The Express.
London, England, 1868-02-05 00:00:00

THE FOREIGN NAILS.

MR. BRIGHT AT BIRMINGHAM.

Lairt evening, Mr. John Bright and Mr. Dixon,
members for Birmingham, addressed, in aersordanes with
annual onstons, a amercing wetting d their soestiteents
in the Town-hall. Mr. Join Janney presided, and briefly
opened the proosedings. Kr. John Bright ma reedved
. . . . .

With several rounds et meat enthusiastic cheering from

his friends and supporters; but as soon as this bad rub-
sided it was apparent that his political opponents also
mustered in strong force' and it was nearly 20 minutes
before the hon. gentleman was allowed to proceed with his
address. The disturbers of the proosedinips were eventually
ejected after several sharp struggles ; and
Mr. BRION? proceeded to address the endless,. He
struck at owe into the Irish question, quoting Lord
Stanley in support of his assertion that it was the question
of the hour. Proceeding to notice the extraordinary
appreheasious created by Fenisnisin in Canada as wall as
is Ragland, he complained that his lordship at the
present Mate of things had no remedy to offer. Tie
beginning and end of the difficulty lay in the
church and the land. Whatever Ireland could do
for herself oar statesman in London could do also ; and, as

as Irish parliament would middy abolish the politest
state church, the people of England should mass any
rto support it. The question must be taken from
oods of peddling statesmen, and be dealt with by the
Hollehoseple at the eleetioss. For the maintenance et
.L union in peace, it was essential that every trace of
protestant church supremacy should be abolished.
it comes to be abolished (continued lir. Bright), I
"mkt do no injustice either to the ministers or the meat-
less of that church. Of worm all life interests would be
eared for and preserved, and if it were not that I should
taus up too much of your time, and that I feel myself
usable to go through what I wished to say, I would a
little elaborate • plan by which I think some justice
might be doss with regard to the disposition of the funds
which parliament will receive as the established church
of Ireland is gradually disposed of. I think if the
son were 13,000,0001. that it would not be just—and I hops
some of my nonconformist friends who have very strong
opinions on this question, and perhaps have not looked at
it in the same lieht that I have, will have • little charity
for me when I say I believe it would not be just—to take
cathedrals and churches, and ministers and glebes, and all
the tithes and everything that oornposesthose 13,000,0001.
into the hands of the state, and to throw the whole of the
present protestant church of Ireland bare and naked upon
the country. (Hear, hear.) I think there should be some
very small—it might not be temporary—l think it ought
to be clear and permanent—appropriation to them of some
not considerable sum of that whole amount, but that with
with this condition, that when the matter was deposed of
and the protestant' bad received whatever was appropri-
oted to them, they would become as the episcopalism
church in Scotland, or the Wesleyan church in England—
a church absolutely disconnected from the state, and alto-
gether • voluntary institution. (Cheers.) I think what-
ever was done in that way would also have to be
followed up in other directions. (Hear, bear.)
With regard to the prorayterians of Ireland, who are re-
ceiviag 40,000/. a year from the state, I think it would be
quite sally, perfectly just, and probably most politic, to
make some moderate appropriation to them out of the
same fund, whilst the regimen donum of 40,0001. thence-
forth ought to be discontinued. I believe parliament
would also feel justified in making, to the great catholle
population of Ireland, • similar moderate or small
appropriation to enable the catholic church in certain
parishes to have • small glebe and a modest house for the
minister of that church. But in all these cases it should
be distinctly understood and enacted that when that
2,000,0001. or 3,000,0001., for it could mot take more than
3,000,000/. in all, was thus appropriated, all those
churches would be independent and free churches in Ire-
land, not in any way ooanected with the state, and that
theneeforwerd no person in authority and no law of perils-
ment should recognise, by any special favour, any member
of anyone of these three churches. I know perfectly well that
there are ardent friends of mine lathe country who will doubt
the wisdom of what I have said, but let me tell you and
tell them that when you have a great political question to
