BISHOP O'WDYER AND MR. DILLON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8360, 13 September 1890, Page 3

BISHOP O'WDYER AND MR. DILLON.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir. —The primary cause of the quarrel between Bishop O'Dwyer and Mr. Dillon arose in connection with the Glensharrold tenants, who are in the Bishop's diocese. In your leader of the 11th instant, the following passage occurs:—"Mr. Dillon had been making an appeal on behalf of the Glensharrold tenants, when the Bishop stepped hi and exploded the whole scheme." Quite the contrary is the fact. For the last two or three years these tenants and their landlord have been vt loggerheads concerning the admittedly exorbitant rents on the estate. The tenants suggested arbitration, which ended so happily for all concerned on the Vandeleur estate, but the proposal waa scorned. The climax was approaching. The Bishop sent, on his own account, a competent gentleman (who, by the way, was an antiHome Ruler) to inquire into the tenants' demands, with the result that the Bishop waa made aware that the tenants demands were below that of his own valuer. Armed with this, the tenants once more suggested, and were denied arbitration. They (the tenants) then voluntarily placed their case iu the hands of the National League, who have built them huts close to their old homes, and provided for them until the landlord sees lit to arbitrate. The Bishop was quietly ignored, hence his uncalled for attack upon Mr. Dillon. Mr. Dillon's vindication was soon forthcoming from the Bishop's own people. The Limerick Board of Guardiaua at once passed the following resolution :— " We feel it to be our boimden duty to emphatically protest against such unfounded attempts to vilify the charater of honest John Dillon, who is the beloved of the Irish race at home and abroad, besides being the esteemed of the ablest statesmen of England, and the admired of all honest meu the world over ; and, needless though it be, we once again express our unbounded confidence in John Dillon and his gallant colleague?,, through whom we expect! to secure the regeneration of our people." Hundreds of similar resolutions were passed throughout Ireland, but I select this one, : coming as it were, from the Bishop's very | threshold, every member of which Board ; was well posted in the matter at dispute. Speaking of Papal interference in Irish politics, Ireland "as not yet forgotten the veto question, which, but for O'Gonnell would have been thrust upon her, producing Bishops of the O'Dwyer stamp. You conclude your article thus: " The impression conveyed by recent news from Ireland is, that the extreme party are becoming weaker, that they have not that support which they once had, and that the Irish people are settling down to peaceful pursuits under a better Government than they are ever likely to have under Home Rule." I will answer this sentence by putting to you the following; query. Vacancies occurred this year in the following Irish constituencies : —Worth Donegal, West Donegal, Cavan, East Galway, Mid-Tipperary, and West Waterford. If the "extreme p?.rty are becoming weaker," why did not a better Government" prove what you say to be true and capture these seats ''. No the " extreme party" were returned in everyone of them unopposed.—l am, etc., J USTITIA.