MR BRIGHT'S ADDRESS. London, July 9.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2202, 19 August 1886, Page 3

MR BRIGHT'S ADDRESS. London, July 9.

The following is Mr Bright's address to his constituents :— To the Electors of the Central Division of Birmingham. Gkntlkmen,— In November last I wrote an address to you offering myself as a candidate for the Parliamentary seat at your disposal. That you returned me to Parliament was highly gratifying to me, and I thank you for the renewed expression of your confidence in me. Most unexpectedly I am forced again to address you. Since November only 0119 question has occupied the time of the House of Commons and the attention of the country. It relates to the future government of Ireland, and has been thrust upon Parliament and the country in two Bills brought forward by the Government. I will not discuss these Bills further than to say that one of them has been rejected by the House and the other has been withdrawn. We are not told by the Minister responsible for the Bills or by any one of his colleagues how much or how little of these unfortunate proposals will reappear on the opening of the new Parliament now about to be elected. We are asked to pledge our selves to a " principle," A'hich may be innocent or most dangerous as it may be explained or insisted on in the future Bills. I cannot givo any .such pledge. The experience of the past three months does not increase my confidence in tho wisdom of tl c Administration or of their policy with respect to the future Government of Ireland. We hwvo before us a " principle "' which is nut explained by its author or its supporters, and I will not pledge myself to what I do not understanding or to what I cannot approve. In the year 18?2 I wrote a letter to an liish gentleman, from which I extract a short sentance :— "To havp two legislative assemblies in the United Kingdom would, in my opinion, be an intolerable mischief, and I think no sensible man can wish for two within the limits of the present United Kingdom who does not wish the United Kingdom to become two or more nations entirely scper.ito from each other." To this opinion I still adhere, and, if it be possible, more firmly than before. j I am not in opposition to the views of the Go\ eminent more on account of England than of Ireland. No Irish P.uliament can bo so powerful or as just in Ireland as the United Parliament sitting in Westminster. I c.innot trust the' peace and iuterests of Ireland, north and .south, to the Irish Parliamentary party, to whom the Government now propose to make a general surrender. My six yeais' experience of them, of their language in the House ot Commons and of their deeds in Ireland, makes it impossible for me to consent to hand over to them the property and the rights of five millions of the (Queen's subjects, our countrymen, in Ireland 1 . " At least two millions of them are as toyal as the population of your town, and it will be no party to a measure which .'will thrust them from the generosity urd; justice of tho United and Imperial P.ll li;im«nt. If I have an occasion fof it, I may enter into further consideration of this great and grave question. I write now that no one one may be ignorant of my views upon it. My vote in the* recent division was given with great grief, as you will understand ; but my judgment and my conscience made any other course impossible. For 40 years I have been the friend of Ireland. Long before any member of the Irish party now in Parliament or any member of the present Government opened his lips to expose and condemn the wrongs of Ireland 1, spoke for her people in the House of Commons and on public platforms in this country. It is because lam still the friend of Ireland that I refuse to give her up to those to whom the recently.-defeated Bill would have subjected her. If I am continued in the position of your representative I shall, to the best of my capacity, seek only what I conceive to be the true and permanent welfare of our country. With many thanks for .ill your past kindness. — I am, bincerely and gratefully yours, John Bright. Rochdale, June 24th.

Yea ! It is certainly true. Ask any of your friends who have purchased there. Garlick and Cranwell have numerous unasked for and very favourable commendations from country customers on their excellent packing of Furniture, Crockerj', and Glass, &c. Ladies and gentlemen about to furnish should remember that Garlick and Cranwell's is thk Cheap Furnishing Wharchouse of Auckland. Furniture to suit all classes ; also Carpets, Floor Cloths and all House Necessaries. If your new house is nearly finished, or, you are coing: to get marred, visit Garlick and Cranwell, Queen-street and Lome-street Auckland. Intending pur cha<spr«. ran have a ratalnirup sont f--co