The Parnellites exhibited their patriotism on Monday night by repeated
motions of adjournment intended to defeat the Law of Evidence Amendment Bill, and this though the Attorney. General offered to exclude Ireland from its operation. The intention of the Bill is to permit the accused to give evidence for what it is worth,—a proposal the adoption of which in cases not strictly criminal has already resulted, as Sir Henry James showed, in relieving many innocent persons of unjust and very grave charges. The Parnellites, however, are determined not only not to give that additional chance to justice in their own country, but not to allow it in ours, and the adjournment of the debate was moved once by Mr. Healy, once by Mr. Macneill, and once by Mr. Conybeare, who now habitually ads with these noble allies ; and the Government at last gave way, and assented to the adjournment of the debate. Why did they not apply the Closure ? This is precisely the sort of obstruction for which the Closure is the only "available remedy," and we might even
say the only "perfect remedy." For Irish Members to insist on innocent Irishmen getting convicted who would not other- wise be convicted, is bad enough ; but to insist on innocent Englishmen being convicted too, whether they like it or not, is a little beyond the limits of toleration.
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