Above : Portrait Of Edward III

During the Autumn Session of Parliament, new rules were drafted and passed to circumvent the obstruction tactics of the Irish Party. Additional powers were given to the Speaker to bring about the close of a debate, when satisfied that ” the sense of the House ” on the subject under consideration had been ascertained, and to check irrelevancy in the speeches. The right of speaking in adjourned debates was also limited.

In Ireland the Crimes’ Act was rigorously enforced by Earl Spencer and by Trevelyan, the Chief Secretary. In order to aid its operations, a statute of Edward III, designed to allow of the arbitrary imprisonment of rogues and vagabonds, was drawn from the seclusion of centuries and used for the incarceration of political opponents of the authorities. Meanwhile, the Phcenix Park murderers had at last been traced and arrested. They proved to be members of a small secret society
called the ” Invincibles.” All those concerned in the crime were persons of humble station, with the exception of James Carey, who occupied a respectable position, was a Dublin Town Councillor, and had been generally regarded by his neighbours as a well-conducted and even highly religious man. In February, 1883, the trials began.

Carey turned informer, and mainly through his evidence the four actual perpetrators of the crime were convicted and hanged, while several of their accomplices were condemned to long terms of imprisonment. The Government gave to Carey a free pardon, and sent him out of the country to South
Africa. He was, however, pursued by an agent of the ” Invincibles named O’Donnell, and shot dead. O’Donnell was executed, but no sympathy was felt for Carey, who was rightly considered as in fact far more guilty than the ignorant men whom he had first instigated to crime and then betrayed.

It appeared from the evidence that, contrary to what had been at first believed, the design of the assassins had been directed against Mr. Burke, whose severity had rendered him very unpopular. Lord Frederick Cavendish was only included because he happened to be in company with their intended victim. They did not, till afterwards, even know who he was.Parnell’s power in Ireland was now immense. No man since O’Connell had been so revered and trusted by the people. When a 11 action was organised to pay off a charge on his property, a Papal C° riot obtained against the “tribute” by British influence at Rome, A-daot prevent the large sum of £37,000 from being subscribed. The Party in Parliament, as one man, moved according to his orders, now comprised in its ranks a remarkable number of men of very fine b’litv; brilliant orators, keen debaters, learned lawyers. Outside Parliament, some, as T. P. O’Connor, were journalists, or, as T- D. Sullivan, poets, or, as Justin McCarthy, novelists and historians. As a whole, no other group in that historic chamber could match them. Thev were listened to, courted by some, feared by most, and, in their corporate capacity at least, detested by almost all.

The Irish Party could not, on their side, be expected to feel much affection for the Government which had passed and continued to retain the hated ” Crimes’ Act.” Parnell began to contemplate the possibility of concluding some sort of bargain with the Conservatives, and, when a favourable opportunity presented itself, lending them the support of the Irish vote to oust the Liberals.