Thereupon Mr. Parnell rose, in what appeared to be great
indignation, to protest' against being asked to accept or reject the Bill without being told anything about it. " A more monstrous proposition," he said, " was never made by a Minister occupying the position of the right honour- able gentleman." " Now, Sir, I say this is not a question for me. It is not a question for the right honourable gentleman. If these letters are true and genuine, if they were ever dictated by me, if they were ever signed by me, I, who am termed an honourable Member of this House, am dishonourable and dishonoured." And Mr. Parnell declared that the Government ought to insist on the inquiry without giving him (Mr. Parnell) any choice in the matter. Mr. W. H. Smith ought, he maintained, to have said,—" The Govern- ment are determined to have this investigation whether the honourable Member, the alleged criminal, likes it or not,—the Government will investigate the matter to its very source and root." He had, he declared, no reason to trust the Government, who had "made themselves accomplices in these foul, scan- dalous, and disgraceful libels." But he would not let the Government back out of the investigation. In short, Mr. Parnell raged violently against the Government for offering him a far more impartial and effective investigation than he had himself professed last year that he would eagerly accept.
