The Irish standard., 1908-12-19

ment. Of which you complained? I
candidly acknowledge that have not
seen any report which could justify
your charges on him; but that you
mentioned to me he had said, in quot
ing some passages of speech Of
yours, that in quoting it was not an
ordinary individual. but one who
could lead the Catholics Of Ireland to
his own purposes. and broadly ihsln.
nating that these purposes we're dis.
i honest. Sir Charles instantly replied
Mr.. Peel never said any such thing,
nor anything which justified PERSONAL
ity to him; that he got every report he
| could, and that: no one bore any such
feature; that he would avow every
one he saw. or anything he said" I
agreed with, him as far as those have
seen. and mentioned my regret at the
observations you have made respect
, ing Mr.. Peel. again repeated, to
avoid any misconception, as then OBJ
served. my opinion, that it was not
from you any hostile proceeding
friends, and arrangements were made
should come, for the reasons I before
stated
Mr.. Lidwell ends his letter thus:-
Il am not inclined to doubt the courage
OF any man. If I. was, the character Of
Mr.. Peel. in that way, would not be
raised in my estimation by his conduct
on the present occasion. Labouring
under charge, which he has given
ample evidence he deeply feels. he
might have led dsyou to the field; but in
place Of that he has compelled you to
follow him tosthe printing Office In
a transaction IN which1I know was
not only accountable to the public. but
eventually might be awfully RESPONSE
BILE to my Maker. acted with the most
F, mature denberation. Whether am as
competent to form as just conclu-
sion on such subject as Sir Charles
Saxton, our countrymen must Judge;
but whatever that Judgment shalt be,
I should be unjust If did not take the
entire responsibility on myself, for I
acted throughout without once re-
specting your feeling on the occasion"
On Sunday, the srd Of September,
o'Connen wrote the following letter
to the newspapers. enclosing Mr.. Lid
wells statement. quoted above
"Merrion square. September ard, 1915.
"sir-The very novel and extraordi-
nary course pursued by Mr.. Peel and
Sir Charles. saxton having terminal ID
in a. newspaper publication. beg of
you to publish for me the. enclosed
letter, which received from my friend
Mr.. Lidwell. -
'"rhe dexterity Of my adversary ir
publishing on. Saturday evening has
given him. what I suppose he estimates
h'ghly-one days talking at me. This
paltry trick he resorts to; and yet he
declares that he feels anxious for an,
early statement Of a astransaction' which
occurred two days before -!
"The conversation between Sir
Charles Saxton and me is ,very inac-
curately stated by that gentleman, in
the "correspondent." will only notice
two particularsl7hrst, his omitting to
mention that, on; my expressing" my
own opinion on the fitness Of my send
ing to Mr.: Peel. added, any frierd
would disappoint my hopes aid
wishes who should advise me not to
call on Mr.. Peel; and secondly, lis
inserting the last reply which he has
attributed to himself-not one word of
which did he utter in my presence.
For the rest, I leave tho case to
the Irish public. have disavowed
nothing; I have retracted nothing: I
have refused the gentleman nothing.
I have only to regret that they hav.
ultimately preferred a paper war.
II am, Sir, your obedient and hum.
bic servant, #-
DANIEL o'coNNELL."
The above letter. together with Mr..
Lidwell's statement, was published on
Monday; in the evening of the same
day, the following letter was written
t, O'Connell:-As
dublin cCastle,
"septembef 4th. 1915 Is o'clock,.
"sir-Havin2%1l seen in newspaper
of this evening" letter, bearing y.ur
signature, connected with a communi-
cation which have recently made to
you, imputing to me 'paltry trick
and concluding with the expression
Of your regret that had ultimately
preferred paper war; have to TO-
quire that you will appoint q friend
who may, with Colonel Brown (lhe
bearer Of this letter., make such ar
rangements as the case requires.