Mr. Smith's reply was very calm. The proper method for
Mr. Parnell was, he still maintained, as the Government had always maintained, to go to the Courts of Justice. Mr. Parnell had declined this remedy, on the ground that he could not trust a jury, and he asked for a Committee of the House of Commons. The Government do not think that at all a fit tribunal for such a case, and so they offer Mr. Parnell one that would be fit, though not, they think, so fit as the ordinary Court. Further, in replying to Mr. Sexton, Mr. Smith promised to try to submit the names of the Com- missioners on the second reading, and before the Committee stage. Mr. Dillwyn protested against the tribunal, on the ground that it would " not be impartial, but would be manipu- lated by her Majesty's Government,"—an imputation which seems to us to exceed the ordinary bounds of even Parlia- mentary criticism. A Government which should " manipu- late " such a Commission would deserve to be impeached and sent to the Tower, and the Judges who allowed themselves to be " manipulated " would be as dishonourable as the Govern- ment.
