HC Deb 23 February 1883 vol 276 cc712-4
MR. JACOB BRIGHT

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If Mr. Timothy Harrington is now undergoing two months' imprisonment for having used the following words in a speech delivered on the 17th December last:— Now I advise the tenant-farmers of this locality to come forward zealously and give a fair day's wages for a fair day's work. The agitation which has been carried on for the last four years will be turned against them if they do not come forward now and assist the labourers in their hour of need. I have learned since I came here, that a great many of the farmers had got a reduction of from 10 to 25 per cent., and they should come forward now and assist the labourers in their hour of need; and, if these words did not constitute the offence, will he inform the House what were the words upon which the prisoner was condemned?

MR. TREVELYAN

Sir, the words quoted in the Question are some of those in consequence of which the prosecution in this case was instituted by the Government. The suggestion of directing against a class an agitation of the nature of that which had been carried on for the last few years in Ireland is as clear and dangerous a case of intimidation as could well occur. I may add that an appeal was lodged against the decision of the magistrates, and that the case was completely re-heard before a County Court Judge—who, as the House is aware, is not dependent on the Government, being removable only by an Address from both Houses of Parliament—and the decision of the magistrates was affirmed.

MR. O'DONNELL

May I ask the Chief Secretary, as this is a case of intimidation against the people of Westmeath, whether the Mr. Harrington referred to in this Question is the same Mr. Harrington who is the only and accepted candidate for the representation of the county of Westmeath, which he is pretended to have intimidated?

MR. TREVELYAN

So far as we know, he is the same person; but I do not consider that the intimidation is less formidable when it is directed against the large farmers.

MR. JACOB BRIGHT

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if there are any other words for which this gentleman has been condemned, and, if so, whether he will repeat them?

MR. TREVELYAN

I have the words by me, and I can give the whole passage if the hon. Member desires. The Government, in directing the prosecution, has to look in many cases to the general character of the speech, the presumed object for which it was spoken, the place where it was spoken, and its probable effect; but the actual words on which the Crown relied to prove the act of intimidation may, standing by themselves, appear to be comparatively—I only say comparatively—feeble.

MR. JACOB BRIGHT

Will the right hon. Gentleman state the other words relied on?

MR. TREVELYAN

The passage which attracted the attention of the Government was this— He (Mr. Harrington) had teen informed, when inquiring to-day as to the condition of the farmers of Westmeath, that many of them were apathetic towards this National movement, and the reason given was that in Westmeath they held good farms, and were tolerably comfortable. He wished these large and comfortable and apathetic farmers to understand that they were in this condition owing to the efforts made for them by their brethren; and comfortable farmers in Ireland generally must be told that if they did not throw themselves into this movement, they would have the whole force of the labourers' agitation directed against them. Now, Mr. Harrington is an extremely prominent and formidable person, and the Government at that moment were satisfied from the general state of the country—as I shall prove this evening—that if it was necessary to make an example, it was necessary to make one of some formidable man.

MR. PARNELL

I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has heard, since he has held the Office of Chief Secretary, of any single crime being committed in Ireland that was due to the labourers' agitation?

MR. O'DONNELL

Why has the right hon. Gentleman the Chief Secretary omitted from his quotation from the speech of Mr. Harrington the following sentences:— I have learnt since I came to town to-day, that reductions ranging from 10 to 25 per cent have been made to those farmers. If that is the truth, I call on them to exercise the com- monest sentiments of gratitude, and to give to the men who have worked in the agitation for them a fair share in the results.

Is that a part of the case for the Crown?

[No answer was given to this Question.]