HC Deb 11 July 1898 vol 61 cc600-4

On the Motion— That the House do now adjourn,

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)

I think this is the first time I have spoken on an occasion of this kind, but I wish again to direct the attention of the right honourable Gentleman the Chief Secretary for Ireland to what is likely to happen in Donegal to-morrow morning. The right honourable Gentleman is well aware that I have repeatedly asked questions in reference to the contemplated Orange demonstrations in the town of Donegal. The right honourable Gentleman seems to have been absolutely ignorant and kept in ignorance by his officials in Dublin Castle, of the true nature of these affairs. Now, Sir, some three weeks ago it was advertised in all the Orange papers that an Orange hall would be opened in the town of Donegal, and that various Orange contingents from the various surrounding districts would all assemble in Donegal and march through the streets with Orange insignia. This new Orange hall is, I understand, situated absolutely outside the town. The town of Donegal is, as every honourable Member knows, a town whose inhabitants are almost overwhelmingly Catholic. The proportion of Catholics to Protestants would be about five to one. Under these circumstances I have brought this matter under the notice of the right honourable Gentleman, and I have brought to his notice that there has been posted in the town of Donegal and its neighbourhood a placard of a most malignant and abominable character. Of course, this placard, by whomsoever written, shows the true animus of this gathering, and it shows the passions likely to be inflamed by a gathering of this kind. I will read some passages of this placard— A Grand Orange Demonstration will be held in Donegal on Tuesday, July 12, 1898. Papists stand aside! We have conquered you before and can do it again! Our motto still is 'To hell with the Pope!' Hurrah for King William! Is not the right honourable Gentleman aware that the placard has been stuck all over the town of Donegal?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

I have seen the placard myself, Sir, and there is he printer's name upon it.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

Of course it is repudiated by the Orange leaders, but it shows the animus of the understrappers of the party. Now, Sir, I put to the right honourable Gentleman on Friday last a series of questions. One question was— Whether, having regard to the occurrences in Belfast— Of course I referred to the riots there— and the fact that the Government insisted that a Nationalist procession should not take its route through a quarter of the city in which the population was overwhelmingly Orange or Protestant, a similar provision will be made as to the route of the Orange procession in the town of Donegal, where the population is mainly Catholic? The right honourable Gentleman gave me a reply that there was no analogy whatever between the cases of Belfast and Donegal. What are the facts? In a telegram that I have placed before the right honourable Gentleman to-day, and of which he has a copy, it is disclosed now, and proved beyond yea or nay, that on Wednesday last, at a meeting at the petty sessions held at Donegal, presided over by resident magistrates and Castle officials, with a Protestant clergyman in the chair, at which three Unionist magistrates, and one Nationalist, and also the district inspector of the locality were present, the magistrates unanimously forwarded a message to Dublin Castle that they had unanimously decided in order to preserve the public peace, that the Orangemen should be prevented from entering the town of Donegal on 12th July, under any circumstances, and that the Orangemen bad other convenient routes by which to reach the Orange hall. The magistrates' decision had been ignored by Dublin Castle. The Belfast magistrates' decision was not ignored by the Castle, because Belfast was a Protestant place, but at Donegal it was ignored by the Castle because here it is useful for the Government, I suppose, to have an Orange procession in the heart of a Catholic district—in order, no doubt, to bring about peace! Why did the right honourable Gentleman give me such an answer on Friday evening if he knew—as he ought to have known—that the Castle had decided to overrule the local authorities, that this was no analogy? He gave me this answer through official information, which is entirely untrue and erroneous. What does he propose to do to-morrow? This Orange hall is a quarter of a mile certainly, possibly half a mile, out of the town. All the Orangemen can get to it without passing through the town of Donegal. One Orange contingent from a village about four or five miles from Donegal would, in its most direct route, pass through Donegal, and the arrangement had been that this contingent should pass through the town on its way to the meeting, provided that they did not have any insignia in evidence. All this has now been utterly changed, and the procession, as I am informed, will be marshalled half a mile outside the town, and then march through with bands and banners and all the beautiful insignia of the brotherhood. The right honourable Gentleman knows what has occurred in Belfast. He knows what Orangemen are like. He knows the exasperation that may be excited in the population. I ask him now to do this: to see that the rules and regulations laid down by the local bench of magistrates shall be carried out. It will not harm anyone if these Orangemen have their meeting outside the town. There is no necessity for their coming through Donegal except the necessity for creating exasperation and bad feeling. Does the right honourable Gentleman wish to create that exasperation and bad feeling? If there be any disturbance or bloodshed, or loss of property, I say, if he does not keep the regulations made by the magistrates, he himself is primarily and personally responsible. I have brought this matter, as I thought it my duty to do so, under the notice of the House.

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

The honourable Gentleman has not, I think, for the first time, discovered a mare's nest. I think I cannot place the case more dearly before the House than by reading first the telegram which the honourable Member was courteous enough to show me at an early period or the evening, and on which he founded his information, and then to read the telegram which I have received. The telegram on which the honourable Member founds his view of the case is to the following effect— Magistrates assembled at Petty Sessions last Wednesday unanimously decided in order to preserve public peace that Orangemen be prevented entering Donegal on 12th July under any circumstances, and that Orangemen have other convenient routes to reach Orange Hall. Magistrates' decision ignored by Dublin Castle. It is now ascertained entire body of Orangemen are to form a procession half mile from town and march through Donegal. This is contrary to undertaking given by authorities that only one contingent would be allowed to pass through the town, without any display. This looks like breach of faith. That is the telegram on which the honourable Gentleman founds his statement. These are the facts— Magistrates assembled at Donegal on Wednesday last passed no formal resolution with regard to what should be done on 12th July, but had conference in the magistrates' room before petty sessions. Expressed it as their opinion that Orange processions as then arranged should not be allowed to march through the town of Donegal. Magistrates made no communication of their views to Dublin Castle. Commissioner Wheelan, who was sent down to make arrangements for the preservation of the peace, concurred in views expressed by the magistrates that general procession should not be allowed to pass through the town, but that certain contingents should be allowed to pass through portions of the town which would be their direct route. These contingents, if not so permitted, will be obliged to make a detour of five or six miles. Arrangements were made by Commissioner Wheelan after consultation with local magistrates and county inspector with full knowledge. Arrangement made has not been altered, nor is there any intention to alter it. Therefore there is no question of breach of faith. The most careful arrangements have been made to secure the preservation of the public peace.

House adjourned at 12.20.