James Wood East ’s Liberal MP

4 Journal of Liberal History 58 Spring 2008 James Wood East Down’s Liberal MP

‘I thought you might he object of our inter- its expression of praise of James est was a thick leather- Wood and the political stand he be interested in this,’ bound book covered took. was the understatement in embossed decora- It reads: from George Whyte tion and measuring Ttwelve inches by fourteen inches Dear Sir of , who had in size. The title page, in richly- After your contest at the decorated lettering of gold, red late General Election to remain come across something and green, interwoven with flax Liberal Representative of East of fascinating flowers, read, ‘Address and Pres- Down in the Imperial Parlia- entation to James Wood, Esq., ment, your supporters in that local interest at a Member of Parliament for East Division, and numerous friends auction. Down, 1902–06 from His Late elsewhere, are anxious to Constituents.’ Another page express to you in tangible form Auctions provide contained a sepia photograph of their admiration for the gen- much television a serious-looking James Wood tlemanly manner in which you in a high collar and cravat, sur- conducted your part of the con- entertainment, but they rounded by a decorated motif tests in the interests of Reform, can also be a valuable of shamrock, flax, roses and Sobriety, Equal Rights and thistles.1 Goodwill among men – as source of local history, In Victorian and Edward- against the successful calumny, ian times, illuminated addresses intemperance, and organised and this find was to were a popular way of expressing violence of your opponents shed new light on an esteem for a person, particularly who have always sought to as a form of recognition for pub- maintain their own private episode in Irish history lic service. The one presented to interests and class ascendancy a hundred years ago. James Wood contains the sig- under the cover of false and Title page and natures of twenty-two promi- selfish Unionism, which has so Berkley Farr looks at page 2 of the nent local people, who collected long embittered and kept Irish- the history behind the Address and money to pay for the presenta- men apart. Presentation to tion. The address, in copperplate Your election for East Down auction-house find. James Wood handwriting, is forthright in in 1902 virtually turned the

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scale in favour of an extended happiness to support, on the farm labourers tended to support Land Bill, which was passed Platform and again in Parlia- Unionist or Nationalist parties the following year, and which ment, the great principles of and Liberal representation was with some compulsory amend- Reform, Temperance and wiped out. Gladstone’s con- ments will settle for ever the Charity in all things. version to Home Rule further tragic history of Landlordism Signed on behalf of the divided the weakened in . Subscribers Liberals, with the majority As a Tenants’ Advocate in Gawn Orr M.D., Ballyles- becoming Liberal Unionists. It the Courts of Law, on the Pub- son Chairman was 1895 before another Lib- lic Platform, and in the High William Carse B.A., Magh- eral was elected, and although Court of Parliament, your erahamlet Secretary representation remained until practical knowledge, zeal and Belfast 28 September, 1906 1918, no more than three were perseverance have been invalu- returned at any general election. able; so that we are proud to The pages containing the signa- I first heard of James Wood reckon you among the great tures are decorated with charm- on 15 March 1962, while visit- Land Reformers of your coun- ing watercolour miniatures by ing James Barnes and his sister try. For without efforts such J. Carey of scenes from the con- Jean on the night of the famous as yours thousands of Tenants, stituency, including the Bally- Orpington by-election. They who are now the happy owners nahinch Mountains, came from a Liberal family of their farms, would have been village, Dundonald, Dundrum in , and their din- ground to poverty under the ‘Your elec- Castle, the Giant’s Ring and ing room was dominated by an old rack rents, or ejected from Scrabo. enormous portrait of Gladstone. their holdings, and driven with tion for East As a boy, James recalled how his their starving families into for- ~ father took him to look across eign lands like so many of their Down in Lough to see the countrymen. Inevitably the discovery of any bonfires burning on the hilltops You have sympathised with 1902 virtu- historical item, such as the illu- of Killinchy to celebrate the vic- every Reform for the eman- ally turned minated address, raises many tory of James Wood in the 1902 cipation of Labourers in town questions. Who was James by-election. and country; and with the the scale in Wood? How did he become the James Wood was born on 17 New Democratic Movement in Member of Parliament and what July 1867 in Co. Monaghan. He Ulster for Independent thought favour of an were the causes he espoused? came from Clones to Belfast at and action among the sons of Who were his supporters, par- an early age and began his educa- daily toil; and you have always extended ticularly those who signed the tion at Mountpottinger National aimed at the Co-Operation and Land Bill, address? What was his historical School. He was an apprentice Union of all creeds and classes legacy and how did these events with the legal firm of Messrs H. for the improvement of their which was relate to the wider context of the and R. J. McMordie, Lombard common country. Edwardian period? Street, Belfast and qualified as Your geniality, your buoy- passed the In the middle of the nine- a solicitor in 1893. He entered ant temperament, and the teenth century the Liberals and into partnership with John unselfish devotion of yourself follow- Conservatives were the two Moorehead who later became and your distinguished Part- ing year, dominant parties in Ireland, and the first Chief Crown Solicitor ners to the interests of others a significant number of Irish of .2 He lived at have won you innumerable and which Liberal MPs were returned to Mount Salem, Dundonald, Bel- friends all over Ireland. Westminster. The last general fast where he also farmed. And with you we here asso- with some election with these two parties In his professional and politi- ciate Mrs Wood, who has borne as the sole players was in 1868, cal careers, James Wood played her share in the turmoil of your compulsory when the Liberals won 65 of the a prominent role in the strug- elections; and now at this great amendments 104 Irish seats. The subsequent gle for tenant rights at the time Banquet given in your honour, rise of the Home Rule Party, of the fight against landlord- while we beg to present to you will settle however, decimated the Liber- ism in Ireland. One of his ear- this Bank Cheque, we also beg als, particularly in southern Ire- liest memories of that grim Mrs. Wood to accept this solid for ever the land, and by 1874 only nine were period was of his own parents Silver Tea and Coffee Service returned. By 1880, the number being evicted from their hold- which may remain, along with tragic history of Liberals elected had increased ing in Co. Fermanagh because this Address and Illuminated of Land- to fourteen, but Gladstone’s his father would not vote for a Album, as a visible token and Reform Act of 1884 extended Tory candidate at an election.3 heirloom in your family. lordism in the franchise in the counties and Gladstone had begun the proc- And we pray that you may at the election in the following ess of tackling the Land Ques- long be spared in health and Ireland.’ year the newly-enfranchised tion in his Land Acts of 1870 and

