HOME-RULE.
[TO THR EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—With reference to the election for Halifax mentioned in a leader of your issue of last week, will you allow me to state that it is not a fact that the Irish electors of that borough were "irritated by Mr. Hutchinson's refusal to support Home-rule," and that they had anything to do with Mr. Gamble's candidature in consequence ?
Mr. Hutchinson, though not as yet a Home-ruler, is most liberally disposed towards Ireland, and specifically pledged him- self to vote both for Mr. Butt's motion for an inquiry into the grounds of the Irish demand for a National Legislature for Irish affairs and for the complete amnesty of the remaining political prisoners.
A meeting of the Irish electors, presided over by the Secretary of the Local Home-rule Association, and at which the Executive of the Confederation was represented by the Acting General Secretary, enthusiastically endorsed Mr. Hutchinson's candidature in consequence, and it was resolved that the Irish vote should be given " solid " to that gentleman.
The executive of the Confederation has every confidence that Mr. Hutchinson, M.P., will be found to be one of the most earnest of that happily increasing body of English and Scotch Members who, with Mr. Cowen, Mr. Chamberlain, Sir Charles Dilke, and others, are seriously addressing themselves to the consideration of the great question of conciliating the fundamental rights of Irish nationality with the unity of Imperial force and the co- citizenship of all subjects of the common Sovereign.—I am, Sir, &c., F. HUGH O'DONNELL, Vice-President and Hon. Sec., Home-rule Confederation. 8 Sedeants' Inn, E.C., February 28.
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