The Coercion Act.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 49, 4 October 1887, Page 4

The Coercion Act.

Speaking at a banquet at the f National Liberal Union Mr Parnell i eaid No more unnecessa v measure t was ever brought forward than the Coercion Act. Ido not believe the ; Government will ever use it. If they really, honestly, and fairly proceed to tarry out amendments in their present Bill which have been sketched and foreshadowed bv Lord Salisbury, and I if these amendments are fairly and ■ honestly carried out in Ireland, and j are not frustated, I do hot believe j they will use this Coercion Act,- and

consequently it will be a standing | memorial to wasted time, and a proof ■ that there was nothing in Ireland to • warrant such a measure. There was great distress ; there was the impos- I sibility of paying certain rents, and •urelv, the sensible way would have

been’to have done what they say thev are not willing to do. Notwithstana* Ing the threats of the Government, notwithstanding their refusal of beneficial legislation, notwithstanding numerous evictions, in excess to the numbers known for many years past,

Crime in Ireland has been decreasing. That fact is all to jour credit: and I trust it may continue to be to your credit. I trust the Irish people may continue to rely upon the good faith of the English Liberal party; that even where they were oppressed, where they are trampled upon, where they are evicted, they will be slow to retaliate j that they will remember that the Conservative Government will not last for ever, and that from the point of view of self-interest alone, if not from the point of view of gratitude, they will see that it would be foolish for them to throw away the splendid position which has been won for them, and they would be most ungrateful if by any words, or by any act, or bv any programme, or by any policy, they were to endanger their position or to retard the progress of the great Liberal party in the path of justice to Ireland, (Loud cheers)