Widnes Examiner. — 1888-02-25 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

BRUNNER, M.P., who was received with great cordiality, described the proceedings at Mitthelstown, at which he was present. He had, he said, described that scene at least fifty times, and he had never yet failed to convince his hearers that a very black and dastardly deed was &nu in the name of the English people on that occasion. That meeting at Mitchelstown, he claimed, was a.legal meeting, and he claimed also that the police knew it was a legal meeting. The police attacked the crowd, and the men who resisted it had right on their side, yet one of those men had been picked out and had had 4 months' hard labour. Irbil% the police, who, illegally in attacking the crowd, did three. of them to death, were as free as he and those present. ("Shame.") There was no excuse whatever for the police to force themselves %Wendy through the crowd, and in doing so they acted in defianco of the instructions issued to them both by the Liberal and the Tory Government. There was ample room on either side to get close to the platform or brake, and the police reporter could have got within arm's length of every speaker. But what was the upshot of all this The man who resisted that violent attack was, as they knew, in prison, but those who had been guilty of murder were not to be prosecuted. (A Voice: "That's Toryism," and " Hear, hear.") Having described a meeting at Bandon, Mr. Brunner said he had been also at a meeting at Lougbrea. in the very middle of the estates of the Most Noble the Earl of Clanricarde. (Laughter.) There it was evident, as at Bandon, that the Government had not forgotten the words "Remember Mitchelstown," for the police did not interfere. They heard' a number of Englishmen in per 1 feet quiet, and he believed that by that League meeting the cause of law and order was greatly advanced. (Hear, hear.) He (Mr. Brunner) .felt perfectly satisfied that that meeting would not be proclaimed; and why? Because the reputation of the Marquis of Clanricarde, not only in Ireland but in England, was so utterly, unsavory that no English gentleman who could avoid it would touch him with a long pole. (Laughter) and "Hear, hear.") Their Chairman had spoken. upon the question of Home Rule, and had told them that two years ago the Tories said Home Rule would be a disaster for England. Ile did not know whether in Stockport they had got over the idea. that Irishmen did them an injury when they came and worked side by side with them. He hoped they had.; but supposing that we could make Ireland as prosperous as England, there was no question that it would be to the benefit of Ireland. But would it not be for the benefit of Stockport also if there was as great a demand for labour in Ireland as there was in Stockport? Notwitstandin that, he was not going to appeal to them to support Home Rule for the benefit of their own Dockets: • he was going to appeal to their sense of fair play, and of what was right towards their neighbour. He believed that when the chance came they would grant to Ireland—no more and no less—the rights they claimed for themselves. He did not mean to say the rights they had, for they had not enough, but the rights they claimed to have. (Cheers.) In granting Home Rule to Ireland they would not be doing one tittle of harm to their own interests, for he claimed that justice to Ireland meant justice to all. (Cheers). The proceedings concluded with rotes of thanks to Mr. Brunner ;rid the chairman.