Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-03-21
JOHN BRIGHT ON HOME RULE IN
IRELAND.

The following letter has been re
ceived by the Rev. 7. O'Malley in re
ply to a note addressed by him to tn,
Right Honorable the member for Biz
mingham
Dear Sir: thank you for your let
ter and the little book on "Home Rul,
on the Basis Of Federalism" 1 ha7,
read the book. Shall I tell you what
think Of two Irish plans on this Irish
question?
The Michael plan" is easy to under.
stand, and if ireland were unanimous
and strong enough it might be attempt.
ed and might succeed. It is very sim
pie, and, under the conditions I have
mentioned, it is not, or would not be.
impracticable. But the conditions are
wanting, and, therefore, there is this
fatal objection to it-that it is impossi.
bic, and only men partlymad or wicked
viii urge lrlshmen to attempt it. As
to your federation plan-the home
rule scheme, Of which you are evident
ly proud to be thought the father,-it
is, in my opinion, quite as impossible
as the other, and must say that it
seems TO be far more absurd. To look
at it only for a moment, raises
wonder that any man or number Of
men should imagine or think seriously
If such a scheme. How many "home"
rulers, how many men of faith, are
there in Ireland? Certainly not more
than 100000. If 1 give you 1000, 900
of the Observation-Disclosures rulers, repeal
ers, Irish Republicans, or other antag-
onists Of Great Britain-and this is
more than you can fairly claim-they
will give you only 100000 of men,
and of these not one-haf have any
knowledge Of public affairs. And yet
you propose, in order to allay the dis
content of this part of yoUrpopulation,
not only to make a revolution IN Ire
land. but to do the same In England,
and Wales, and Scotland. In Great
Britain nobody wants two Parliaments
Of Lords and Commons-nObOdy wants
a third Imperial Parliament-andy yet
you propose, with a childish simplicity
and enthusiasm, TO force upon England
and Wales and Scotland additional
and legislative bodies,
IN order TO apparently Justify or to
balance the creation and establishment
Of ike arrangements IN Ireland. Surely
30 absurd and mOnstrous a proposition
was never before heard Of. You pro-
pose that 100000 In Great Britain
shall, IN manner, turn everything
among them-everything TO which
they are accustomed. and with
which, IN the main, they are
sat.shed-upside down, IN the hopeless
attempt thereby to allay the discon-
tent Of a portion Of your people never |
having been able to make a clear state
nent Of its grievances, and being as
you must feel, totally unable to agree !
n any remedy for them. 1 do not en-
-er into any examination Of the details |
# your little book, or might point out |
many inaccuracies into which you have |
allen. / confine myself in this reply |
70 your letter TO the main features Of |
he two plans for the regeneration Of !
Ireland. I believe them both to be
but your plan Of home rule |
seems To me eminently childish and |
absurd
I must ask you to forgive the |
olain speaking or writing of this letter,
)ut I am unwilling to leave you IN any |
lOubt Of my views even after l have |
cad the little book you have been kind |
nOugh to send me. Since / have /
AIKEN any part In public life I have |
bought myself and have intended to |
,e one of the fast friends Of Ireland, |
nd / think now that l have never
,een more so than am at this moment. |
1 am, very faithfully, yours,
JOHN BRIGHT.
The Rev. Thaddeus O'Malley, No. l |
Henrietta street, Dublin.