§ MR. J. C. FLYNN (Cork, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord 1431 Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the proceedings at a meeting of tenant farmers in Stewartstown, County Tyrone, on the 19th inst., held in support of the Report of the Select Committee on the Land Question; is he aware that the proceedings were interrupted by a number of Orange youths, who indulged in shouting and beating drums, and afterwards attacked the promoters of the meeting; and, were the police present; and, if so, why did they not intervene to protect a meeting held for a lawful purpose?
MR. J. MORLEYThe meeting to which reference is apparently made was held, not at Stewartstown, but at Clonmacate, in the Portadown district. I am informed that there was no organised opposition to the meeting prior to its being held, but that when it assembled some of the lower class of Unionists turned out with three drums and commenced to beat them in the vicinity of the meeting, whilst some got on the platform and interrupted the proceedings by shouting. No assault, however, was committed. A number of Orangemen attended the meeting as supporters of the object with which it was held, and no opposition was created by this body. The disturbance was solely the work of some low-class Unionists. The police were in the vicinity of the meeting, but not actually present at the proceedings, and the promoters of the meeting did not call for their services.
§ MR. BODKINasked if these disturbers of the meeting were stimulated by loyalty or otherwise.
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)pointed out that Portadown was not in the County of Tyrone.
§ MR. ALPHEUS C. MORTON (Peterborough)Can the right hon. Gentleman say what is a low-class Unionist.