Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-20
GLADSTONE PLEASED
To Learn That He Has So Many
Sympathizers in America.
HE HAD BEEN TOLD OTHERWISE.
Major Byrne Undeceives Him and Is
Thanked for So Doing.
THE GRAND OLD MAN FEELS HIS AGE

NEW YORK, Aug. 19.-Major John
Byrne, who has just returned from Europe
after few weeks absence, had long talk
with Gladstone while in London. 81 did
not 60 as a peace commissioner" said
Major Byrne, NOR with purpose of in
any way intruding myself into British pol
itics. was on private business, but being.
in London on the reassembling of Parlia-
ment I, of course, had the opportunity of
meeting many public men of the Liberal
and Irish parties. I heard the debate in
Parliament on the Tuesday preceding the
vote OF want of confidence. was intro
duoed to Mr.. Gladstone by Mr.. Morley.
Mr.. Gladstone expressed special interest
in knowing the true condition of public
sentiment in America on the cause to
which he had dedicated his remaining life
home rule for ireland.
cit had been claimed by certain parties
that complete revulsion of public senti-
ment had taken place in America which
worked an indifference to Ireland's fate and
hostility to Gladstone and his policy. As
q leading American had put it, Nine
tenths of the Irish in America are anti
Gladstone and pronounced Parnellities.
No Foundation for Such a Claim.
'tI was glad to be able to assure Mr..
Gladstone that there was no foundation for
such claim, that the contrary was the fact,
and that all men in America, of any value
or worth as American citizens or Irish
sympathizers, where unquestionably with
him and the majority of the people of Ire
land; that no man or party in America
could get respectable hearing on any
issue adverse to home rule or Gladstone's
policy in promoting it.
"Mr. Gladstone seemed much gratifed,
and said he had placed great reliance upon
ued very highly the sympathy and support
of Americans, including those of Irish
blood, and it would grieve him deeply and
sorely disappoint him to lose that sympathy
and support which had always been a
source of great encouragement and comfort
to him, and that he could not understand
the change that it was claimed had taken
place. He was much gratifed to learn that
it was not true.
"Mr Gladstone said he felt sure that all
true friends of ireland would feel fully sat
isfed with his course toward Ireland, and
would be glad if would say to the friends
of the cause in America that no doubt
bitter fight was ahead, but that if all re-
successful result He asked me to thank
America cordially for the aid given to Ire
land in the late election.
Impressed With Gladstone's Sincerity
IT was deeply impressed with Mr. Glad
stones sincerity, and came from the confer
ence firmly convinced of his entire good
faith and firm resolve to make Irish self
government the work of his life. I heard
Mr. Gladstone's speech in reply to the
Queens speech, delivered subsequent to my
conference with him, and found conirma-
tion of all he had said to me.
"If Irishmen will prove as true to Ireland
as 1 am satisfied Mr.. Gladstone will, all
will be well, but the fate of the Irish meas
ure is in Irish hands Mr. Gladstone
seemed we'll and strong, but as he himself
laughingly said, he lis an old man, with not
the assurance of years of labor which a
younger man might hope for,' and that
should be reason why the friends of Ire
land should see to it that he gets the fullest
support now"