The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1868-07-22

The IRISH CHURCH-SPEECH OF Mr.. JOHN
BRIGHT.-On June Sd, Mr.. Bright having
accepted an invitation at the Welsh National
Reform Association to visit Liverpool during
the annual gathering which is held at Whit
suntide, in that town, addressed crowded
meeting, composed chiefly of natives of the
Principality, in the Amphitheatre He said
that the people of Wales had, on many occa-
sions, shown themselves capable of great
resolution and powers of organization; and
now, that the nation was called upon to de-
eide the greatest question ever submitted to
1t, he hoped it would not be settled without
the voice of Wales being heard in its support
This question was the dis-establishment of
the Protestant Church in ireland, and apart
from the natural sentiment in favor Of Justice,
the people Of Wales were, from clear politi-
cal and religious circumstances, most deeply
interested in this question. For centuries,
the Crown and the aristocracy had governed
ireland, but there had been no real union,
and, until very lately, no good government.
For three hundred years, there had been but
the principle of political and religious as
cendancy, against which the Irish people had
vainly protested. The result had been three
hundred years of misery, bloodshed, and in
surrection. 1t was only under the influence
of the struggle with the American colonies
that England had relaxed her cruel rule, and
1t was not till so recently as 1929 that her
SOdS VI Paliio anu QlsdDlillcS WAS IldlcTldlly
relaxed, but even to this day, the Protestant
Establishment was the sign and symbol of
that hated rule, and, If possible, of a still
more hateful religious ascendaney. He point
ed out the results OF, this policy, which was
not only seriously prejudicial to the greatest
interests OF England, but in the opinion of
many wise persons, to the State Church it.
self. Whatever might be the advantages of
State Church, they could not be allowed to
interfere with the highest Imperial interests,
op the sacred principles of equality and jus
tice; but there was no one out of Bedlam,
or even in Bedam, who would not, at the
state of things in ireland, fail to condemn
religious establishment SO hateful and offen-
sive to the great bulk of the Irish people,
whose sole aim and object was political and
not religious equality. Who was it that sup
ported this state of things? 1t was the Tory
party-a party who had Invariably opposed
every measue of justice and wisdom that had
been proposed for either England or Ireland
Now, what was it that Mr.. Gladstone, in
his resolution, proposed to dor 1t was to
reduce the Episcopal Church in Ireland to
precisely the same condition that it was in
Scotland and in the colonies, what the Wes-
leyan Chuch was in Wales and in England,
and the Free Church in Scotland.
Having pointed out the results which
would follow from the dis-establshment of
the Irish Church in promoting the peace and
tranquility of ireland and adding to the
strength and stability of the Empire, he
called upon the people of Wales to do their
share in obtaining this great success. They
had shown remarkable organization in
religious matters, and now they were called
upon to exert the same qualities in q field
hardly less important. They were frugal,
industrial and most orderly as citizens The
arms which their forefathers used could not
contend with the power of England, but
they could now exert far more effective
power in the cause of justice and equality
by uniting with every wise and indulgent
man in the United Kingdom, and by making
a significant addition to the Liberal majority
which had already included the question now
before Parliament and the country. The
honorable gentleman sat down amid loud
cheers.