The Irish standard., 1892-09-17
JOHN MORLEY, , Mp.
The Chief Secretary for Ireland
Makes an Eloquent Address to
His Constituents

His Constituents
AT NEW CASTLE-ON-TYNE.
Home Rule Will Occupy the, Fore
front in the Coming Session
of Parliament.
When John Morley accepted the Office
of Chief Secretary for Ireland in the
Gladstone ministry it was necessary that
be should seek reelection from his New
castle constituents. The Tories placed
in opposition the strongest candidate
they had, but he was defeated by large
majority. During the contest Mr. Morley
delivered an eloquent speech, from which
the following portion in relation to Ire
land Is given to OUR readers:
l am here to night because have been
appointed Chief Secretary for Ireland
(cheers). And owing to that fact there
is something for you TO consider more
important than any mere personal rela-
ions between me- and the electors of
Newcastle. [ am not going tonight to
argue the question of Home Rule.
argued it in 1885; argued it through
1885; I have argued it during the six
years that have intervened between.
Gentlemen, I stand on this platform and
before the electors of this city, not merely
as candidate for Parliament, but as the
bearer of flag of truce loud cheers) be-
tween the people of England and the
people OF Ireland (cheers). The Tories
want you to strike that flag out OF my
hand (never). Will you? mo, and yes).
The message which am commissioned
to bear is, that the new government will
set to work with might and main to pro-
duce scheme which shall satisfy all
that is just and all that is practicable in
the demands of Ireland while setting the
Imperial Parliament free to satisfy the
demands and the hopes of the people of
Great Britain (cheers). It is a message
of policy, it is message Of prudence, it
is message of coaciliation, it is mes
sage OF peace. Such a message is the
foundation OF true treaty OF union
(cheers). What do the Tories ask you
to do? What do the Tories ask the eec-
tors of the very largest constituency in
n +c1- +o l~C OBJ f<>
snatch this treaty out of my hands, to
tear it in pieces, and to fling the frag
ments OF it in defiance in the face of Ire
land and OF the Irish race all over the
world (Never.) Gentlemen, this is the
question for you to decide, ! only beg
you not to suppose that it is a small or a
narrow question, and don't suppose that
to me personally your support at this
election is not of invaluable worth. Talk
of safe seat! A safe scat elsewhere will
not do if this powerful constituency
which hae for six years supported policy
OF government for ireland, if at this
moment they turn back upon this and
upon me, and reject me, as the candidate
for this city (cheers( Gentlemen, dur
ing the debate on the address the other
day many prophecies OF disorder were
made-prophecies of disorder to follow
our accession to opower-prophecie which
were not to be very nicely distinguished
from threats and from provocation.
Whatever happens if these sinister
prophecies Of coming disorder come true
in large degree or in a small degree the
whole fault will be laid upon us. I don't
know yet, for have not yet been within
the reach of official sources of informa-
tion-I don't know yet in what state Ire
land actually is. am not so confident
as Nh. Balfour and others would have us
be as to the state in which they have left
ireland. I see some signs that very
old game is going to be played over again.
We shall have to take the responsibility
for things which we are not in the least
responsible for. They have talked of
how the prosperity of Ireland has waxed
and increased under the government of
MIR. Balfour. saw the other day that
most of the Irish railways have now de-
clared reduced dividends.
A Voice-Why?
Mr.. Morley-I warrant that before You
are many weeks older they will tell you
that the reduction in the dividends on the
Irish railways was the fault of your
humble servant, though those dividends
were earned in the previous six months
and not in the six months that are to
come (hear, hear). ] am not going to IA
yor all this. They tell US, as men have
told us before, they have driven discon-
tent in Ireland beneath the surface.
Yes, and their successors may have to
reap the harvest Of the re- appearance Of
this discomfort il reappear it does above
the surface (hear, hear. I am going to
~,