New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-10-04
MIR. SMITH O'BRIEN ON IRELAND.

This gentleman has been presented with an address
by the inhabitants Of the barouies of Rathkealc and
Newcastle, in the County Of Limerick In his reply he
says:
"My determination TO stand sooi from the British
Parliament continues unaltced. Many considerations
of domestic kind would at present rende me reluctant
to pass six months out OF every year IN London Dut
these considerations might perhaps hereafter be over
ruled if not convinced that my tune can he not
only more happily, but also more prohtaOy spent IN
my native land have desire again To waste night
after night in witnessing taking part III the discussion
of questions relating 10 Ireland which are to be deter
mined by the vote of ENGLISH and Scotch members,
who feel no concern about them. and who often do not
even take the trouble 10 attend the dseusslon but SIM
ply vote they are directed by the Leaders OF the
English Parliamentary party. Nor shall i conceal
from YOU that my sentiments respecting the inter
srts of this country not in harmony with those
which at present prevail among the iutu ntal classes
In Ireland. When. IN 1873, l avowed myself to be
fully convinced that the only e1ectual guarahtee for
the permanent welfare OF our country was 10 DC found
III the restoration of It's Legislature, did not profess
this conviction only as means OF eXortng secondary
adv antages OF either personal or national KIND Tor
the inhabitants of Ireland. | adopted II a. stern
reality the furtherance o. which would probably for
several years require many personal sacrfces ON the
part OF those who became the champions OF their
Country's rights and which specially demanded an en-
tire separation from all couneXlon with English Gov.
enments and English parties. Within the short space
of ten years have seen almost every man VINO was
prominent leader IN the Repeal agitation eXcept those
who were driven into exile become spendiary or =
supporter OF the British Government. l have no de-
hiIC 10 mpugn the motives or conduct oi any man,
a change Of circumstances sometimes ustics
changes of opinions. and | always prefer TO unpue
even to doubtful actiur honorable rather than base
motives; but when l ind that these changes have
been northumberland III somc instances cncour-
ngcd-by the constituencies Of INLAND am fom-
p<led 10 conclude that my opinions are O6t Of date,
and that Irish patriotism no Longer means what APP
,eared 10 mo al Tara in the wear 1913 Let me not he
misunderstood | never maintained, nor do | now
mail tain that il j. the duty OF lush patriots 10 seek
separation from England by forcble means tnder
ali probable circumstances when. IN ISIS thS country
WIS reduced bv misgovcrnmCut to a condItoA more
ahcCt than any that Il had known even IN the ""iN'
period of lis disastrous history and when We were dt
prVed of ali constitutional methods Of redress by tnc
suspension of the Habess Corpus Act thought, and
still think that resistance was iuStlhable. thought
then, and still think, that If We had been supported
by the IRISH nation in the struggle which We COM
menced, We should have been able 10 secure for
ireland, within few months, or perhaps few
weeks, the lEestlnabe blessing of seli-govcrnmcnt
A years residence III Belgium which during the last
twenty hVc Scars has been of the hIstregulsted
nations of Europe, has Confirmed III the conviction
that q government founded Gu successful outiOn
NAV become the most stable of all governments. But
n i vain 10 speculate upon what might have happcned
or leo satiye independence of Ireland. Fate decided
against us and the oCcaslon required victim.
rejoice that who was mainly responsible for the abor-
five move cnt became one OF the chiot victims, rather
than that other should have suffered many Of whom fol
lowed The path danger IN consequence OF the implicit
con6deuce which they placed in their leaders accept
or defeat as a decree Of Providence; aud II the Irish
t-one think that We can be more hsppy under the
Government OF the Imperial Parliament than under that
ri a local Legislature ] am compelled To acguicsce
d, that Heier,nee. | acqussco IN It with the loss
aLuetaIce k..a4to ,hH country is edN seHlS!sAFeJ