LORD SALISBURY AND THE TIMES.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVIII, Issue 4, 23 May 1890, Page 13

LORD SALISBURY AND THE TIMES.

The debate in the House of Lords (says the Pall Mall Gaeette, March 27) was remarkable for the bold way in which Lord Salisbury knocked over the pretences which his supporters have set up, and stood forward — open and unshamed — as the double of the Times. But, indeed, he did more than that : he ignored the Times altogether, and frankly took upon himself and his party the responsibility for the " charges and allegations." Here are some of the passages from his speech which put the matter in the clearest light :

'• We did not charge them with complicity in crime ; we charged them with using crime. We said there was a communication between the two parties which enabled the Parliamentary party to allow crime to go forward or restrain it in proportion as their political interests might require. If we take an interest in their innocence or guilt, it is not on account of the individuals themselves ; it is not because we wish to make a case against any political opponent, but because we wish to elucidate the conditions of a political society which is having at present the deepest effect upon the fate of this country, and which, if the aspirations of those who are struggling in unison with the Irish Parliamentary party should be crowned with success, will stamp a more notable effect upon English history than any previous incident in the long career of this country."

After this, what need have we of further witnesses 1 The Prime Minister admits in the fullest manner what we have always asserted, namely, that the Government were parties to the accusation, and that the underlying motive iv the appointment of the Commission was simply and solely a desire to advance a party cause. The report was adopted, and the Dublin Nation remarks :• -That "we "is most, material to the understanding of the conspiracy. It is the first confession of the Tories that it wa3 they who were behind (< Parnellism and Crime." It is the first public association of the Government with the Times. The "we" of the Forger and the "me" of her Majesty's First Minister are at length proclaimed to be one. That is the only thing worth remembering about the debate.

Editor Stead, of the Pall Mall Gazette, a non-Catholic, givei the following as the Catholic population in the countries enumerated -—France, 36,400,000 ; Austria-Hungary, 29,580,000 ; Italy, 28,000,000 ; Spain, 17,870 000; Germany, 16,830,000; Belgium, 5,500,000 ; Poland. 4,000,000 ; Portugal, 4,300,000 ; Ireland, 3,960,000; Great Britain, 1.320,000; other countries in Europe, 6,000,000; America, 51,000,000; Asia. 9,000,000; Africa, 2,600,000 ; Australia, 670,000. Total, 216,430,000.

The amount of water passing over Niagara Falls varies with the height of tho river. Prof., W. D. Gunning estimates the average amount at 18,000,000 cubic feet per minute. Allowing sixty-two and a half pounds to the cubic foot, this would give a total of 562,500 tons per minute, or 25,312,500 tons in 45 minutes, of which somewhat more than two-thirds passes over the Horseshoe Falls,

Another symptom of impending and deliberate disruption is the virulence of the tone adopted by Lord Salisbury and his veracious nephew (says United Ireland of sth April) with reference to the Irish leaders and the forged letters of the Times. The attitude of these two " statesmen " towards this dark scandal is without any modern parallel. It is inlamous and cowardly in the lowest possible degree. In the debates in the House of Commons over the question, the Chief Secretary, under the cloak of Parliamentary discussion, endeavoured substantially to repeat the slanders of the Times in " Parnellism and Crime " over again. The uncle surpassed the nephew in the House of Lords on Friday night when moviDg the adoption of the Judges' report. In order to raise the value of that portion of the report to which the Irish party attach no significance, bis lordship had to face the task of proving that even bad Pigott's forgeries been genuine documents, they prove little or nothing against Mr. Parnell or aoybody else, and were, in fact, of very little consequence. It was no part of his business to expain why, if this were so, the famous facsimile letter was published by the Times, in manifest connivance with Lord Salisbury's Government, on the very morning of the day when the everlasting Coercion Act was introduced. It served its purpose then ; it is no consequence whatever now. Lord Salisbury went on to paint the Irish leaders in all the dirtiest colours on his palette ; and though he was ably answered by ex-Lord Chancellor Herschell, Lord Kimberley, and Lord Spencer, the Premier's motion was adopted by the Peers without a division. His speech, as well as that of his nephew, was plainly intended for the country. They are simply •' Parnellism and Crime " over again, in a revised and more cowardly shape. They are intended to take immediate effect ; for slow poieoa is not very serviceable in politics. Hence the constituencies will probably be soon called upon to decide between the party of justice and the Palmers of British politic*.