6 Journal of Liberal History 58 Spring 2008 james wood: east down’s liberal mp

1881, but the conflict between and the demand for compulsory Pages 3–6 of In January 1902, J. A. Rentoul landlords and tenants continued purchase of farms continued the Address and became a judge and resigned as and resurfaced in 1894–95 with to grow. Russell began a new Presentation to the MP for East Down, causing a the tenants being led by T. W. campaign, launching the Ulster James Wood by-election. East Down was one Russell, the Liberal Unionist Farmers and Labourers Union of the four constituencies in the MP for South Tyrone. Despite and Compulsory Purchase Asso- county between 1885 and 1918. a Conservative Act of 1896, ciation in the Ulster Hall, Belfast It included and landlords still refused to sell in June 1901.4 Ballynahinch and stretched from

Journal of Liberal History 58 Spring 2008 7 james wood: east down’s liberal mp

T. W Russell, editorial strongly supported Col. Liberal Unionist Wallace and expressed concern MP who broke that T. W. Russell was a friend with the party of Redmond, the Nationalist over land reform leader.9 Despite attempts by his and finally joined opponents to introduce other the Liberals. issues such as Home Rule, the Boer War and a Catholic uni- versity, James Wood insisted that the election was about the single issue of a permanent and final settlement of the land question. The Executive of the East Down Division of the United Irish League met in the John Street Hall, Downpatrick, and unanimously decided to sup- port James Wood as a cham- pion of compulsory purchase and resolved ‘that all Nationalist electors should register their vote in his favour and poll against landlordism’.10 Contrastingly, the District Loyal Orange Lodge No. 2 passed a resolution, ‘That we, the Orangemen of Lecale, rejoice that an Orange candidate has solicited the suf- frages of the electors of East Down, in the person of Brother Dundrum and north to Fifth Royal Irish Rifles, who Colonel R. H. Wallace’.11 Killinchy, , Drumbo was serving in South Africa. The by-election took place and . It was regarded as The contest was to be between on Wednesday, 5 February 1902, a safe Unionist seat, having only a Presbyterian solicitor with a mild, dry, day, and out of 8,136 been contested in one of the six practical experience of support- electors, 7,035 recorded their previous elections, when in 1886 ing tenants, and a local landlord votes (an 86 per cent poll), and the Unionist polled 5,093 against from Myra Castle. there were only thirty spoiled a Nationalist 2,561.5 As most Major J. N. Blackwood-Price papers. The count took place on elections in the north of Ireland DL, the High Sheriff of Down, Thursday morning in Down- between Unionists and Nation- received the nominations in patrick courthouse and shortly alists are based on a religious Downpatrick courthouse on before 11 o’clock the result was head count, it was common, 29 January, 1902. Col. Wallace announced: even as late as the 1960s, for seats was proposed by W. Johnston Wood 3,576 to be unopposed where there was MP, Ballykilbeg, who was the Wallace 3,429 a clear religious majority for one champion of the Orangemen’s side. While Nationalists could right to march.6 James Wood Although Wood’s majority was not win a constituency with a was accompanied by his agent, 147, the detailed breakdown Protestant majority, a Liberal or James Moorehead, and was pro- from the polling stations is of a candidate with an appeal across posed by J. Carr JP, , even more fascinating interest the religious divide would have and seconded by Rev. W. Carse, for the psephologist. The Down a greater chance of success. Magherahamlet.7 Recorder listed the approximate The by-election created a Meetings in support of both returns for each polling district great opportunity for Russell’s candidates were held through- and also included the number of compulsory purchase campaign, out the constituency. About Nationalists (i.e. Roman Catho- and James Wood offered him- 250 people gathered in the yard lics)– see Table 1.12 self as a candidate following the of Denvir’s Hotel, Downpat- Wood succeeded in com- unanimous vote of support at a rick, to hear James Wood and bining strong support from meeting of representatives in T. W. Russell, but the meet- Nationalists with a remarkable Saintfield. The Unionists picked ing in Ballynahinch broke up following in Presbyterian areas, Colonel R. H. Wallace of the in disorder.8 The notably Drumbo, Saintfield and

