Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-12-15
MIR. BRIGHT AND THE LAND AGI-
TATION

MR. BRIGHT AND THE LAND AGI-
TATION.
A letter, addressed in January, 1863
by Mr.. John Bright to an Irish magis-
trate, is published. 1t is the letter refer
red to in the communication addressed to
Mr.. Foster few days since by member
of the landlords deputation. In view of
the present agitation of the Irish Land
question the letter shows up Mr.. Bright
in the light of true political prophet
1t is datad Rochdale, January 81, 1868,
is marked Private" and is as follows
"My dear Sir,-I have read the 'propos-
ais over with great interest and care.
They are wide, and embrace the whole
Irish difficulty, and if adopted, would at
once apply remedy to two branches of
the grand question. For twenty years |
have always said that the only way to
remedy the evils of Ireland is by legisla-
ton on the Church aud land. But
we are met still with this obstacle, even
yet, fear, insurmountable, that the legis-
lation must come from and through
Parliament which is not Irish, and in
which every principal essential for the re-
generation of Ireland is repudiated. The
knowledge of this makes me hesitate as
to the wisdom of your proposals in their
present shape. fear the scheme is so
broad and so good and SO complete that
Parliament would stand aghast at it. To
strike down an Established Church and
to abandon the theory of our territorial
system by one act of Parliament would
be too much for the Parliament, and
would destroy any Government that sug-
gested it. | can conceive a condition of
things in Ireland under which such
great change might be accomplished, if
Ireland were united in demanding it, and
were menacing Great Britain if it should
be refused; but now, suspect, our rulers,
though uncomfortable, are not sufficiently
alarmed to yield. The Tories cannot
deal with Ireland. Their concessions On
Reform do not lead me to think they can
give in on Irish affairs The Wings are
almost as much afraid as the Tories are of
questions affecting the Church and the
land, and they seem to have almost no
courage. Lord Russell is old, and cannot
graphic with great question like this;
MIR. Gladstone hestitates, and hardly knows
how far to go. The material of his force IS
not good, and [ suspect he has not studied
the land question, and knows little about
it. The English people are in complete
ignorance of Irish wrongs, and know lit
tie or nothing of the real condition of
it is not colored darkly. There is no
necessary connection between the Church
and the land. To make frmer proprie-
tary would not involve the Government
IN any permanent expense, and it might
be done without touching the Church.
The Church question may again be dealt
with without meddling with the land.
Now, the two schemes together and in
one is grand idea perhaps far too
grand for so slow a nation and Parlia-
nent as ours. Many persons may be
willing to get rid of the Church who
are unwilling to depart from present the
cries with regard to the land, and some
may go with you on the land and hold
back On the Church. Is it supposed that
for the whole scheme you can secure a
larger support than for either of the two
branches OF the question you must Sc
parately? This is the question you must
answer. For myself. should have no
hesitation if | could pursuade myself that
others in sufficient numbers would follow,
and whether they follow Or not I am
ready to state my general approval of
your great plan should it be brought be-
fore the public. If all the Liberal Pro-
testants and all the Catholic population
in Ireland will unite to support you, some
impression may be made on English opin-
ion and upon Parliament, but looking
to all past efforts among you, / am not
very sanguine that you will succeed in
bringing strong and united pressure to
bear upon our ruling councils. am ex-
pected to speak tomorrow week at Birm-
ingham, and [ intend to speak on Ireland
| am free from the trammels which fetter
Mr.. Gladstone, and [ can speak without
reserve and without fear. What | shall
say will not increase your difficulties,
but will rather smooth your path in re-
gard to English opinion. The Liberal
party is not in a good position for under
taking any great measure OF statesman
ship. Some Wings distrust Mr.. Glad
stone, and some who call themselves
Radicals dislike him. He does not feel
himself very secure as the leader of a
powerful and compact force. The Wing
Peers are generally feeble and timid, and
shrink from anything out of the usual
course. We want strong man with
strong brain and convictions for work
of this kind. and do not see him among
our public men. hope that all that is
wise and good in Ireland may support
Won and that vo1, NOV coon affaat tho