Mr. Labouchere evidently considers himself beyond the con- trol of
law. In a speech at the Junior Reform Club, Liver- pool, on Thursday, he "commented" on the proceedings of the Parnell Commission in a manner for which any orator not in Parliament would certainly be summoned for contempt. "Mr. Labouchere said those three Judges had to make a political report, not a report upon the criminal question, because the criminal issue had not yet come before them. What did they know about politics ? Not more than three old women knew about them. He believed that the Times was hoping and hoping that Sir James Hannen or one of the other Com- missioners might be taken ill. They were staving off the evil day when they would have to submit the evidence in regard to the letters. He knew this,—that when they did submit their evidence, not only would it be proved that Mr. Parnell and the other gentlemen accused did not write the letters, but it would be shown who did write the letters, and what the Times basely paid for them. In regard to that Commission, could anything be more unfair than the action of the Govern- ment ?"
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