New-York tribune., 1885-08-10
MR.. BRIGHT AND THE IRISH.
HIS CHARGES AGAINST SOME OF THE IRISH
MEMBERS AND THEIR REPLY,

the House Of Commons Tuesday afternoon is suifi-
ciently indicated by one fact. Mr. Callan was the
leader of it and Mr.. Parnel kept away from tue
scene 1t was in his speech at the Spencer banquet
last Friday that Mr. Bright succeeded IN rufling
Irish susceptblities. Mr. Calan seems to have sup
posed that what was then SAID applied to all the
Parnelte members. Lord harrington pointed out
that this was not SO, alr. Brghts accusations
were directed against Irish members who had made
the hdeous charges against Lord Spencer which have
so often been heard, and against them only Of
them he said that they were dsloyal, hostile to
Great Britain that they had obstructed all legsla-
tion which was intended to discover prevent and
punish crime; that they had nsuIted and de-
nouncedevery man in Ireland concerned in the just
administration of the law, judges and jures and
law officers of the Crown included. What they have
exhibited sad Mr. Bright, she contrary. is this,
IA bOundless sympathy for criminals and mur-
dereFs This language Mr.. Callan thought amounted
to a brecch of the privileges of the House of Com
mons, and moved a resolution accordingly.
Nfr. Bright had pailcd for the remainder of the
session and gone home to hSehdale Ills friends
telesraphed him that his language vas to be inn
peached by Mr. Caan, and he returned to london
to face the music. Some Of opinion that he
need not have done this but the whole the feel
ing of the House that he ought to appear. In
theory all members of the House are equal and the
most instrions expected TO meet the attack Of
the most insignificant.
Mr.. Brigbt's answer to the indictment of Mr.
Calan was a brief one lie maintained the truth
fulness of what he had said, and the propriety of
saying 1t. With the art of practced debater, he
contrved to put the Irish themselves on the stand
as witnesses in his behalf. First to Lord Spencer
and the Irish charges against him. 1t had been
etp pta a1 bisti nd Int T.ord
Spencer had sent to the galows men whom he
knew to be innocent. The Irish cheers which greeted
this ssnltiel. IN the well-undersood House of Com
mons language their approval and reiteratiDn OF
this hideous accusation. Whether the Irish or any
OF them really believe it is question will not
ask 1t Is enough that they assert it. Then as to
disloyaltv. Mr.. Bright reminded the House that he
had before spoken in the House itself of the Irish
party as the rebel party. Did any of them repudiate
it then ! he asked Do they repudate it now On
the contrary. they accepted 1t and chccred it, And
they chcered it again he speaking. 1t
is difficult TO see why they should complain OF Mr.
Brights applying to them name which they are
constantly claiming for themselves They speak OF
the House of Commons in which they sit as an ahen
legislature; of the Government to which they have
sworn allegiance rs foreign Government. That is
the language they hold frequently in Ireland and
not infrequcntly in the House itself.
don't suppose that the Irish really are agprieved
by charge of disoyalty. Mr.. Parnell said that be
could never rest tll the last link that bound
Ireland to England had been broken. Mr.. Parnell,
at any rate. has the courage OF his opinions. Prob
ably the thing which more than all Others in Mr..
Brchts speech stung Mr.. Callan and his colleagues
was the charge of sympathy with criminals and
murderers. Mr. Bright bases his defence of that
statement on the absence OF emphatic condemna-
tons of crime. There too. he is familiar ground.
lie makes an exception in the case Of the PhGnix
Park murders Then he tbuks the Irish
astoundcd and cowed by the feeling which prevailed
throughout the country. Then they did express
what he believes they really felt: sorrow at those
crimes. But suppose" continued he /" had said
the contrary of what did say. Suppose had told
my audience that the Irish in the House Of Commons
really condemned in strong aud emphatic language
continually all those who committed these great
crimes, suppose said they had exhibited great
grief at the violent and murderous crimes constantly
committed in IrelAnd-what would tn House or the
Irish themselves have said or thoughti They
would have said was fool or worse for making
statements which were absolutely untrue
So that upon the whole, Mr. Bright remained OF
opinion that what he had said Mt the Spencer ban
quet was accurate and true. If the House thought
it breach of privilege he should express his re-
gret but far rs the truth of what he had alleged
was concerned Nothing in the world will induce
me to withdraw atom OF it, And he concluded
by reference to his efforts for more than thirty
years past in behalf of Ireland; efforts to which
history will do Justice whether it be the present
fashion or not iu Ireland to remember them.
Many speeches in reply to Mr. Bright were made
by Irish members. Mr. Mccarthy sad he was not
IN favor of taking notice Of what had been said. Mr.
Bright had abandoned his principles and become
the enemy of Ireland He had once been Mr..
Brghts friend and had been proud to be. but was
so no longer Mr. T. p OConnor declared that Mr.
Bright who now ceusured Irish members for SYM
pathy with criminals. had himself admittc d the
necessity of outrages and almost enlogzed them as
a beacon and warning to statesmen! IL Mr.
Bright had been Mr. Gladstone. he would have
asked MIR. L. 7. OConnor to give his authority for
this singular statement Perhapsove Mr.. Bright, in
different as lie is TO such things. would have done
80 had he not. In accordance with Parliamentary
usage. withdrawn while his conduct was under dis
crssion. Mr.. Sexton observed that MIR. Brghts
icentiousness of language with regard to his oppo
nents had been his great characteristic. Mr. OlSrien
said frankly enough that the charge of dsloyalty
To English rule in ireland compliment. As
for the accusation of being in sympathy with crim-
nals such charge did not matter much, coming rs
IL did from m old. feeble and somewhat broken
man. Mr. Justin Huntly Mccarthy improved upon
this by describing Mr.. Bright exploded pollt
clan: less dangerous now to ireland enemy
than in his capacity of friend, which had enabled
him to delu lie the people IL true that the Irish
sympathizcd with convicted criminals, for they
included of the greatest most honorable and
most exalted names, to wit, Emmet. Meagher,
Mitchell Smith OBrien. and tho three msu done
10 death in Manchester Mr.. OKcy reminded
the members of tho late Administration that they
were themselves stepped to the necks in blood. and
Mr. Bright himself would go down to posterty as
one of the assassns of Alexandria. Mr.. 7. ID. Sui
Iria il.ara Lalo