There are to my mind two unassailable arguments for amnesty; first, that there was no fairness about the trials, and secondly, that, even if (or when) guilty, the men should not be punished more severely than the undoubted Walsall dynamitards.
As to the plea of innocence, I fear that can hold good for few if any, and I know it can’t hold good for most. I know things are not easy for you or your party, but you may make them more difficult. I incline to think the tenants are a better card to play against your adversaries, though here again the question is made very difficult by the part mad action of O’Brien and Dillon …14
FROM KENELM E. DIGBY [PERMANENT UNDER-SECRETARY], HOME OFFICE
Whitehall, 4 December 1895:
With reference to your letter of the 1st inst. respecting the case of the Treason Felony convicts, I am directed by the Secretary of State to inform you that he has the cases of these men under his consideration, and has ordered a special medical inquiry into the health of all the Treason Felony convicts in Portland, which he desires to have before him before coming to a final decision.
An order permitting you to visit Daly, Wilson and Dalton is forwarded herewith.15
Notes in Redmond’s hand on prisoners, undated:
Drs. Maudsley’s and Nicholson’s report about May ’95 on Portland prisoners.
Wilson [Thomas Clarke]: Heart action shows symptoms of valvular disease but condition not attributable to imprisonment. Indigestion ... Sound mind.
Devany: Mentally he is naturally somewhat weak. Good health.
Whitehead: Good bodily health. Though not mentally strong, he is not insane. He seems to have enough cunning in his disposition to make him feign insanity as he is reputed to have done.
Gallagher: Health good. Lost 35 lbs. Says he has no physical ailment. He is not insane. His answers throughout were quiet and rational and his demeanour, tho’ dejected and somewhat sullen, natural and composed. In our opinion his mental condition exhibits nothing more than the natural effects of imprisonment upon a man of his education and temperament 45 years old.
Duff: Insane.
Dalton: Sound in mind and body.
McDermot: Ditto
Flanigan: Ditto
Burton: … General health not affected.
Featherstone: Circulation weak and sluggish.
Daly: Complained in exaggerated fashion of a variety of ailments. Good health and sound mind.
Generally none of prisoners injuriously or unduly affected in mind or body by imprisonment.16
FROM JOHN DALY, TREASON FELONY PRISONER AT PORTLAND
22 June 1896:
(written on back of leaflet outlining regulations regarding communications between prisoners and their friends):
… I want to see you now, so much that if you cannot find it convenient to come at once, it will not be at all necessary (so far as I am concerned) that you should come at any future time.17
FROM SIR MATTHEW RIDLEY, HOME SECRETARY
Whitehall, 3 August 1896:
With reference to your request to make another visit to Daly and others prisoners at Portland, I feel obliged to say that being advised that these visits have a prejudicial effect on the health of the prisoners by bringing about elation and subsequent depression of spirits, which has had a very serious effect upon some of them and especially Daly, I do not feel able to grant your request.
I have however given most anxious consideration to a report which I have within the last day or two received from the medical gentlemen whom, in consequence of representations made to me, I at once sent down … and have come to the conclusion that the state of health of … Daly, Devany, Whitehead and Gallagher justifies my advising their release on licence on that ground …18
***
John Daly was released from Portland prison on 20 August 1896. ‘Wilson’ (Thomas Clarke) was released in September 1898.
FROM [DMP ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER] JOHN MALLON
27 October 1898:
It would be wholly inconsistent for me to make any representations to the Lord Lieut. or the Chief Secretary in regard to Wilson. If he writes himself to the Chief Secy half a dozen words pointing out the great inconvenience of reporting personally, his letter would be referred to the Chief Commissioner … My own opinion always was that reporting was never intended for men of Wilson’s class but for thieves or such like ...19
CHAPTER 5
Reunification and Leadership, 1900–1902
THE LEAGUE AND THE PARTY
In early 1898 in Mayo, William O’Brien founded the United Irish League (UIL) with the dual purpose of reviving agitation for land redistribution in the congested West and of fostering a reunion of nationalists at grass-roots level that would bypass existing factional memberships. This initiative received support from Dillon and Davitt. Throughout 1899, the sentiment of these three men was hostile to the rapprochement between Redmond and Healy, mediated by Harrington, which they viewed as an attempt to rescue failed political careers. Against the expectations of O’Brien and his allies, the formal reunion of the Party took place on 30 January. In the vote for chairman on 6 February, Redmond’s election came when O’Brien, at Davitt’s urging, switched his support from Harrington, the only other candidate, based on his supposed alliance with Healy against the League. Dillon became deputy leader. From the moment of his election, Redmond was anxious to show his acceptance of the UIL as the future national organisation of the reunified Party. The contentious question of the exact relationship between the Party and the League remained to be decided at the summer Convention.
T.C. HARRINGTON MP CIRCULAR TO ALL NATIONALIST MPS
18 January 1900:
The Conference which assembled last evening in the Mansion House here to consider the steps which might be taken towards re-uniting the different sections of the Nationalist Party in Parliament was both harmonious and successful. I enclose a copy of the resolutions which were unanimously adopted and which … were founded upon the acceptance of the Resolutions adopted at the large conference held on 4 April [1899].
You will observe that the third Resolution authorizes me as Chairman to invite the Irish Nationalist members of all sections to a meeting at the opening of Parliament to take counsel together and make any other arrangements that may be necessary for the re-construction of a United Party on the old lines … I am full of hope that we are bringing the unhappy chapter to a close.1
WILLIAM O’BRIEN TO J.F.X. O’BRIEN MP
28 January 1900:
Confidential.
I am astonished to hear that some of our friends are thinking of giving some importance to Tuesday’s meeting by attending it. It passes my comprehension how any self-respecting Nationalist can believe any good can come of any bargain with those men …
If they are simply left to themselves, Healy will extinguish Redmond and R. will extinguish H., and the country will quite easily succeed in forming a new Party genuinely united …2
TO T.P. GILL
7 Belvidere Place, 6 February 1900:
… My unanimous election astonished me and especially when I heard William O’Brien had wired strongly to all his henchmen to support me! 3
TO WILLIAM O’BRIEN
House of Commons, 11 March 1900:
My letter did not go to the full length