IRISH JOURNALISM.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 204, 4 October 1888, Page 3

IRISH JOURNALISM.

THE LANGUAGE USED BY MR O’BRIEN'S PAPER. A FEW NOTES FROM A LIBEL TRIAL. [fkom oub own correspondent] London, August 11. Yon could hardly believe the interest which has been looked throughout the world by the ex'raordinary phase which Irish affairs have now assumed, with the Times Commission and all the connecting circumstances. Here in London the feeling is altogether against the Parneliites, who are considered to have come very badly out of the big libel action. Indeed to my mind it seems that the true cause of Ireland is greatly damaged by some of its irresponsible advocates, and the effect is recoiled on the heads of those statesmen who would otherwise always carry the greatest weight. I send you an epitome of some of the evidence which came out in the charge of libel recently brought by Mr William O’Bri*n against the Cork Constitution. From it you will see in what a foolish spirit certain see ions of the party maintain the agitation. I think it only tends to postpone the recognition of any rights which the Irish people may be entitled to. In his examination Mr O'Brien was asked — Were you at Bodyke on February 5, 1837 ? —I addressed a meeting there. Did you say this—’* I tell you candidly that although we allow these policemen to withdraw from thia meeting because they are weak, a mercy which they never reciprocate to our people. I tell yon that if our people had power to meet them man to man and rifle to rifle in the open field I for one would cut short my speech-making this very moment, and the next speech that the destroyer of your homes would hear would be a speech from the mouths of your guns ’’ ?—I Baid that, and I believed it. You made a speech in Cork, on your arrival from Canada, on June 18?—Yes, I think so. Do you remember saying this—“ One most glorious effect of the thing is that the work of our campaign against Lord Lansdowne has been done without being stained by one action, word of violence, or crime, while Lord Lansdowne has added to his guilt as extertninator in Ireland the worst guilt of cowardly instigation to outrage in Canada ” ?—I did aceuse him of cowardly incitement to assassinate while I was passing through Canada. He gathered around him the Orangemen of Toronto, and the night of my meeting there he made a speech which, to my mind, encouraged attempts on my life. • Listen to this: “We knew Mr Townsend Trench was a merciless tyrant, a blasphemous hypocrite, but as a grim humorist he comes upon us by surprise.” That is from United Ireland ?—The expression “ blasphemous . bvpocrite" would probably refer to the fact that Mr Trench was addressing religious meetings in Dublin at a time when he was depopulating five square miles of country in the Queen's County for rents which the Land Aot of last year stamps as utterly unjust rents. But the Land Act of last year had not been passed at that time, and that, yon think, justifies you in calling him a blasphemous hypocrite?—l think Mr Trench’s conduct wholly justifies the expression. Inan article in the same United Ireland, referring to the Mitchelstown homicide, does this passage appear: “ The truth is that the bloodthirsty spirit of the Government has penetrated down to the lowest sub-constable in the ranks ” ?—Yes, unfortunately, that is true. 1 The policy of the coercionist is to create a disturbance ”?—Yes, that is also true, as the murders at Mitchelstown proved, ‘ They are not only defended by the Castle, but promoted and rewarded ' ?—Yes ; that is, unfortunately, true, as several cl the persons most conspicuous at Mitchelstown have since been promoted Now, what did you mean by saying ‘ tho bloodthirsty spirit ’ ?—I did not write it at fill. Did it not appear in United Ireland?—Yes. What was meant by the exoression ?—lt is in reference to the abominable system under which the police are encouraged and bribed to behave in a scoundrelly manner towards people whom they are paid to protect. At all events, the people were described as bloodthirsty ?—I repeat I did not write it; but all the same it is true. Ths police are bribed and encouraged to commit outrages on the people ?—Yes ; with the unfortunate system of the Government in Ireland there is a premium put on the misconduct of the police towards the people. Did you approve of the article ?—I did not see it. * The loathing and contempt shown for Mr Balfour on personal grounds. He is the ideal Chief Secretary, false, cowardly and crue'. He realises Byron's description of Castlereagh dabbling his silk-yarned hands in innocent blood, save that in hie death Castlereagh showed some consciousness of his infamy.’ Now did yon read that in United Ireland?—l should not have written that simply and solely a< a matter of taste. As to substance and fact the article carries out my view. Mr Atkinson (reading): * Balfour is conscious of his own infamy.’— Well, I should regret to say that, and I would not have alk lowed it to appear. At the same time I would not solely because it is the wrong way of saying what is perfectly true. (Laughter.) * Thu effeminate Sybarite does his slaughter by telegrams, and is callous about blood ' — As I have said, I would not have let the article appear. Was it not unjust to say that you believed he was cruel and ■ -No, Ido not think so. I think he is callous to human suffering. Was it not unja't to say- that with his sallow face he could read of peasants being butchered by his orders ? (Beading) *He is as guilty of unlawful blood-spilling as any man who ever dangled from a rope's end.' Did you mean by that that his life should be forfeited I No. certainly not. What was meant?—Well, I believe if he were to be tried under the old British constitutional law in olden times he would have lost his life. Did you mean that he committed murder 1 —Of course I did not mean to say that he dsliberately committed murder by any means. And what was meant by the expression * dangling at ths end of a rope ' ?—Under certain d'cumstances statesmen have lost their lives for deeds not immediately committed by them. * Not all the water in the rough sea can wash him e'ean of the butchery at Mitchelstown.' Does that represent that he ought to be hanged for murder ’—No answer. Should he be hanged ? Do you endorse the article ?—No, I do not endorse the language made use of. What is the guilt for which he ought to be dangled at the end of a rope ?—I should say his general administration in Ireland, involving the deaths of many people and the destruction of thou ands of families. And for these he should dangle at the end

