IRISH AFFAIRS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1837, 10 May 1888, Page 3

IRISH AFFAIRS

(per press association ) . London, May 9. Mr Parnell states that he is convinced that the Irish Catholics will not allow anybody to influence them m j their political duty, and that similar attempts to fetter the Irish people have repeatedly failed. The Papal decree, he considers, has been disastrous from a religious aspect, and he suspects that a scheme somewhat resembling trade unionism is preferable to the Plan of Campaign. Mr Parnell declares that neither the Irish party m Parliament nor the members of the League were connected with the plan of campaign, and mentions that he tried to limit the scope of its operations. Mr Parnell was banquetted at the Eighty Club. In his speech he counselled moderation m advocating Irish rights, and urged his followers to remember that they had the assistance of the English Liberals, who invariably succeeded m carrying reforms. Referring t3 the Earl of Carnarvon, he said his memory was defective. The Earl had invited the now celebrated interview, during which he had expressed opinions that a local Parliament was the only solution of the difficulty m Ireland. Mr Parnell said he knew nothing whatever of the plan of campaign until it had been some weeks m existence. Had he been aware of it being established he would have opposed it, on the ground that it provided an excuse for the carrying of the Coercion Bill. He considered the plan of campaign had been an effective weapon, but it was neither the work of the National League nor the Irish Parliamentary party.