The San Francisco call., 1897-04-13
Sympathy of the Great
Irish Leader for the
Greeks.
British Bondholders Considered
Rather Than the Claims
of Humanity.
Home Rule Must Remain in the Back
grounl for a Time Because of an
Unfavorabe e M jority.


from Ireland, arrived in Oakland last
Sunday evening with his wife and chill
dren on a visit to his wife's aunt, Mrs
Canning, at 954 Sixteenth street.
The party lett London two weeks ago
last Saturday. For nine years up to n
year ago they had peen living at Bally-
brack. County Dublin, locality rich in
scenic beauties.
For the past year they had been living
in London. Mr.. Davllt was obliged TO
give up has iome in Ireland owing to his
having been elected TO Parliament two
years ago. and his duties as member of
that body requiring him to live in Lon
dan. They have come to California TO
gain health in the warm airs that come in
through the Golden Gate.
Mrs. Divitt and the children will re.
main in Oakland for year or two while
Mr.. Davitt will be oblig ed TO start for Lon
don within few days.
To a Tribune reporter Mr.. Davitt said:
II am happy to say that we Irish mem
bers of the House of Commons were the
first to move in the matter OF parlia-
mentary action in favor of the policy pur-
sued by the King of Greece on this ques-
tion. 1t was the Irish members who aug.
gested and helped to carry through tue
m memorial to the King OF Greece which
! was signed by 100 mem bers OF the Honse
| of Commons ana dispatched to him at
| critical moment five or six weeks ago.
This act OF ours was ferceiy denounced
| by the Goyernmenti in the House of Com
mons, but We were satisfied that we rep
resented the overwhelming mass of popu-
| lar feeling in Great Britain and Ireland in
| orr action; and / am con ntident the mes
| sage of encouragement which we sent to
the King from the House of Commons
encouraged him to persevere in a policy
| which has the approval of all the friends
| of freedom in Europe.
"The action of the English Government
in this Eastern crisis is very reprehensi-
bic. 1t Is dictated not by any sincere wish
| TO further the cause OF liberty in Crete
but by wish to uphold what are called
| British interests in Constantinopie and
| Turkey. These interests are represented
Dy some 500, 100 O00 OF English invest
ments. and Lord Salisbury thinks more of
the interests of English bondholders than
of the liberty and rights OF the Christian
| people of Crete in their struggle against
an intolera BILE tyranny.
| with reference 10 the home rule ques
tion It is for the present and. so far as
! parliamentary action goes, in the back
rounp; but that will only be for a short
time. Our opponents who are now in
power have a majority of 40 in the House
OF Commons. and while they remain in
| Office there is no chance of our obtaining
such measure OF liberty as we demand.
| As have already pointed ont, the Tories
are so unpopular over their policy in the
! East that they would be defeated by an
| overwhelming majority il there could
be general election Immediately. l do
not expect any such fortunate occurrence
as an immediate general election, as Lord
Salisbury is under no constitutional obli-
| n Ina
| ders over the Cretan difficulty; but when
| ever he is compelled by choice or political
circumstances to appeal to the electors of
Great Brnain and Ireland the Liberals,
who are pledged to concede home rule to
| Ireland, will be returned 10 power and
we, the Irish members. will insist unon nom
their making home rule the first item of
| their legislative programme"
| How do you find the Irish Americans
| on the question of home rule!' was asked.
| well, have found ir my intercourse
with leaoing Irish-A mericans in New
York and Chicago as / came along that
interest in the national cause of Ireland is
| as keen as ever among our Irish American
| friends in the United States. These friends
are, as matter of course, disheartened
at the divisions which have obtained
| during the last five or six wear. in the
old country. So long as these divisions
exist it is not to be expected that we
will obtain from sympathizers on this side
| OF the Atlantic that measure of hearty
support which was givon to us ten or
twelve years ago, and by means of which
assistance we were enabled to make such
splendid progress with our cause. / am
satisfied, however, that when we are again
reunited, as l expect We shall be within
the next year or two, we will again obtain
from our friends and kindred in the United
States unsiinted support in our efforts TO
free Ireland from English rule and the
curse of Irish landlordism. You may say
20 The readers OF the Tribune that / am
very hopeful of the future of the home-
rule movement"