Bright (John)

Autograph letter signed ('John Bright') to George Preston, regarding the political situation in Ireland. Bright writes "I am not surprised at what you tell me. The dis-unionists, whether under Mr. Gladstone in England or under Mr. Parnell in Ireland are not careful as to the truthfulness of their statements. They quote my expressions of sympathy with the Irish people in past years as justifying the demand for a parliament in Dublin. They quote a passage from one of my speeches, 'Force is no remedy' which is quite true now as it was true when I used those words. Force is no remedy for.....discontent, but it is and often the only remedy.... for the violence against which our laws are provided. I supported the acts of Mr. Gladstone's government in 1881 and in 1882 to put down the Land League and the disorder in Ireland. I now support the government in their endeavour to suppress the rebel involvement of the National League, which is the Land League under another name. My sympathy for Ireland was not born...in a struggle for office and pay and power. It was strong as it is now 30 years ago, before Mr. Gladstone, Sir William Harcourt...... had a word to say in favour of the Irish.. or of the sufferings of any portion of the Irish people. That sympathy is not lessened in my mind, but is strengthened by recent events. I have delivered the Irish tenant from all that was unjust and oppressive in the laws affecting his tenure of the land. . What more is needed or most needed is to set him free from the wicked conspiracy which is leading him to dishonesty and to crime. He is taught by the leaders of this conspiracy that his true interest is to plunder his landlord and to cherish a bitter hatred of England and industry and honesty and regard for law are ...despised and condemned. It is this conspiracy which the talk of the Liberal Party is now asked to ally itself with. Its leaders in getting whatever is honourable in its past history, ask their followers to march in a path which can lead only to party disgrace and to national disaster. I would save the Liberal Party with which I have been much longer connected and for which I have worked more than any one of its present acting leaders, from the humiliation with which it is invited and I would, with my sympathy for Ireland, save it ... from the control of the man....of which it is now ...disgraced. I believe it is possible to save them from.. the guardianship of the crown of the United Kingdom and from the shelter and the justice of the Imperial Parliament", four pages, folding marks, light age-related toning, 8vo, Melrose, 2 October 1887.