The New York herald., 1870-01-26
ENGLAND.

John Brighrs speech to the Democracy Of
Birmingham-The Irish Land Question and
Irish Discomfort and Its Cure-Conmcrcial
Relations Towards America-The Naviga-
tiOn Lnws ind International Trade-vote
by Ballot.
In Birmingham on the evening OF the 1lth of
January the hight Hon. John Bright and his Par
iamentary colleague addressed their constituents In
the Town Hail. The Mayor OF the town was in the
chair.
Mr.. Bright referred to the condition OF Ireland
thus:-Another question or imperial importance is
that OF the irish Church. tCheers.) The consttu-
encies OF the country spoke with voice which
everybody could hear and, which is not always the
observation-disclosures and laughter)-and q measure
was introduced into Parliament which, 1 believe,
OF ~ one Of the @ ps
which ever was presented to The House OF Commons.
(Cheersl After many nights debate in both houses
OF Parliament the measure became law and the WORK
dOne but you Will recoect that In the month OF
July there was at one time some dicuIty IN what is
called "another place''-laughter)--t is not the
place to which my honorable colleague and go
when we repair to London; but 1t Is place OF great
antiqnity-vaughter)-and OF great dignity, and of
great influence in this country. On gwen night
the date is not material--the atmosphere or the
place became charged witn-what shall say with
dangerous matter. Hear, hearl There was more
passion than Is generally seen in that serene assem-
by-tcheers and aughter)-and the passion went so
far bring those who occupied the benches OF the
place to the edge OF very ugly preciplce. (Cheers)
Fortunately there was time for the passion to
COOL and for the wsest to reflect; and the rst night
after the night but one after that instead OF thus
violent passion and tins violent opposition to the
measure OF the government, 1t was, alter mutual
compliments and mutual congrata ations passed 10y
the House or Lords. (Cneers) The peers OF the
UnHed Kingdom on that night taught 10 some Of
the people lesson oY showing that they themselves
had learned it. What was that? No institution, now
ever ancient, however dlgnlned, however grand
In its historical character, can be safe in this
country II 1t permanently sets Itself against the
convictions and the voice OF united people.
tCheersl IL was great piece OF wisdom
We must consider that Iney are not as we are on
question OF this naiure consider a tnat they nave
been taught aud all they have honestly learned
ana all they have feared, and then regard
the condition Of the House In passing this measure,
and on the whole the friends OF the House OF Lords
at least have something 10 congratulate themselves
upon. Cheers and laughterl But there are people
VINO say tnls great bill was failure and that 1t mas
really done nothing. The fact Is that 1t has done
exactly what it was Intended to 40. It has put all
the Churches IN Ireland exactly on the same footing
before the law. There Is no longer Catholic grlev-
ance IN Ireland. There may be irish grievances but
there Ii no Catholic grievance. The Catholics stand
now exactly before tue law IN regard to all questions
know with scarcely any exception, on all other ques
ti0ns, exactly where the Protestants stand; and
foreysTDlgreat s is cneerns~everythns that that cam cam
Catholic grievance But there may be and
another grieyance-thear hear)-an irish grievance,
but not Catholic, grievance which affects the North
the same as the South, cry from the whole of Ire.
DO something to place the social c0ndition or the
country In more satisfactory state than II has
hitherto done. Now this land question Is very
awkward question have often travelled along o
road and seen hill mile Off that looked very steep,
and wished was on the other side or IT, but on
coming TO the foot OF The hill The slope appeared
much more gradual ana / got over lG without the
difficulty had anticipated. Now, the Irish land
question Is not az all that sort Of quesu0n-(sH Hearr
and cheers; 1t has looked to me difeuit question
Tor twenty years, for outing all that time
I have had 1t before me, and / have con.
sidered 1t, and l am. ! will say II you like,
modest enough to confess that when get nearer the
question: and endeavor TO discover how 1t IL to be
dealt with II appears to me sleeper and moro dii-
cult than IL ever did De Ore what are the crcum-
tence lwoS The land OF that great island Is in tho
hands, as you know OF very few propretors iCrles
OF 'r,hame.n) Isuppose half the actual population
OF Ireland are cuIuvstors OF the SOIL, and they
not only cultivatoTs OF the SOIL but unfortunately
they are what are called tenants as VI iii. The owners
for generations past by their own admission, with
sundry exceptions, which need not be mentioned
put, speaking generally, say the owners
have nothing ior the cultivation OF
3he SOIL they nave let the land at given rent
and twice year at least tney Dave received the
rent and that has been the chief part or the duty
which tue landowners OF Ireland have performed as
regards their land. On the other hand the tenants
have done very little compared with what might
have been done; but quite as much as could be ex-
pected IRON people VINO had no security for any
-hing they might do. (aear, hear Thus the indus
srv the fortune the home the life Itself OF the cuti
owner OF the land, and OF his agent who mad the
MANAGEMENT OF his property. And there IS another
p0lnr. The owners are not exactly the same people
as the occupiers. think tiat Mr.. huxley, who is q
great authority denies altogether, ana / have no
Wish to dispute what he says that tnere is any dler-
ence OF race between the people OF ireand and the
people OF England. hope tnat is true. l have al
ways been Of opinion tbat, If there were any differ
ence OF race the difference or condition arises ten
thousand times more from difference VI treat
pept-thear, hear)-a dinerencs OF politics and Of