Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-11-20
L John Bright in Ireland.
+ From the, Baltimore Gazette

We scarcely imagine, that Mr. Bright will
venture to touch upon Irish subjects in Ire
land again. T His mission did not turn out well.
At the banquet, where = he spoke to select
audience, he could ventilate his theories with
out encountering opposition; but such an
audience gave him no clue to the feelings Of
the Irish people. It was not until he consent.
ed to accept the invitation from the Dublin
trades societies that he was brought face to face
with the working classes, and discovered how
little they sympathized- with his views. The
Irish friends of Mr.. Bright would have had
him simply receive deputation from the
trades; but be determined to 60 to the meet
Dp, and he went He speedily acquired a
more intimate knowledge of the composition of
an Irish audience than he ever possessed be-
fore. The meeting was held in the hall of the
Mechanics Institute. The Oraugemen were
present in some force, but the Fenians seem to
have formed the great bulk of the assembly
The clamor raised by the Orangemen was
speedily put down, but the Fenians, CORES
pondent tells us, were IRE epressible.
''They chanted with stentorian lungs their
adaptation Of the American song John Browns
body and sang with great gusto, Well hang
Judge Keogh On a sour apple tree, as we go
marching on, although every one of them
stood chance OF being tapped by a detective
and marched on to prison for the same vocal
performance. More than this they cheered
for the Irish Republic, for James Stephens,
for General Sweeny, for Colonel Roberts, for
General ONeil, and other prominent members
Of the Fenian fraternity, of both wings. ~ q
Whea Mr. Bright made his appearance he
y. IL G,,k ,hnf 1h rrlo
prefaced the proceedings Of the meeting with
a speech, was continually interrupted.
.'He had not read twenty words when he
vas told to shut up, and cries Of humbug
we're occasionally heard. Whatever may be
the result Of the present agitation he said,
yhereupon voice exclaimed N more agi-
taton in Ireland He advised the people to
endeavor to improve themselves in all the rea-
tons of life, to become better husbands,
better fathers, better citizens voice, Bet
ter soldiers. He continued Which would
make the people so morally powerful that
nothing they would demand in the way of
political psivilege or social improvement could
be withheld from them A voice-'At the
point Of the bayonet. -
Mr.. Bright, In commencing to speak, Jared
rather better; but it was evident that his audi
tors had no relish for any propositions looking
10 more intimate or more harmonious con-
ncction with England. So long as he spoke of
the grievances Of Ireland and denounced the
policy Of England towards that country, he was
loudly applauded When he declared that the
Irish people had right to their own soil the
cheering was vociferous, and at the bare alu-
sion to what would have been done for Ireland
by an Irish Parliament, sitting on College
Green, the enthusiasm knew no bounds. But
when be spoke Of a closer union hereafter be-
tween the two countries he was met at once
with shouts of ''Never - .f.a.a.,l
With such noisy dernonstrative body Mr..
John Bright could do nothing. He was ad-
vocating one thing; they were desirous of an
other. It soon became evident that they did
not care straw for any reform that did not
reform England out of ireland, and every re-
mark that could be construed in an offensive
sense was applauded accordingly. !