of a rope ?—I have only said statesmen have lost their heads for such. Mr Atkinson : Now look to United Ireland of October 1,1887, under an article * Law and Order.’ In reference to Captain Plunkett it is stated, ‘To start with, we have Captain Plunkett, who oonooo’ed the prosecution, and Mr Carson, who conducted it, and never did conspirator mors unscrupulously find two more degraded——’ Mr Sullivan: Slightly incoherent— Mr Atkinson: That is not my fault. Witness : Nor mine either. I never beard O' it before. Mr Utkinson (reading): * Mr Balfour himself la for Civil war. He lusts for slaughter.’ Witness : Tbs expressions used there were Very objectionable. Did you mean, or do you wish to say, he lusts fur slaughter ?—No. He longs for civil war ?—No. What do you moan ?—I should say hs would not stop from provoking it to carry out his policy. If he has anything to complain of he has his remedy. Did you write an article after the publication of the libel f —As a matter of fact I have not written a line you have road toMr Atkinson: From the phraseology Ido not think you would. In United Ireland of March 38, were tho occurrouceo at Youghal detailed I—Yes. * It is no fault of Mr Balfour that the Mitchelstown massacres ware not perpetrated. The sinister Captain Plunkett was at the head of the combined forces,. and While Mfar wu eturing Sippkut false*

hoods to working men the real working men were threatened with death.’ Is not United Ireland the organ of the National Le gue ? — Most unquestionably not. At all events, it advocates the same policy ? —Quite so. Is Mr Pat Egan a proprietor?—Mr Egan is one of the proprietors. He is a gentleman who is in America ?— Yes. Is it not through him the money ig remitted, collected in America, to the National League over here ?—No. Through whom is it sent?—Through the National League of America. Is he not secretary of the National League of America ?—No. Is he not one of the officers ?—No. Is he connected with the Irish World ?—No, not that lam aware of. Mr Egan is a prominent member of the Irish National League in America. He is not an officer as far aa I know. After a few more questions on minor points, Mr O’Brien’s cross-examination concluded.