The New York herald., 1870-08-19

for marching at the head of On Orange procession
at which party tunes were played and party colors
worn he was tried aud convicted and sent to jail
for six months But this persecution did nos
cool his ardor or enthusiasm in the cause
to which he is 80 devotedly attached. NO
sooner was he liberated than he availed
himself Of the frat opportunity to violate the law
again, this time, however, with impunity, a. q
liberal government had come into office. He be-
came the darling of the Ulster Orangcmen, and
was regarded by his friends as martyr but he
received a martyrs crown by being elected to re-
present the second city of Ireland in the British
House of Commons. The people Of Belfast are
very well pleased with Mr.. Johnston's Parla-
mentary career, and there Is no doubt that should
he again seek their suffrages he will be returned
with an overwhelming majority.
In politics he Ia what is known in this country
az tory nationalist and Notwithstanding his vio-
lent Orange proclvities, he has always endeavored
as best he could to unite In one bond offelowship
persons of every shade Of religious and political
opinion. However anxious he may be to secure
this end. he has adopted very peculiar means to
bring it about. As soon as he came to Belfast
resolved to see him, and, although he complained
OF being somewhat unwell, when announced
myself from the HERALD he readily granted me
an interview and conversation.
THE DIALOGUE.
CoRaEsP0NDkNr--What, sir, do you think of tho
Ma. JoHNsroN-Well, think the Party Pro-
cessions act ought to be repealed. / may say
that virtually it is dead letter, for
Protestants and Catholics. Both parties set
1t at defiance whenever it suits their pur-
pose but at the same time. as long a. it remains
upon the statute book, it offers gratutous insult
A~kl. 10 ns. .V:-ku
therefore, in my opinion, be doing no more than
simple justice to both parties to repeal the act.
Believing this opinion to be the correct one, in.
troduced bill into Parliament for this purpose.
The Chief Secretary for Ireland and the Judge
Advocate General promised me their support; the
former said that it would give him the greatest
pleasure to record his vote for the repeal of so
Odicus an act while the latter declared that only
he happened to be . member of the adminstra-
| ton he would have seconded my pr0pt sitiOn for
repeal. But, strange to say, VIII n my bill was
being read second time these two members OF
the government instead of supporting me,
they promised to do. voted against me, and
one OF them, the Chief Secretary, introduced .
bull which, had 1t become law, would have made
the Lord Lieutenant dictator and made our pro-
cessions liable to be dispersed at the point of the
bayOnet. 1t was second Coercion act. But
there is no likelihood Of its becoming law.
Should it again be presented to Parliament it il
Protestants and Catholics, 0rangemen and ma.
tOnalists, are agreed ON this question: and tho
government bill will receive the same opposition
from the R0men Catholic members of the south
as from the Orange members of the north. There
never such unanimity among the Irish mem1
bers upon this question Of party processiops
The Orangemen believe that they have right to
celebrate their anniversaries in whatever
think also that they have right to hold
their professions; and both are agreed that
the time has come when they can
do these things without arousing any party feel
| ar m m nat saw hat
AZ my sympathies are with the Orangemen,
claim for the natonalists the same privilege and
the right to hold their professions and to
celebrate their anniversaries as claim for my
ewn people.
CoRREspoNDENT-Don't you believe that the
celebration of your anniversaries il likely to in
suit the Roman Catholics?
Mr.. J0HNsToN--lt may; but think it ought not
to do so. There is one thing may say, and 1t ID
this-these celebrations are not intended to insult
the Roman catholics, but to preserve the memory
deny that the observance of these anniversaries
is Inconsistent with our duty and allegiance to the
throne. On the contrary, If we err at all we err.
in our excess of loyalty, and not by any want OF
respect or devotion to the laws and constitution.
CONSEQUENTLY You think, sir, is the feel
ing occasioned among Protestants by the discs
tablishment of the Church dying out, and is there
any reason to believe that the present govern
ment are in league with the Roman Catholics!
Mr.. JOHNsTON-Well, think the feeling still
exists IN some quarters but, speaking generally,
think it is rapidly dying out. There are, to be
sure, many persons who will never be recOnciled
to the dsessablishment of the Irish Church, be-
lieving, as they do that it was an act of robbery
and spoiat0n, but these very small number
in proportion to the population. As regards your
other question, many are inclined to think that
the government next year will concede denomi-
national education to the demand of Cardinal
Cullen, and this is one Of the chief reasons why
people suspect the Cardinal has some
influence with the present ministry. Tho
bill, too, which the Irish Chief Secretary
introduced with regard to the party
professions was, must say far partial to
not think, nor could he believe that green was q
party color; and green is as you know, the color
usually worn by the nationalsts. Besides, his
bill was chiefly intended for us-Orangemen-- as
it was introduced short time before our July
anniversaries, and was framed so as to prevent
them Nothing else occurs to me just now to
show that the Catholics more favored by the
present government than their Protestant fellow
country men.
TERMINATION AND CONCLUSIONS.
This brought my interview with Mr.. Johnston
TO close. Though naturally indiscreet and vio-
lent on public occasions, aud particularly when
addressing a crowd of Orangemen, Mr.. Johnston
is an extremely a1able and courteous gentleman.
He has very prepossessing appearance, is over
ak feet In height, and wears unusually long
beard of light red color. His appearance and
manner appear to me to be such that were you
to meet him, you would be tempted to ask " Who
$ he ~
sympathy with France I'm the War-Popu-
lar tiOns in support of tho Tri-
coIor-The Movement In Tipperary, CastIe-
bar and Kanturk-Democratio Agitation
observation-disclosures MacMahon-Hopcs Of
the People.
DUBLIN, August 4. 1870
Irish sympathy with France continues TO mani.
fest Itself in several parts of the country. Tppe.
rary, Kanturk and Castlebar have followed the ex.
ample Of Dublin, Cork and Galway In holding pub
lie demonstrations while Limerick and other places
have announced their Intention Of adopting simi.
lar course 80 as to give expression to the feeling
In several parts of the county Tpperary meetings OF
most enthusiastic character have been held, and