HC Deb 08 February 1884 vol 284 cc313-6
MR. M'COAN

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether his attention has been drawn to an article entitled "Speed the Mahdi," from which an extract is subjoined, in the "United Ireland" newspaper of this week, of which Mr. William O'Brien, Member for Mallow, is the editor and publisher, and of which also Messrs. Parnell, McCarthy, and Biggar, are the registered proprietors; and, if so, whether it is the intention of the Right honourable Gentleman to bring the article in question before the notice of the House, or to take any other action with reference to it?— All hail again to this most excellent Moslem. The more we hear of him the better we like him. This time there falls to his account before Tokar 2,000 slain, four Krupp guns/two Gat-lings, and every camel and piece of baggage in Baker's train. Surely this is somewhat! Better than all is the impossibility of the English now relieving Sinkat or Khartoum, and the shake it gives the coercion régime at home. That the patriotic chief may drive every whey-faced invader that assails him into the Red Sea is the desire of every lover of freedom. We trust our next news may be that Gordon, who is advancing loaded with specie towards Khartoum, has met the same handling as Baker, and nothing would give us greater satisfaction than to chronicle the complete triumph of the Mahdi in the Soudan, and his victorious arrival before the walls of Cairo. … That the hand of Providence should fall heavy on the British for their unrighteous war and occupation must make every honest heart in Europe to rejoice.

MR. GLADSTONE

In regard to the Question of my hon. Friend asking for information upon certain matters of fact—namely, whether Mr. William O'Brien is editor and publisher of a certain newspaper—["No!"]—or "from which an extract is subjoined—["No, no!"]—in United Ireland, of which Mr. William O'Brien is editor and publisher "—["No, no!" from the Opposition—"that is not the Question."]

MR. M'COAN

I do not ask that.

MR. GLADSTONE

The hon. Gentleman does not ask that Question. I understood I was asked whether that Mr. O'Brien was editor and publisher of United Ireland, of which also certain gentlemen were the registered proprietors. ["No, no!"] I believe there is no question about that. I understand that to be the fact. The intention of the hon. Gentleman is to ask whether our attention has been called to a certain article, and whether we intend to take any action with reference to it. Well, Sir, with regard to that question we have no such intention. The House of Commons has no power to take, so far as I know, effective notice of such an article, and we do not think that the public interest would be served by bringing an article of this kind under the cognizance of the Courts of Law. With respect to the article itself, certainly it attracts rather forcibly the attention of anyone who reads it, and it evidently raises two topics. It contains a clear expression of opinion that the Mahdi is contending for the liberty of his country. That is a subject upon which I do not feel it my duty at the present moment to give any opinion. Nor do I pronounce any opinion upon what the hon. Member has said with regard to it. The other is the part in which he refers to the condition and action of England, especially the sentence— We trust our next news may be that Gordon, who is advancing loaded with specie towards Khartoum, has met the same handling as Baker. It may be a little difficult to interpret that sentence strictly—[Mr. GIBSON: No, no!]—inasmuch as—["No, no!"]—well, the right hon. and learned Gentleman sneers when I say it is a little difficult to interpret that sentence. [Mr. GIBSON: Hear, hear!] If the right hon. and learned Gentleman had waited he would have heard the end of my sentence. I am entitled to speak in this House without that description of interruption when I am speaking in my official capacity. The difficulty I feel in strictly interpreting that sentence is that whereas Paker Pasha went upon a warlike expedition, attended by 3,000 or 4,000 men, General Gordon goes upon a perfectly pacific expedition with a pacific object in view; and the writer of the article says he hopes that he may meet the same fate as Baker Pasha. Now, though I cannot interpret that sentence literally or strictly, yet I may say that I think that sentence, and some other portions of the same article—and in saying so I do not think I am going beyond my duty in stating it—will be read, I think, by all sensible and just-minded men with grief, and by many of them with indignation.

MR. O'BRIEN

I do not know whether the House will think it worth while to listen to a few words of personal explanation from me. There is one sentence in the article that I certainly regret, and that if I had had any voice as to its publication I would not have permitted to appear. That is the allusion to General Gordon, who has shown sympathy for Ireland, and whose opinions on Irish landlordism are very much our own. As to the rest of the paragraph, I shall only say that the first I heard of it was when the hon. Member (Mr. M'Coan) read it yesterday, and I unhesitatingly adopt it. It is not an extravagant expression of the admiration of the Irish people for every brave enemy of English aggression abroad.