Michael Davitt to John O'Leary, October 1889. IE TCD MS 9377/1058

IE TCD MS 9377/1058: Letter from Michael Davitt, Ballybrack, Co. Dublin, Ireland to John O'Leary, October 1889 referencing the "Tipperary business": "I will have some business in town tomorrow or Thursday and will try and call at your address at or about 12 o'clock on either of these two days - probably tomorrow, if a bad cold will permit me to go out. Yes, this Tipperary business is the most serious which William O'Brien has yet gone into, and how he is to get himself, and the people involved out of the fight, with credit, I cannot clearly see. If himself and colleagues can succeed in inducing the people of the town to vacate it and to build another town - say "[O'Briensville?]" in the place of "Tipperary" - he and they will score a big victory over Smith Barry, beyond a doubt. But that would be very hard upon people like you who are innocently involved in the present row. I have taken no part whatever in this particular fight and I am glad I did not. I do not see how anyone except Parnell can settle the difficulty now,and there is not the slightest hope of interference by him so long as O'Brien, Dillon, Healy and Harrington are "bossing" the league movement..." Includes a letter dated 17th October 1889 from Davitt in the Imerial Hotel, Dublin to Henry Mayers Hyndnam introducing John O'Leary: "This note will introduce my friend John O'Leary of whom you have, I know, heard before now. He is as much opposed to opportunism as yourself, and has suffered several years imprisonment for fearlessly standing by principles. Like myself he is for the complete independence of Ireland and I know you sympathise with men who refuse to paltry with principle. He is anxious to know more about the program of the English Social Democratic Party, and I cheerfully give him these few introductory lines because I wish him to know you and to understand your aims and objects..."