Michael Davitt to John O'Leary, Saturday [1888]. IE TCD MS 9377/1057

IE TCD MS 9377/1057: Letter from Michael Davitt, Imperial Hotel, Dublin, Ireland to John O'Leary, on a Saturday in [1888] concerning the aims and personalities of the Social Democratic Party: "I am in here for the winter, but your letter to Ballybrack has been forwarded to me. Enclose a note to Mr Heyndman from whom you will learn the real aims of the Social Democrat Party, and how these aims are sought to be obtained. The question so far adopted by the conventions are of the average type, both intellectually and nationally. Flynn and Gilooly of Cork [?] are advanced nationalists of the "determined" kind who always end by "advancing" to Westminster. Lane and Hooper are "Parnellites", if you know what that means. Tanner is the same, and a Protestant, and ex-Tory; but these three are well educated, and well-informed and gentlemanly. Douglas Pyne (adopted for Waterford Co.) Is also a Protestant. His politics may be defined as "Land Leaguism" with a good deal of eccentricity - still he is not a [?], and he will make a fair enough figure among the "First Assembly". Tuite of Mullingar is of the Tim Harrington type, that is, he was never "advanced" in his nationalism. Quinn adopted for Longford is - well if Callan be re-elected (a very unlikely contingency) the whiskey bar of the House of Commons will know more of these two gentlemen than the future statute book of the realm. Clancy of the Nation is a moderate Nationalist of the A.M. Sullivan school, a well-educated man and a good fellow in every way. O'Doherty is a caution! Dr Kenny [?] to give way to Parnell who (the Dr. alleges) forced him to go forward. Garrett Byrne (Wicklow) is an ex-whiskey seller from Liverpool who until he retired from that (occasionally) patriotic business, was never known to touch the national cause with the proverbial forty foot pole. However he has the reputation among the Parnellites of being a very decent fellow. I attended the Dublin convention to oppose Esmonde, and did so, though Parnell appealed to me not to divide the Delegates against his candidature. Twenty of the fifty, or seventy lay delegates present supported my resolution, demanding "a tried and bona fide nationalist" as a substitute. The farmers supported Esmonde because he could support himself you know!!!!! meaning, they could only afford to send round the hat for Clancy! I left the convention as slightly wiser man than I entered it. After Esmonde's speech, I had no alternative, but to accept his candidature - with a caution, which I think, places him in a rather awkward position - But of what matter is all this where - it is at last decided by the party to run the immortal philosopher of Ballinasloe for his own district! Matt{u2019}s defence of this step to me was worthy of his reputation "don't you know" he observed with all the gravity of his newborn dignity "Parnell needs the presence of a man, who will determinedly oppose the intrigues of O'Kelly, and who will fearlessly speak out when he (Parnell) goes wrong"!! I collapsed. Fortunately for Matt the bishops and priests who know him, are already up in arms against his candidature and the party intend to stand by him. I am taking a run over to Scotland next week, but I will be back in eight or ten days."