8 Journal of Liberal History 58 Spring 2008 james wood: east down’s liberal mp

Killinchy, in what Carson called After the declaration of the Wyndham’s Land Act of 1903 ‘an unholy alliance’ of Catholics result, Wood and Russell were was the response of Balfour’s and Protestants.13 As we look carried shoulder high to the Conservative government. It back over a century to 1902, it is Down Hunt Arms Hotel, where was more generous in purchase to be remembered that another they addressed the crowd. Wood schemes for both landlords and 104 years earlier these areas were said they had been opposed by tenants and, although compul- strongholds of the United Irish- the strongest possible combina- sory purchase was not finally men in the 1798 rebellion. tion, but they had beaten the adopted until 1925, it succeeded The nature of Wood’s sup- press, the landlords and Bal- in removing the land question as port is demonstrated by the lykilbeg (the home of William a major election issue.16 names on the illuminated Johnston, the militant Orange The general election of 1906 address as well as those reported MP for South Belfast). Rev. was a watershed in British his- during the campaign. While R. Lyttle of Moneyrea advised tory, with Balfour’s Conserva- Gawn Orr was a doctor in Bal- people against being led into tive and Unionist Party losing lylesson and William Carse a strife and pointed to the peace- 250 seats in a landslide to the Presbyterian minister in Magh- ful example shown the previous Liberal Party, which gained a erahamlet, many tended to be day when Protestant and Roman large majority over all other owners of relatively large farms Catholic worked side by side for parties.17 The new government or were prominent in their own Mr Wood. That night bonfires of Sir Henry Campbell-Ban- localities. Joseph Carr JP lived were lit in various parts of the nerman, including figures such at The Gocean in Killyleagh, constituency. The local news- as Asquith, Lloyd George and where his family had founded papers differed in their head- Churchill, was to embark upon the Flax Spinning Mill. James lines regarding the result. The one of the great eras of reform. Silcock JP owned Marybrook Chronicle reported In Ireland three Liberals were Mill between Crossgar and Bal- ‘Victory for the Compulsory returned, holding North Tyrone lynahinch. James Hutton JP had Sale Candidate’ while the Down and South Tyrone (T. W. Rus- a large farm at Bell’s Hill and Recorder regretted ‘A Nationalist sell) and gaining North Antrim. was a leading member of the Victor y’.15 The loss of East Down and North Downpatrick Board of Poor- The East Down result was a Fermanagh indicated, however, Law Guardians. The family major boost to Russell’s cam- that the Russellite campaign was tradition of John Clarke JP of paign for compulsory pur- now in decline. Lisnastrain, Lisburn was that he chase and his growing support Although Russell had begun was for the Liberals and against was again demonstrated in a his career in South Tyrone in the landlords. If a hat was not 1903 by-election in North Fer- 1886 as an outspoken Union- doffed when paying rent at managh where his candidate, ist, the land issue caused him to Hillsborough Castle, a flunkey Edward Mitchell, defeated the move across the political spec- would remove it with a stick.14 Official Unionist James Craig. trum, so that by 1906 his fol- lowers were clearly identified as Russellite Liberals. Depend- Table 1: Breakdown of vote by polling station ent on class, Russellite Liberal- Stations Voters For Wallace For Wood Nationalists ism had sought to transcend the Ardglass 571 155 416 436 religious divide, and appeal to 276 88 188 197 Protestant and Catholic farm- Ballynahinch 707 531 176 152 ers; this worked so long as Prot- estant farmers had to choose Crossgar 469 278 191 151 between self-interest and tradi- Downpatrick 923 431 492 364 tional sectarianism. The dan- 254 50 195 188 ger to Russellism came when Drumbo 692 321 371 4 farmers no longer had to make Dunmore 270 50 220 209 a clear choice: when the main Killinchy 256 107 149 21 Protestant party was prepared to offer both sectarian and eco- Killyleagh 433 218 215 92 nomic satisfaction.18 One major Kilmegan 290 151 139 234 outcome of the threat he posed Lisburn 774 634 140 202 was that the Unionists improved Saintfield 646 228 418 124 their organisation through the 265 124 141 134 formation of the Ulster Unionist Council – an umbrella body of 170 54 125 126 the Orange Order, constituency Totals 7,005 3,429 3,576 2,634 associations and MPs – in 1905.19

