140 CHARLES STEWAUT PARNELL (188(1
come, Mr. Bright,1 I said, 'to ask if yon are in favour of the Home liulo Bill/
lie paused for a moment, looked on the floor, then raised his head and answered : ' I am not. Wait (at a motion of my hand). 1 am against the Land Bill too ; I am against both Bills.'
'I am only interested in the "Home Rule 'Hill, Mr. Bright. May I ask you why yon an*, against it? Are you afraid that Home Rule, would lead to religious persecution V'
* No; the fact is the days of religious persecution are gone by. You cannot have, it anywhere now. We are all watching each other too much. You know my views of the Irish. They are like most other people • • neither bolter nor worse and yon aro not going to have a condition of things in Ireland which is impossible anywhere else. Moreover, if the Irish were disposed to persecute, they would have to be on their good behaviour, living so near a Protestant country. Besides, the Protestants of Ireland are very well able to take, care of themselves. I would have more concern for some of the poor Catholies. lleinember that it is Catholics and not Protestants who have come under the harrow of the League, (A, pause.) I think, though, that some of these* fellows [the Irish members] are far too fond of talking of Ireland as a Catholic nation. They do harm. (A pause, and then a sinile,) 1: expect that Home of these fellows who talk about Ireland as a Catholic nation arc precious bad CalholioH. They remind mo of the '.Pope's brass hand, Keogh and Sadler. I remember those times. You don't Bui I, have no fear of a religious persecution.' • ' Then do you think that we would try to Ke from England if wo got an Irish Parliament ?'stion remains open/ As for the Land Bill, he practically threw it over. * Whilepay it backuld legislate!?'ll had risen to in n shorter timo than I now take to tell the Htory. Whenoin Mr, (*lml**tunr,* Nr\t <luy tht*