Michael Davitt to John O'Leary, Thursday [1888]. IE TCD MS 9377/1056

IE TCD MS 9377/1056: Letter from Michael Davitt, Ballybrack, Co. Dublin, Ireland to John O'Leary, a Thursday in [1888], referencing a "situation in Tipperary": "Nothing has changed, as far as I know, in the situation in Tipperary since I had that talk with you, except a desire, on my part, to visit the place and find out, if possible, how much truth there is in the conflicting statements which are put forward about the (alleged) voluntary action of the shop keepers who have left old Tipperary. The local committee have invited me and I wrote one letter to which you refer. Behind my letter there was, undoubtedly, an appreciation of the sacrifices of those people who (willingly or unwillingly) surrendered their business in the fight with Smith Barry. On the merits of that fight or about the tactics employed to carry it on, I have expressed no opinion in my reply to the Committee's invitation. Neither do I intend to discuss the question in case I really do go down on Saturday. My going or not going now makes little or no difference one way or the other as the fight has gone on to such a stage as makes a statement impossible short of a surrender by some of the parties to the contest. If I can possibly see my way to a mediation in this matter you may rely upon it. I will not hesitate to act..."