The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-13
The Irish Circular Repudiated.

The Irish Circular Repudiated.
We learn with extreme satisfaction from
the Dublin Freem1n's Journal that the
subscriptions to the fund Of the Irish Ma
tional League Of Great Britain made by
English Liberals in response to the now no
torious circular have been returned, with
the exception Of Mr.. GLADsToNE's check,
which is retained on the ground that the
donor is out Of politics. The incident may
be now regarded as closed, and It is the hope
Of the friends Of Ireland in this country that
nothing like 1t will occur again. It would
have been better il there had been no pre-
varication in this business, or attempts to
suppress the facts; and there need have
been none, IL Mr.. HEALY's advice that the
checks should be sent back had been
promptly carried out.
We printed the other day an interesting
letter from an intelligent Irish American. In
which the opinion was expressed that the
McCarthyite members Of Parliament would
be entirely justified in accepting not only
money but lucrative public offices at the
hands Of the RosEBERY Government or its
supporters. The laborer, so the writer
thought, is worthy Of his hire, and since the
AuuiopShboDic suPpoib Nv - EhCSdTtul-
ties has been faithfully given to the British
Liberals, the latter might be fairly called
upon to contribute to the election expenses
Of the former and to give them their share
Of official appointments. The writer OF that
letter, however, should have remembered
another aphorism, that q man cannot serve
two masters. The McCarthyites may allow
themselves to be merged in the Liberal or
ganization, or they may adhere firmly to a
position Of independence Of both Of the great
English parties, but obviously they cannot
do both. They might say frankly to the
people Of Ireland that henceforth the pro-
motion Of the nome rule cause would
cease TO be their primary aim, mt that. like
the Irish Wings Of former days, they should
hereafter constitute a wing of the British
Liberal party. No one would challenge
their right to take such a stand. II they took
It openly and, having taken 1t, they could
properly, like the Irish Wings, count upon
having their election expenses paid, and
upon receiving their full share Of the offices
at the disposal Of a Liberal Government.
II is equally manifest that they would take
such a stand at their peril, and it would re-
main to he seen how many seats they could
retain in Ireland, and how much support
they would get from irish Americans.
But, while at some future juncture the
McCarthyites will undoubtedly be at liber-
ty, IL they choose. TO renounce their political
independence and merge themselves In the
British Liberal party, they are estopped
by their own recent public professions from
doing so at this time. Herein lies the gist
of the whole business, and this is why we
were unable to concur with our friends. Mr..
MICHAEL DAvITT and DIR. EMMETT, In de-
cribing the circular appealing for funds to
English politicians rs a trivial incident"
just before tho close of the late session OF
MI. SEXTON, speaking for his
repealed in the most vehement
and heated way the insinuation that they
had received ~pecuniary assistance, and de
clared solemnly that they never would
accept office under the ROsEBERY Govern
ment or a penny from any OF its partisans.
About the same time Mr.. DILLON, Mr.. WILL
LIAM O'BRIEN, Mr.. HEALY, and Mr.. JUSTIN
speaking In the House OF Com
mons, threatened to withdraw their support
from the Liberals, unless prompt measures
were taken to paralyLe the resistance of the
House Of Lords to the Home Rule bill and
the Evicted Tenants bill. What would such
threats mou to, unless the pledge given
by Mr.. SEXTON were vigorously kept In the
letter and the spirit? How could the Nc
.arthyites, as honest men, withdraw their
from British Liberals, II they pro-
eeeded TO solicit and accept ~pscuniary favors
At their hands!
What followed the adjournment OF Par
has not yet been made fully known
On this side Of the Atlantic. The facts arc
that, with the indignant words OF Mr.. SEX
IONS still ringing In the public ear, English
member OF Parliament were invited to at
end a McCarthyite meeting at the West
Palace Hotel that at this meeting
subscriptions Of money from English Lib
rails were acknowledged; and thersuPOn a
~embodying these subscriptions was
and subsequently sent to many
including not only Mr.. GLAD
irOSE, but Lord TwEEDAoUTH, lately the
whip aud patronage dispenser OF
he Liberal party, and Mr., AsoUITH, the
Home Secretary N the very man
Who has o~bstinAtsly refused to release
he Irish political prisoners This was