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The United Irish League and the reunion of the Irish parliamentary party, 1898–1900

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2016

Philip Bull
Philip Bull*
Affiliation:
Department of History, La Trobe University, Melbourne
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Extract

The chronic factionalism and dissension which had plagued Irish nationalist politics after the fall of Parnell in 1890 was finally brought to an end with the reunion of the Irish parliamentary party in January 1900. During the 1890s the monolithic parliamentary movement of Parnell’s time had degenerated into three separate and warring factions. One of these factions, led for most of this period by John Dillon, consisted of the majority of those who had opposed Parnell’s continued leadership in 1890. A breakaway group of anti-Parnellites, led by T.M. Healy, had adopted both a clericalist and a localist position in relation to nationalist politics, thus separating themselves from the secular and centralised structure of the majority party. The third faction consisted of the supporters of Parnell, led by John Redmond, but by 1897 these Parnellites had split into two groups as a result of differences between Redmond and Harrington over the issue of reunion with the anti-Parnellites. With the formerly impressive edifice of parliamentary nationalism thus split into four fragments, and with two leaders in particular — Healy and Redmond — openly frustrating any moves towards reunion, most nationalists must have felt further than ever removed from the prospect of an effective, united political movement.

Type
Research Article
Information
Irish Historical Studies , Volume 26 , Issue 101 , May 1988 , pp. 51 - 78
Copyright
Copyright © Irish Historical Studies Publications Ltd 1988

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References

1 For an analysis of this split in the Parnellite ranks, see Bull, P.J., ‘The reconstruction of the Irish parliamentary movement, 1895–1904: an analysis with special reference to William O’Brien’ (unpublished Ph.D. thesis, University of Cambridge, 1972), pp 82–91 Google Scholar.

2 For clarification of this as an original objective of the U.I.L., see Bull, op. cit., pp 140–44.

3 Lyons, F.S.L., The Irish parliamentary party, 1890–1910 (London, 1951), p. 89 Google Scholar; idem, Ireland since the Famine (London, 1971), p. 256.

4 Moody, T.W., Davitt and Irish revolution, 1846–82 (Oxford, 1981), p. 546 Google Scholar.

5 Freeman‘s Journal (hereafter F.J.), 8 Aug. 1899.

6 Lyons, F.S.L., John Dillon: a biography (London, 1968), pp 183-4Google Scholar.

7 Hansard 4, liii, 1547 (24 Feb. 1898).

8 Lord Coleridge to O’Brien, 30 May, 2, 9 and 26 June 1899, O’Brien to Sophie O’Brien, 9 June 1899 (University College, Cork, William O’Brien papers, AJB.38, 44, 49, 54, BE.27); Davitt to O’Brien, 24 June 1899 (N.L.I., MS 913, ff 671–3).

9 Elizabeth Dillon’s journal, 22 Mar. 1898 (T.C.D., Dillon papers, MS 6700), but also for this attitude see throughout her journal for 1898 and 1899.

10 Dillon to O’Brien, 4 Apr. 1898 (N.L.I., William O’Brien papers, MS 8555/15).

11 T.P. O’Connor to Dillon, 9 Oct. 1898 (T.C.D., MS 6740/51).

12 Dillon to Blake, 23 and 29 Aug. 1898 (N.L.I., Blake papers microfilm, pos. 4682).

13 Blake to Dillon, 22 Sept. 1898 (T.C.D., MS 6727/236).

14 O’Brien’s diary, 6 Sept. 1898 (Irish People, 16 Feb. 1907).

15 Blake to Dillon, 28 Sept. 1898 (T.C.D., MS 6727/237).

16 Dillon to Blake, 27 Sept. 1898, Davitt to Blake, 30 Sept. 1898 (N.L.I., Blake papers microfilm, pos. 4682, 4681); Blake to Dillon, 28 Sept. 1898 (T.C.D., MS 6727/237).

