House of Commons last night, declared that the letter published by the Times is a villainous barefaced forgery. Last night a divisoin was taken on Colonel Samuelson’s motion that the Irish Crimes Bill bo rejected. The motion was defeated by 370 to 269. The Bill was then read a second time without a division being taken. After the second reading ot the Crimes Bill was carried, Mr Sexton declared it would be useless to appeal to an English jury, Mr Gladstone predicts that the Act would produce a of secret societies, and lead to an increase of crime. In a speech at Edinburgh, the Marquis of Hartington said that the time ( had not yet arrived for a satisfactory | solution of the Irish difficulty. He urged that prior to any feasible attempt being made to influence the Irish party, or sacrifice the integrity of the Empire, it would be necessary for that party to throw over their revolutionary prin-

oiplee.