New-York tribune., 1886-05-17
HOME RULE AND THE EMPIRE
Mr. JOHN WALTER ON INSTANTANEOUS.
A LETTER FROM TIE EDITOR OF THE LONDON
TIMEs"-DIsCoUNTISG SYMPATHY FOR IRELAND
AMrprc,
lBY CABLE TO THE rRrBrSr.1


my CABLE TO THE TRrBrSr.l
copyright; 1886 North american cable Necs Co,
LONDON May 16.-Henry IIurlbert has placed in
the hands OF The TRIBUNE representative a letter
from John Walter, chief proprietor of The London
1'n'es, concerning the Home Rule bill. Mr.. Walter
mas travelled much IN America and he alludes
TO the fact IN this letter, which drawn out by
the question whether the sympathy of many lead
ing Americans with the Irish Home Rule move
ment is sufficiently understood in England. He
argues that the weight of the Irish element in
America is exaggerated rather than undc-resti-
mated in England and expresses the wish that
some one may give accurate statement of the
number OF lrish-men, women and chldren-in the
United States directly in sympathy with Home
Rule After declaring that the United States
would not endure for six months the disorder III
Ireland which the British have put up with for
more than that number of years and asserting that
this disorder is not due to poverty, lie maintains
that the remedy for the trouble is orderly Gov
ernment without tincture of Home Rule. which
he condemns as subverslvc of the Empire He
writcs
fancy that tho real value OF American sympathy
with Mr. Gadstone's Home Rule bill. displayed at
public meetings and In other FORMS is greatly overrated
In this country. Those who as much Of
America as have Will OF discount 1t very
lucy arc not likely 10
the noisy demonstrations OF tho purely
Irish element In the population of your
great cities for the expressions aftor calm Of
the American people, o. people whose very watch
words ar" union. law and liberty aud who have some
memorable occasions been compelled to impress these
maxms upon their Irish fellow citizens by arguments
more forcibe than pleasant The fact is that the
Irish both here and in the United States
are In the habit Of exaggerang their numbers and IN
nuence until they really believe In their own hctions
Last year. when travelling in Ireland | was gravey in-
formed by a Nationalist reporter that the Irish Home
Rulers had twenty millions Of irish in America to back
them see by the report Of last nights debate that
John Dillon reduced this number to ten millions. but
this take still to be gross exaggeration and wish
that competent authority tho other side OF the
would he good enough enlghten our statesmen
and tho public as to tho correct hgures NJ which
the really Irish Homo Rule element In the
United States, including and children.
may be recsonei With regard the present condition
OF Ireland which Mr.. Gladstone processes himself un-
able deal with except by conceding Home Rule and
virtually repeating the Union, all can say is that your
Government would allow such state OF things to
exist for six months rs we have tolerated Tor twice az
many years much longer period. II any inelli-
gent American to visit Ireland. he would iind IL
difficult 10 any outward. any visible signs OF that
poverty and misery when so often reproaehed
with. Texcept. OF course, such places as Ach Island
have occustome depend upon the potato, or on
employment far away from home and when
those fail have means OF subsistence
For such districts special treatment Is required,
which but the Government can adequately supply.
But assure you from vivid recollection OF what
ireland ity years AMI after conprins notes
with friends VINO have known it almost as long, that,
with the exception OF such districts as those above
mentioned, the whole country has enormously I'm
proved The land is better titled. the people are better
housed fe and dressed the Oeggdrs have disappeared
and tie country requires nothing bar the maintenance
az las, and order not By tie tfu exercise OF what Is
called coercion hut by the administration of hrm ana
steady government, insure tine development OF its
resources to any extent that may DO compatible with
the laws o nature and with the general commercial
policy country. That the present local adminis-
tration stands in need OF reform nave doubt but
every necessary reform may be obtained without such
docaon of the great forces of the Constitution as IS
now proposed. d. "ALiI"'