New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-11
MIR. McCARTHYS LETTER.
House OF COMMONS,
WESTMINSTER, Nav, 1852.


have been favored by the Editor of The TRB-
uNE with an opportunity of giving to the American
public my views upon the present crisis in Ireland.
l gladly avail myself of such an offer. and am
anxious Just now to address myself TO Americans
rather than to my own countrymcn or their de-
scendantS who may be settled in the United States
Perhaps there are Americans in New-York who
have some recollection of me at the time when 1
was temporary resident In their city, and at least
/ fancy my name Will be sufficiently wel-known 10
the majority of Americans to render 1t unnecessary
for me to assure them that am not turbulent
revolutionary in politics.
cannot, perhaps better explain my ideas con-
cerning the present crisis than by giving a sort Of
historical sketch of the events of the last few years
as they presented themselves to my eyes, When
entered Parliament l found two great questions
occupying the minds of Irish members, and, natu-
rally IN consequence occasionally obtruding them
selves OIL the minds of English members as well.
These were the question of Home Rule and the Land
Question. The Home Rule party, need perhaps
hardly explain desire to obtain for their country
Just rs much legislative independence as is possessed
by every State of the American Union. They arc
willing this condition that the country should
remain part of the imperial system which LIS repre-
sentcd and controlled by the Parliament In West
Minister. The Land Question it is even less neces-
sary to describe with any minuteness TO the Amer
lean public to-day Put into the fewest words ii is
the struggle of the peasant population 70 obtain the
ownership of the land which they tll which would
be worthless but for their labor, and which, taken
on the whole, is not capable of supporting two dis
tnct sets of owners, that is 10 say. tho occupant
and the landlord.
When 1 came into Parliament Home Rule was
more to the front than the Land Question. Neither,
however had taken very commanding position.
Mr Butt was still leader of the Home Rule party in
Parliament but he was leader only in name, for his
power had been broken and bis influence undermined
some time before and he now sinking, enfeebled
in mind and body down to his end. Mr. Bait was
one of the many examples Of the danger OF an at
tempt at what | may call political resurrection.
His temperance in Irish affairs was as complete
failure as the temperance of Ledru Rollin III the
politics of France. He had disappeared for many
years beueath the surface of political and public Lie,
and when he came back again he was chapgcd man,
and he spoke to q Dew generation. lie conducted
the Parliamentary agitation for home rule with
ability. Hc profound constitutional lawyer
and master of Parliamentary practice. thoroughly
acquainted with the forms Of the Hoasc Of Com
mons. and a fluent. ready speaker, fond Of his own
coquence and apt to attach rather too much i'm
portance to successful speech. He carried on his
Home Rule campaign after the orthodox and old
fashioned mode Of battle. His strategy was like
that OF some European general of past genera
ton who had his regular season for appearing IN tho
field and for withdrawing from IL, who mover VEN
tured an action at an lnconVeniene
time of year: who went as matter
Of course into winter quarters rs 5000 ss
the first drops Of autumn rain began to fall, and
who would never put himself and his men to tho
inconvenience of battle at night Mr.. Butt had .
regular Home Rule debate oucc in each session. Ho
moved for a committee to inquire into the demand
OF the Irish people. He made a speech III support OF
the notion in which he cited various political and
constitutional authorities Several o. his followers
made speeches. division was taken, and, As .
matter of course, Mr.. Butt was defeated by a vast
majority. lie usually received. however from tho
Ministers some compliments for his coqucnce aud
his moderation, and he was well pleased with tho
results Of the performance. On the House OF
Commons in general aud on the Eng
lish public, the whole thing made absolutely no
impression When the English newspapers and
especially the London press, took the trouble TO
speak of the matter at all, they disposed OF Home
Rule by declaring 1t to be a thing which no English
Minister would ever condescend seriously TO srgue.
Mr. Gladstone more than once bitterly do
nouncel by the papers because he wcat far in the
way of courtesy as to argue the subject at all
because he did not iDlperiouSly tell tho Irish MEM
bers that let thcm debate as they pleased Let them
show good ground for their demand Ornot, tho Eng
hsh Parliament had made up its mind and would
listen plea for Home Rule, though il were
spoken with the tongues OF angels. The Home Rule
movement. therefore, was degenerating into tho
condition of one OF those annual motions we'll un-
dorstood aud appreciated in England which become
mere Parliamentary formalitics or Parliamentary
bores
The Land Question, as l have already said, was
even less prominent. The Irish party was beginning
to be regarded harmless and rather agreeable
element III the political life of the House of Com.
mons. This condition of things was suddenly
changed. Some men appeared in the House Of
Commons much younger than Mr. Butt, and not
bound, rs Mr. Butt Was. to tina traditions and the