solve it is very desirable that you should as far as possible
obtain the general consent of those upon whom your legis-
lation is about to act. It is of no consequence to this
country what becomes of 3,000,0001. of money, but it is of
the very highest consequence that state church supremacy
in Ireland should be abolished, and that the voluntary
system should be permanently and for ever established.
Now what would be the result! Let any one of you fancy
that he has been living in Ireland as a catholic during all
these years—what would be the result of such a champ!
Why the whole sentiment of the people would be altered ;
they would feel that the past was about to be forgotten, and
that there was a new and • better opening before them ;
they would feel that the state established church, which
has been for 200 years the symbol of their degradation, was
to be removed for ever, as.d I have no doubt whatever that
the change would work the most wholesome, the meet
marked improvement in the sentiments of the Irish peo-
ple towards the imperial parliameat and imperial connec-
tion. Mr. Bright then addressed himself to the subject
of the land. The !allot and the granting of leases would
no doubt be worth giving ; but the real want of Ireland
was the creation of • great farmer proprietary class,
and large, middle-sized. and small estates of every
kind, with no law standing in the way. In France this
was achieved by a terrible revolution ; in Prussia by
• gradual and beneficent change in the law. Having
described the action of rent banks in Prussia, Mr. Bright
revived his proposal of a rarliamentary micomimion, which
would help the transactions between the tenant and the
landlord in the same way ; he mentioned that some of the
Irish gentlemen who had been loudest in ridicule of his
eugsestion were urging the government to purchase the Irish
railroads. Revise sketched out what he conceived would
happen if • man could feel that his farm was his own if
be chose to go on paying • particular increase of rent—
his fresh motives for industry, his appreciation of
order—and the harmony which would be established
amempt the Irish members, Mr. Bright concluded
by alluding to the craving which woe alleged to
exist in Ireland for the re-establishment of an Irish
nation with a separate legislature. He said—l
shall not deny this, although Ido not admit It. I believe
that amongst a very large portion of the more educated
demote in Ireland, whether prosestante or eatholies, there
is at least • lingering hope, and with many a firm
belief, that Ireland can be so governed in unity with
England as to make an Irish parliament not in any degree
en advantage either to Ireland or Great Britain. (Hear,
hear.) But the future will determine this—my theory is
Ws, that if you will do that justice which Irishmen are
easions to do for themselves, there will remain of national
feeling as in Scotland, everything that is healthful sod
that ought to be permanent, and that that irritates sad
passion which is mixed up with the satiated feeling
weeld subside gradually as just laws wen worked, and
be all probability we should dad that se Pollee wee seen
sad felt in every home el the Weems, the great majority
al the people would dime'ss from their minds the ides of
separating from Great Britain, and that the Calm, whist
ie SOW ma at mere parchment, would become • *Oen el
*Merest and seatinout between the two memo. (Loud
cheers.) One other thing woe& happon—the Amseicera
Isiah question wield gradually Ices its impertemes.
Ireland would readily understaad the drip
which that country bad undersea*. The Iria,theAmerieno
pros, which now DI so largess extent sympathies wilt the
cry of Inland, would, in lay opinion, also 'iodides& the
change, and would withdraw its sympathy. Al poem*
they look upon inennedisa sad onspiracy with &Md.
ing that there is somehow or ether • reel of liderame '
which, if it be sot the jail/Amities, is se least the ono el
it. If you were to make the damp" whicel have premed.
I helloes you will settle at ease • great demo* question,.
between Great Braga ant Indeed, and ollegfeish &scow
• peat and diffieult questlea ea the Awoken read'e'r.
The Habeas Gapes Let would leo loges have Is be moo
ported. Tour Home liesstary would as kept he a
awe connoladuser of pollee ; year Queen hirsilf• lek of'
beast fall of sympathy for the aufferisge d every and 4,
her people—peed and misused ebow4—gwas ARM/
woad no Leger have be ear that it was the sprains all bra
Wilmot that spedal pollee and epeeist sestina admit
MA her Eldblend hose and her hems in the bit at