17 O’Brien’s diary, 18 Aug. 1898 (Irish People, 2 Feb. 1907).

18 O’Brien’s diary, 5 Nov. 1898 (ibid., 15 Apr. 1907).

19 Draft of letter dated 2 Nov. 1898 (University College, Cork, William O’Brien papers, AIB.77).

20 Sophie O’Brien, ‘Recollections’, ii, 34 (N.L.I., MS 4214).

21 Blake to Dillon, 17 Nov. 1898 (T.C.D., MS 6727/240).

22 O’Brien’s diary, 10 Nov. 1898 (Irish People, 15 Apr. 1907).

23 Dillon to Blake, 23 Sept. 1898 (N.L.I., Blake papers microfilm, pos. 4682).

24 Dillon to O’Brien, 25 Dec. 1898 (N.L.I., MS 8555/12).

25 O’Brien to Dillon (copy), 26 Dec. 1898 (ibid.).

26 Ibid.

27 Lyons, Ir. pari, party, pp 75–8.

28 Ibid., p. 78.

29 O’Brien to Davitt (copy), 2 Jan. 1898 (University College, Cork, William O’Brien papers, AJA.6-10).

30 Lyons, lr. pari, party, p. 78.

31 Dillon to O’Brien, 27 Dec. 1898 (N.L.I., MS 8555/12).

32 Dillon to O’Brien, 30 Dec. 1898 (ibid.).

33 O’Brien to Davitt, 31 Jan. 1899 (T.C.D., Davitt papers, MS 9460/3777).

34 O’Brien to Dillon (copy), 4 Jan. 1899 (N.L.I., Blake papers microfilm, pos. 4682); O’Brien to Davitt (copy), 2 Jan. 1899 (University College, Cork, William O’Brien papers, AJA.6-10).

35 Mclnerney to O’Brien, 16 Oct. 1898 (University College, Cork, William O’Brien papers, AIB.31-2).

36 O’Brien to Dillon (copy), 26 Dec. 1898 (N.L.I., MS 8555/12).

37 O’Brien to H.J. Guinane, n.d. (University College, Cork, William O’Brien papers, AIB.44).

38 McInerney to O’Brien, 1 Nov. 1898 (ibid., AIB.75).

39 For a fuller account of the ill-fated conference, see Lyons, Ir. parl. party, pp 79–83.

40 F.J., 18 Apr. 1899.

41 McInerney to O’Brien, 3 and 6 May 1899 (University College, Cork, William O’Brien papers, AJB.9, 11); F.J., 22 May 1899.

42 Davitt to O’Brien, n.d. Apr. 1899 (N.L.I., MS 913, f. 956).

43 Dillon to O’Brien, 29 Aug. 1899 (ibid., MS 8555/11).

44 F.J., 3 Aug. 1899.

45 Mayo News, 2 Apr. 1898.

46 Ibid., 21 Jan. 1899.

47 Ibid., 15 Apr. 1899; The Times, 12 Apr. 1899.

48 Davitt to O’Brien, 6 Apr. 1899 (N.L.I., MS 913, ff 621–3).

49 Davitt to O’Brien, ‘Saturday’ 29 Apr. 1899 (ibid., MS 914); Davitt to O’Brien, n.d. (ibid., ff 1156–9).

50 O’Brien to Sophie O’Brien, 12 Oct. 1899 (University College, Cork, William O’Brien papers, BE.91).

51 The Times, 17 Jan. 1900.

52 Mayo News, 3 Feb. 1900.

53 The Times, 16 Feb. 1900.

54 O’Brien’s diary, 10 Aug., 1 Sept. 1898 (Irish People, 26 Jan., 9 Feb. 1907).

55 O’Brien’s diary, 16 Aug. 1898 (ibid., 2 Feb. 1907).

56 O’Brien to Davitt, 7 Nov. 1898 (T.C.D., MS 9460/3770).

57 “Dillon to O’Brien, 8 July 1898 (N.L.I., MS 8555/13).

58 Ibid.

59 O’Brien’s diary, 16 Aug. 1898 (Irish People, 2 Feb. 1907).

60 Davitt to O’Brien, n.d. [c.Jan. 1899] (N.L.I., MS 914, f. 1072).

61 Davitt to O’Brien, 16 May 1899 (ibid., MS 913, ff 645–8).

62 Davitt to O’Brien, n.d. [probably c.May-June 1899] (ibid., MS 914, ff 982–4).

63 Davitt to O’Brien, 8 June 1899 (ibid., MS 913, ff 661–4).

64 F.J., 20 May 1899.

65 Dillon to O’Brien, 1 June 1899 (N.L.I., MS 8555/11).

66 F.J., 6 May 1899.

67 Ibid.

68 T.P. O’Connor to Dillon, 18 Sept. 1899 (T.C.D., MS 6740/56).

69 Ibid.

70 Ibid.

71 For fuller accounts of the background to the meeting of 30 Jan. 1900 and of the discussions between Healy, Redmond and others during 1899, see Lyons, Ir. pari, party, pp 79–88, and Banks, Margaret A., Edward Blake, Irish nationalist: a Canadian statesman in Irish politics, 1892–1907 (Toronto, 1957), pp 206–29 Google Scholar.

72 Mayo News, 27 Jan. 1900.

73 Haviland Burke to O’Brien, 31 Jan. 1900 (University College, Cork, William O’Brien papers, AKA.57-62).

74 For example, he made it clear during conversation at the Freeman‘s Journal office during the night of 21 January 1900 that his intention was to use the reunion as a means of setting up a machinery to fight the general election so as to thwart the ambitions of the U.I.L. (McCarthy to O’Brien, 22 Jan. 1900, University College, Cork, William O’Brien papers, AKA.45; Davitt to O’Brien, 23 Jan. 1900, N.L.I., MS 914, ff 785–8).

