The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-11-15 00:00:00

MR. GLADSTONE AND THE FENIAN
PRISONERS.

The foliouing correspondence has passed between Mr
Cunningham, secretary to t'.e Greenwich Irish Election Com-
mittee, and Mr. G.adstone
"47, Netherwisxl-r mil, West Kensington-perk, Oc-
tober to, 1073.—The Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone,
M.P. ,&c.—Sir,—l have the honour to inclose you • copy
of resolin ions unanimously pawed at a public meeting ,
of your constituents of the borough of Greenwich, held I
at Blackheath Sunday, the 2Gth inst., also The Times' 1
report of the same. It was computed that there were '
upwards of 10,000 pereone present, and I venture to !
state, without fear of contradiction, that the language
and demeanour of the meeting were loyal and respect-
ful in every way. The chairmen, in the course of his '
remarks, stated that a favour in an especial manner
was due to your Irish supporters in this borough for
the cordial and nnanimons manner they voted for you.
I had the privilege of being secretary to your election
committee on the occasion, and I am, therefore, in a
position, to affirn the truth of this. The Irish people
over the whole British Empire were pleased
at your accession to power, because, in un-
surpassed eloquence, you depicted the evils which
blighted and cur.vd their country. You nobly In-
augurated a policy of conciliation, and you have I
achieved great results ; but in this partial amnesty you '
have halted on the road. Your promise to the late G.
11. More, in the House of f 'ommons, remains still un-
fulfilled, and it is much to be lamented that a statesman
of such clear political prevision should persevere in so
antiquated and ignoble a policy. We, therefore, res. '
tactfully approach you, in union with the hundreds of
thousands of our couutrymen in Ireland who have !
petitioned for the same object, to request that you I
would be pleased to advise Her Majesty's clemency,
and throw open the prison doors to the political prison-
ers still detaiued- au act which I am convinced would
be hailed with profound satisfaction by every loyal
subject in these realms. I have the honour to be
Sir, your mist obedient humble servant, M. J.
" 10, Downing-street, Whitehall, Nov. 5, 1873.
M. J. Cunningham, Esq.—Sir,—Mr. Gladstone deeiree
me to adinowledge the receipt of your letter of the
27th ult., enclosing a copy of the resolutions palmed at
a meeting hell at Blackheath in favour of the release of
the Fenian prisoners. In reply lam directed to assure
you that Mr. Gladstone fully appreciates the motives
as well as the language and demeanour of Chime who
attended this meeting, and that Her Majesty's' Go-
vernment entirely sympathize with the desire that in
this cod every instance punishment may be limited to
that extent th 3 public safety requires. But Mr. Glad-
stone is unable to agroe in the opinion that these pri-
sonevw are entitled to share in the same measure of
indulgence as is properly accorded to those who are
drawn by the passion of the moment into the tide of
proceedinsa which partake, even though in a remote
degree, of the nature of civil war; while It must be
borne in mind that the first duty of • Government he
the first defence of the lives of innocent persons, and
certainly pot least of those who are minhtera of the
law, acting co behelf of the public, according to the
-duties' "I their alines. Of the whole number of them
•-i j 0, 16 are soldiers, and Mr. Glad-
prisoners, wn. •'we it will be held that a soldier
stone hardly thinks commits no other or
who conspires against the Qheeti
greater offence than an ordinary membei ,d the com-
munity. These cases, then, as they have been, so
continue to be considered on their merita • but Mr.
Gladstone begs that he may not be understood as con-
veying any pledge as to the result of the consideration
which Her Majesty's advisor, may find it their duty to
give to the subject —I am, Sir, your obedient eereauti
J. A. Gown."