The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-02-17

PARIS, February 10, 1881.
To Is Irish National Land League;
GENTLEMEN: | have been honored by
the receipt Of resolutions adopted at your
meeting on the sEh inst, requesting me TO
proceed at once to America with the OBJ
jeCt Of securing the sympathy OF the
American people, and the cooperation OF
the Irish nation there. After a full and
grave consideration OF your resolutions
and general situation, and after due con.
sultation with friends whose opinions are
worthy OF consideration, | have decided
that 1t is my duty 10 remain in Ireland
and In Parliament during the present Cri.
sis, aud for reasons which | will shortly
detail to you. Our movement In America,
although OF great Importance and capable
OF immense development, depends entire
ly on the stand made In Ireland. II we
are worthy Of the occasion here, the Am.
eriCan people and the Irish nation In
America will give US proportionats sym.
patty and Practical help. II the
spirit and courage OF our people
at home be maintained, the resources
oi the whole Irish race abroad will be at
our disposal, while II there Is the slightest
hinChing or reaction In Ireland 1t will
produce disastrous results In America.
Nor do agree with you that for the bal.
ance Of the session very little Is TO be OK.
peCted from Parliamentary action, The
expelled Irish members have almost un.
animously decided to remain In their
places, and elter every resolution which
the forms OF the House Of Commons still
permit to the passage OF tho coercion
and army bills. In this resolution l fully
concur. The result OF the renewed exef.
tons OF the party since the coup d etdl, and
the adoption OF the gagglnH resolution,
have been 80 lar, most encouraging. More.
over, 1t would be scarcely fair OF me 10
leave my party TO face the uphill work en-.
tailed on them, and think l can be OF
some service during the passage OF the
land bill In pointing out what fespeCts Il
may tall short OF In the final settlement OF
the land question. Should 1t fail to offer
the adequate solution, the Government Of
England having adopted rules OF coercion
and intimidation against our people at
home, and their representatives In Parlis.
ment, and having practically attempted to
drive both outside the limits OF the Com
stitutlon by the use OF unconstitutional
and illegal means In Parliament and the
country. Two courses appeared open 10 US,
The first, that the Irish members should
retire in q body from the House OF Com.
mons and announce to their constituents
that the constitutional weapon OF Parlia.
mentarY repi esentation had been snatChed
from their hands, and that nothing was left
but sullen aCquiesCenCe or appeal to force
In opposition to the force which had been
used against us. The second, and only
other alternative, appeared TO be that we
should steadiastly labor OH the deepening
lines and widening area OF our agitation,
appealing TO the great masses OF the popu.
lation OF England and Scotland, who are
much less represented In the House OF
Commons than the masses In Ireland. An.
pealing, | say, against the territorialSm
and aristocracy which dominate the Parlia.
ment to the workingmen and agricultural
laborers OF Britain, who surely have no
interest In the misgovernment and perse.
Cutton ol Ireland, have dismissed
tho hrst OF these courses from
consideration, but the second altern.
ative presents TO US many elements OF
hope Of It's ultimate success. As
have said the Parliament is at present
governed by the landlords, manufacturers
and Hhopkeepers OF Great Britain. All
election times the springs are setin mo.
ton by the wire.pullers OF the two politi.
cal parties and the masses OF electors are
driven TO the polling booths TO register the
DEGREES Of some caucus with place and
power, and not for the good Of the people
as its object Public opinion ID Eng.
land Ia also deliberately and systematically
perverted with regard 10 Ireland, but q |
vigorous agitation In England and Scot.
land would change all this. The near 90.
proaCh Of household suffrage In the coun
ties iB practical certainly before the next
general election. II will sound tho doom
Of England's system Of starving A work.
ingman's or agricultural lab0rer's candi.
date In every British constituency would |
soon bring the House Of Commons and its |
radicAlism TO lis Senses A junction be-.
tween the English Democracy and Irish |
Nationalism on basis OF 1reland's right |
TO make her own laws, the overthrow OF
terrorism In both countries, and the ell.
franChisement OF labor from the crushing |
taxes for the maintenance OF the standing |
armies and naviHs would prove irresistf. |
bic. II would terminate the strife OF the
countries and secure lasting friendship |
based OH mutual interest and confidence |
between the two nations.
l would say, In conclusion, that there is |
nothing In the recent events or incoming |
measure of coercion TO compel the Irish |
people to modify, In the slightest degree,
their action Of open organization and pass.
iyelteeistance toall coercion directed against |
the nation. England must work |
rather by intimidation than by en-.
forCement, ainCeirom the nature OF |
the case II can only be applied
sons ont ot the vast mass II Ia intended 10 |
tetrofize. The Government will rely very
mitch Upon the intimidation produced BY |
the frat arrests. but the gaps are at once
Glled up and the ranks closed. In all |
probability no second attempt will be made |
10 break them, l have noticed that |
proposition has been made 10 supply the |
place Of the present open organization BY |
secret committees. could not approve |
ofsuCh course, tot many reasons, nor do |
think IL would have the slightest chance |
ot success. The Land League is not CT.
gagged In any illegal enterprise, and Il Ia
matter Of .rotorlety that q special Jury OF
the city oi Dublin, after careful inyesti.
CATION extending over many days, by ma.
jofity Of ten to two declared The otRahlSs.
lion 10 be perfectly legal and constitutional.
| do not believe the arrests will be numer.
Gus, although probably wide spread. The
system, oil terrorism by the means Of
warnings conveyed TO the indivilnals
through the police will be adopted. Dis.
regard these threats. Let no man leave
his post. Continue your organizations
Just as before, and have others 10 take
the place Of those who may be rffesled.
BY this policy Of passive endurance the
lfiSh people will command the respect Of
the world, and win prove themselves
worthy Of freedom. To the tenant iAtm.
ers l would say therls is now a position OF
great responsibility. On their action dur.
Ing the next!iew montths probably depends
tbs iattufO Of Ireland fov generations