75 McHugh to Dillon, 16 Jan. 1900 (T.C.D., MS 6757/1121).

76 O’Connor to Dillon, 21 Jan. 1900 (ibid., MS 6740/65).

77 See Lyons, Ir. pari, party, pp 86–7.

78 Davitt to O’Brien, 23 Jan. 1900 (N.L.I., MS 914, ff 785–7).

79 O’Brien to J.F.X. O’Brien, 28 Jan. 1900 (N.L.I., J.F.X. O’Brien papers, folder 3).

80 Ibid.

81 O’Connor to Dillon, 23 Jan. 1900 (T.C.D., MS 6740/67).

82 Ambrose to O’Brien, 2 Feb. 1900 (University College, Cork, William O’Brien papers, AKA.72).

83 Ibid.

84 Ibid.

85 The Times, 31 Jan. 1900.

86 Ibid.

87 Ibid.

88 Ibid.

89 W.H. Brayden to O’Brien, 5 Feb. 1900 (University College, Cork, William O’Brien papers, AKA.74).

90 O’Brien, William, An olive branch in Ireland and its history (London, 1910), pp 123, 124 nGoogle Scholar.

91 Davitt to Dillon, 4 Feb. 1900 (T.C.D., MS 6728/102).

92 Timothy McCarthy to O’Brien, 7 Feb. 1900 (University College, Cork, William O’Brien papers, AKA. 82).

93 O’Brien, Olive branch, p. 123.

94 McCarthy to O’Brien, 10 Mar. 1900, Haviland Burke to O’Brien, 10 Mar. 1900, McCarthy to O’Brien, 20 Mar. 1900 (University College, Cork, William O’Brien papers, AKA. 169, 171–3, 211).

95 Dillon to O’Brien, 14, 24, 27, 28 Mar. and 5, 8, 15 Apr. 1900 (N.L.I., MS 8555/10-11).

96 O’Brien to Ford, 28 Mar. 1900, copy in the hand of Sophie O’Brien (University College, Cork, William O’Brien papers, AKA. 245–51).

97 Jeremiah MacVeagh to O’Brien, 10, 13, 18 Mar. 1900, J.F.X. O’Brien to O’Brien, 11 Mar. 1900, McCarthy to O’Brien, 12, 14, 20 Mar. 1900 (ibid., AKA. 175, 187, 203, 178, 184, 193, 211).

98 Irish People, 17 Mar. 1900.

99 Harrington to Redmond, 3 Mar. 1900 (N.L.I., MS 15194).

100 Irish People, 17 Mar. 1900.

101 Haviland Burke to O’Brien, 27 Mar. 1900 (University College, Cork, William O’Brien papers, AKA. 198–200).

102 O’Brien to Dillon (copy), ‘Wednesday’ [14 Mar. 1900] (N.L.I., MS 8555/8).

103 Redmond to Harrington, [c.29 Mar. 1900], [1 Apr. 1900] (ibid., MS 8576/45); Harrington to Redmond, 30 Mar. 1900 (ibid., MS 15194).

104 Presumably Harrington.

105 J. J. McCartan to Redmond, 29 Mar. 1900 (N.L.I., MS 15239/1).

106 lbid.

107 Ibid.

108 J.J. O’Kelly to O’Brien, 4 Apr. 1900 (University College, Cork, William O’Brien papers, AKB.34); O’Brien to Dillon (copy), 6 Apr. 1900 (N.L.I., MS 8555/1); Redmond to Blake, 11 Apr. 1900 (ibid., Blake papers microfilm, pos. 4683).

109 Dillon to O’Brien, 5, 15 Apr. 1900 (N.L.I., MS 8555/10); McCarthy to O’Brien, [15 Apr. 1900] (University College, Cork, William O’Brien papers, AKB.59).

110 I.e. the local convention called to select a candidate for a constituency.

111 Irish People, 30 June 1900.

112 Ibid., 23 June 1900.

113 Lyons, John Dillon, p. 213; see pp 207–14 for a very full account of the background to the national convention.

114 Statistics as to U.I.L., Crime, Special Branch papers, Irish Office Records (P.R.O., CO 904/20, pt 2).

115 O’Brien, Olive branch, p. 123.

116 Lyons, Ir. pari, party, p. 158.

117 I am including the two M.P.s elected in by-elections early in 1900 and then re-elected at the general election.

118 They were Edward Haviland Burke, William Lundon, Conor O’Kelly, John O’Donnell, John O’Dowd and John Cullinan. Patrick White, who became very active in organising the U.I.L. in Dublin after the reunion, should perhaps be added to this group.

119 Esp. John Roche, Robert Ambrose, J.J. O’Kelly, P.A. McHugh, T.J. Condon, J.J. Shee and, of course, William O’Brien, who, although he had not been an M.P. preceding the dissolution, can hardly be called a new member.

120 Lyons, Ir. pari, party, pp 160–61.