New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-06-01
JOHN BRIGHT ON THE CRISIS
THE SPLIT IN THE LIBERAL PARTY.
GOVERNMENT MEASURES PRACTICALLY DEAo-
FEELING AMONG CONSTITUENTS
rpy CAmE To THE TRIBUNE.1


copvrtcht; lss6, North american catl, Ne'os co.
IoxDoS. Nav 3l.-Where does John Bright
nd IN this day Of the political battle in Ensandt His
name ia still one to conjure with throughout kaoica
Britain and above all in those great towns OF the
Midland ontles in which chiefly the rates OF ioelai
politicians are made or marred. Fouowlpg Is tne
summary of a conversation had with the Boanerses OF
birmingham this morning. The representative OF ihh
TRIBUNE found Mr.. Bright in mood decidedly oeliser-
ant ON the subject OF Mr.. 0adstones circular inviting
certain members Of the Liberal party TO meet hiih III
conference at the FOrsign Office, and this upon tne
ground that OF the circular onensivey drew
such line of demarcaton between the great sections OF
Tho marty as made 1t necessary for Mr.. Bright ior
example, to abstain from attending mec'hs IN "hi'
oil the old ana sound maxDs OF party oreanizatioh al
the shades OF or non existing In the rarty upon ec"'
pu bio question. ought 10 be represented ana 10 o ~
duly into account by the party lea"er. .,. .,.
.r do not consider myself to have bcch 'n'i'ou " w
meeting" said Mr. Bright, ana t"i' 10 wv
other members OF the party. A.. ATT.
In reply to a question whether II Followed no"i '"'
that members thus situated would reel IL r'su, W WV W
rho second reading against the Government MT biist
sid that more due to tho party and Its rrn'pios
tban TO any leader, and that members who re- mz'o
Ar fld,ones great abilities and services to the Liberal
canse oucht not forced into position IN which they
might find to record an open condomh"'oh
of the official head OF their own party
Rnc asked no IT was with the Liberal constituencies
hahn
Liberal unions and associations approving tho irish
,ooasures of the Premier less fully were sacly
IN he taken as indicating tho predominant Opinions OF
Ineral, t,ros sehodt the country, Mr.. Bright grew
animated.
These unions and associations" he said, are made
nm oi " hat may be called the working members OF Ihe
pn,ty all over the codntry-te men who condnet tEe
campaicus and practically organize elections; not
exactly the machine you have 1t in America, he
added with quick glance, for do not think we have
developed this country yet that institution prcc'oH
os Won have 1t in America but the working hat'lions
These men, O., course do not wish to see iAhea "oN
ernment put out of power If it can he avoided bu. "
doe, NOT folio that the rank and file Of the constu
euces after a Government goes out OF power VIII take
tho view of any public measure wich thes5 men taAo
tetore a Government is put out OF power
In other woris..it follow that the constu-
euts will necessarily return TO Parliament at new
election mombeTs who accept the DECLARATIONS ho" '"o
by these bodies as instructions how to vote"
Certainly not In good many cases. especi'ly
IN the Mdlands. Liberal members actually
now sitting were chosen by moro than ten per cent
maiorites 1t would DO foolish to suppose that Ill such
cases a candidate upholding Mr. Gladstone Will neces-
sarly be elected Conservative CANDIDATE since
the percentage OF dscoD:ented Liberals may III such
cases easily their narrow margin anu sehu UP 'ne
Conservative"
To the inquiry whether Liberal seats thus lost woud
not he made up hy loss the Conservatives OF seats
given them at last election by the irish vote I'D
English and Scotch constituencies. Mr. Bright sad;
rbe Irish vote in Great no., perhaps as
solidly thrown the last election Tor conservative
candidates rs had been supposed.
In sreaking upon this subject M Bright said ne was
much surprised by condemnation pronounced upon
Patrick Ford by Mr. Paine and Mr.. Heay In the Horse
q, Commons 1t was his impression that the fenian
organization has representatives III the House WHOSE ann
and action in certain contingencies might dverse ron
those of Mr.. Parnel. II obvious that the whole
Nj lad
measures was obscrrel and an appeal to the country
seemed to Mr. Bright to be involved In such uhcer-
tintes that no would atemrt to forccaste he
issue of such an appeal That MI. Gladstones original
measures dead was clear.
Is 1t clear that the House py uiViu'ns as"ii'' mum
would affirm this y
What the House ought to do" said Mr.. Bright " is
one thing what it will DO another There are Llpcra
members who, while they rejoice to SEQ the orlelha
measures dead disposed to shield, VIII not say Sr
Gladstones pride, but ir. Gadstone's past services
and great posi- ion from crash of defeat on the
division Whether this disposition ia exactly compaoie
with the duty of such members to the country may Dc
question members who never look beyond
The moment in their votes"
That religious feeling, Protestant feeling had much TO
do with the rising tide If opposition to MI GladstoheS
Home Rnle measures, Mr.. Bright did not deny. lie
knew that Ulster was reused BY such feeling Ulster
WAS the mch COW of Ireland without which the control
of Ireland by the Nationalists would be of little use 10
tue H. and Ulster certainly was opposed to being con-
trolled by Dublin Parliament. He did not now lhhR
an armed conflict imminent believing that III these tmeS
Protestant Brons reluctant to shed blood but there
were MANY ways 10 which Ulster could refuss to obey
and resist ehectu,lly tho authority OF Dublin Par-
lament and certainly tie Protestant Churchmen and
DssenteIs OF Great Britain could not quietly acqucsce
IL the subiugaon OF Ulster.
Would he speak in tho House the question
That was uncertain. Though nothing could he more
clear OF firm than his voice in conversations IT perhaps
might not be able bear the strain OF ST. Stephens
Az the correspondent to hid him eood-by Lord
Harrington cane with that indolently cool and seu-
confident which Disroc touched on so vvidy IN MS
Marquis sante Aldcgondc. There can be no doubt OF
John Bright's position on tho bill.