The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-10-18
IRISH AGITATION.
Interesting Events Expected at the Next
Parliamentary Session.
LONDON, September 20. 1877.

LONDON, September 20. 1877.
The Irish at home are greatly agl-
tated Just now. TO construct or not
to ..obstruct' is the question. The
Obstructionists led by Bigger and
Parnell. have the masses of the Irish
upon their side. The nOn-obstruc-
tionists, led by Mr.. Butt, have the
genteel, kid-glove people, with
sprinkling of the Catholic clergy.
These latter genteel Irish Home Rul-
ers are greatly afraid of breaking up
the Home Rule organization and send
ing Mr.. Butt back in disgust to his law
business. The Home Rule party! 1t
has obtained nothing in four years
parliamentary pleading. What use is
it! Mr.. Butt says: Let me alone.
give me eighty members from Ireland
at my back, and then see what you
shall see TO which Mr.. Michel
Henry, NJ. p, replies in Il public let
ter in this wise:
sometimes it is said, Oh. what
could we not accomplish If only we
had eighty members instead OF fifty
eight. Well. | don believe we could
effect bit more than we do now. tin
less we were actuated by higher and
more earnest spirit than we have
shown of late: and if q conference can
infuse into lis some of that determine
ton which carried the amendments
to the Prisons BIZ. | for one believe
that we shall not be called upon to
practice obstruction for the sake of
obstruction, but solely for the purpose
of passing good laws or of defeating
bad ones. Experience has taught me
to place no confidence whatever on
expectations of English support for
Home Rule bills. We are too apt to
be deluded by the smiles. the hints,
and the honeyed words of members
who think that the proper way to get
round IN Irishman is to flatter his
vanity and love of appreciation at the
expense of the majority of his coun-
| trvmen. Before every division we
have heard of the great number of
English and Scotch votes we were to
count with us, but in the division lob
bies in all crusical instances they
have strayed away for various rea.
sons, just as they are now said to have
strayed away in consequence of the
conduct of obstructionlStS. l care
very little for their support in minor
matters. but if / take the three great
Irish test questions-Home Rule. the
Land Bill. and Religious Education
| say we have made no way whatever
nay. we have even gone back: and I'M
less we can manage TO impress thu
House and the country with the con
viction that we believe in our owl
measures and intend to carry them
we may go on as we are until wha
Shakespeare calls the crack of doom.
Just SO. And it is high time for Ire
; land to see in what direction he
5 vessel of state is drifting. l hav,
!. not the slightest hope of obtaining tn
!. slightest measure of benefit from TIL
: English obligarchy by either parlia
mentary obstruction or non-obstruct
: ION. though probably benefit ma
n come from it by second means il
0 the light which the discussions of tn
, conservatives. and ..non-obstruct
ives shall strike out by the clashin
of their tongues-like the steel strik
II ing the filnt-a light that will let tn
whole people of Ireland see each other
real condition. and learn each other
real thoughts. and they will find tina
0 there is nothing for the Irish ueopl
d but starve or fight!
e THE OBSTRCCTyE.
| have learned from an unerrin
l. source that the English governmer
d have already adopted and determine
l. the plan they are to pursue with NJ
\. D,rpol1 md bic frioudS Whcp ~