But though Mr. Dillon had up to this time expressed
no sort of eagerness for the inquiry, his Irish colleagues thought they saw their opportunity in pressing on an investigation by the House of Commons, as compared with an investigation by a Court of Justice, into the Times' charges. Mr. Healy attacked the First Lord of the Treasury fiercely for moving the adjourn- ment of the debate, and though both Mr. Courtney, in a most conciliatory speech towards the Irish Party, insisted that an adjournment was only right in order that the House might calmly consider the Times' article, and Lord Randolph Churchill supported the adjournment, urging that the House should be extremely careful as to undertaking to inquire into and punish breaches of Privilege of this sort, which would put it into the power of the Press to be constantly diverting the House from its true business, Mr. Sexton delivered a furious attack on the Government for asking for the adjournment of the debate. The Irish Party had, he said, "been pursued for years by moral assassins." " We ask for any tribunal where we shall not be defeated by the jugglery of a Sheriff or the criminality of a juror. And then let the Times bring its battalions of forgers and liars, and we will soon bring the miserable juggle to an end." The Attorney-General insisted on the need of time for deliberation, which Sir William Harcourt and Mr. Glad- stone denied. Mr. Whitbread, moreover, supported his leader in insisting that as the Irish Members were willing to accept the judgment of the House of Commons, they had appealed to Omar, and to Cresar they should go. The adjournment to Wednesday was carried by a majority of 39 (213 to 174).
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