The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-07-16
John Mitchell.
HIS INTENDED RETURN TO IRELAND VIEWS ON
.i.Ill!TIE IRISH QUESTION. W.T. ~


.i:fra3THE IRISH QUESTION. .s':- 49,
The report published In yesterdays Her.
aid concerning the intended return to ire
land of Mir. John Mitchell, the Irish exile, for
the purpose Of contesting the representation
Of an Irish constituency on advanced ma
tional principles, has given rise to consider
able curiosity as to his motives in taking this
step, and the course of action he intends to
pursue on his arrival in ireland. 1t is gene.
rally known that Mr. Mitchell escaped from
the penal colony Of Van Dieman's Land
when he had completed but five years Of the
fourteen to which he was sentenced. and
th1t, therefore, according to British law, he
is Ilable to be arrested, if found in the British
domniOns, and imprisoned for the space of
niue years. The Government having the
right and the power to throw him into
some curiosity as to whether it will be
deemed eXpedient to do so after the lapse OF
so many years. sn.. .s.
a Herald reporter was detailed to ascer-
tain correct and reliable information on these
points, aud the following is the substance
of a statement obtained from Mr.. Mitchell
himself:
MIR. Mitchell believes, TO begin with, that
no good can come to Ireland from the British
Parliament, and that Ireland can never be
prosperous or happy till she has complete
| control Of her own destinies and the connec-
ton with England entirely severed. In this
he will admit Of no compromise or half
measure. A federal arrangement between
the two countries he repudiateS, and repeal
OF the union he believes would not be COM
pete or satisfactory till the "golden link
| of the crown" should be snapped asun.
| der. He is seplratist of the most abb
solute and radical kind With regard to
| the present home-rule movement, be thinks
| it does not represent the real hopes and aSpi-
| ratiOns Of the people; that it is a sickly and
nervelcss effort to patch up The national quar-
rel in an incomplete and unsatisfactory man.
Icr. Their programme is not clear and Geh-
mite enough, or rather they are without any
| we'll defined scheme of settlement at all. II
Dir. Butts Federal arrangement were adopt
| ed, Ireland would still be at the mercy of
| England, as she must always be so long as
she has not the power to keep her own peace
within her own borders, and make her own
| laws in q free and independent Parliament.
While some Of the home-rule leaders are per-
sonal friends Of bis, for whose character and
patriotism he has the greatest respect, he yet
does not share their views on this question,
and considers the whole movement a mere
milk and water kind Of national effort.
Mr.. MlTCHEL's OBJECT
in going to Ireland at this juncture is to
seek the sutfrages Of the people on the broad
principle OF Ireland's right to complete indie.
pendence He will not place himself in an.
tagonism with the home-rule movement
but he intends 10 demonstrate to England
and to the world that there is something
strong and more determined in Ireland thar
home-rule. He has firm conviction tina,
England will never grant self-goverDment to
ireland till forced to do so, and that all hel
delusiye concessions to Ireland have beer
wrung from her by force or the fear of it
lie believes it is possible to infuse more life
and yigor into the national government by
the course OF action he intends to pursue
If elected, as he is sure to be from his well
known popularity, he will represent" hi:
constituency by protesting against the RICH
of the British Parliament to make laws fol
Ireland. From his well-known ability an(
persistency Of character there can be nj
doubt that bis action will have very grea
influence on the course Of events in Irelant
for some time to come.
His reason for not landing in Queenstown
is to avoid any demonstration that nigh
give the police a pretext for provoking
riot. He. will go direct to Liverpool, ant
thence to some northern city in ireland
One member of Parliament who has hat
some difference with his constituents ha
promised to resign in his favor. He has
belief that the British Government will no
] arrest him, but should they do so he is will
ing to let them have all the odium attaching
| to such an upgracious act, and is prepared
to take the consequences.
] He sails to-day at 8 O'Clock by the steame
Idaho. pier 46 North river.-Ne,o Yor
Herald, 14th,