Journal of Liberal History 58 Spring 2008 9 james wood: east down’s liberal mp

The 1906 election marked the they had now to see that the mis- The 1906 but lost by 974 votes. He contin- effective end of landlord domi- takes of the past were repaired, ued as a solicitor with an exten- nation of poli- that this great province, with election sive practice, especially among tics.20 Unionist candidates now its splendid traditions, its living marked the the farming community. He had to be selected by constitu- actualities, and its great capaci- died on 31 October 1936 at his ency organisations and were no ties, would not be known, as it effective end home, Marino House, Holy- longer the sole preserve of land- now unfortunately was, as the wood, Co. Down. The Irish lord families. The new Union- most retrograde, stupid, and self- of landlord News reported that regret would ist Constituency Association in ish portion of the United King- be felt throughout Northern East Down invited the defeated dom in political affairs.24 domination Ireland: North Fermanagh by-election Ulster Liberals continued to of County candidate, James Craig, a Pres- be a force in the period of the Unsparing in his efforts on byterian businessman, to contest Liberal government up to the Down behalf of the downtrodden the 1906 election, thus starting a First World War. In 1907, they small farmers under the regime career which would lead to him successfully defended North politics. of landlordism, Mr Wood was becoming Northern Ireland’s Tyrone, the most marginal seat a staunch tenant-righter and in first Prime Minister. Craig in Ireland, despite the major- that cause he fought as a Liberal polled 4,011 against Wood’s ity being reduced from nine a famous election in 1902 in 3,341 – a majority of 670. In a 91 votes to seven in a poll of 6,019 East Down, which he won by per cent poll, Wood’s proportion – 99 per cent of the electorate!25 a large majority over his oppo- of the vote fell from 51 per cent (North Tyrone stayed Liberal nent, the Orange Order leader, to 46 per cent.21 from 1895 to 1918.) In 1910, Colonel R. H. Wallace. … The On 28 September 1906, a ban- the seats of North Antrim and late Mr Wood proved himself quet was held for James Wood South Tyrone (T. W. Russell) an able supporter of his leader by his East Down supporters in were lost, but in 1913 London- Mr T. W. Russell. He was a the Wellington Hall, Belfast.22 derry City was won by David keen debater and, as [an] orator Following toasts to ‘the King’ Cleghorn Hogg in a by-election. fluent in delivery. … There are and ‘the Lord Lieutenant (Lord The last Liberal to be elected few of Mr Wood’s contempo- Aberdeen) and Prosperity of from Ireland to Westminster was raries alive but those who Ireland’, James Wood was pre- Sir James Brown Dougherty, are will always remember him sented with a cheque for £600 who was returned unopposed as a straightforward gentleman, (MPs were not paid until 1911) for Londonderry City in 1914 honest in his dealings with and Mrs Wood with a tea and following Hogg’s death. The his fellows, kindly and broad- coffee service in recognition of removal of the land question as minded towards those who his services as Member for East a major issue and the return to differed from him in either Down. After a toast to ‘East the constitutional struggle after religion or politics. In religion Down,’ Rev. W. Carse related 1912 reduced Liberal appeal to a Presbyterian, he was a loyal the history of the testimonial an increasingly polarised elec- member of his church, impa- to James Wood and said that no torate. The First World War and tient of anything that savoured fewer than 1,422 individuals had the 1916 Easter Rising changed of oppression or tyranny, of subscribed to the object.23 the political landscape of Ireland. which he was an implacable T. W. Russell MP spoke No Liberal contested the 1918 foe.27 highly in praise of the new election, which saw the triumph House of Commons with a man- of Sinn Fein and Unionism and, After the death of his son in the date in favour of the application apart from in 1929, when five 1990s, his papers were given to of Liberal principles. He was not candidates were defeated, Liber- the Linen Hall Library in Belfast, quite sure that the strength of the als were absent from the political which is now also the home of House of Commons was always scene until the late 1950s. the illuminated address of a hun- recognised in these parts, but T. W. Russell continued as dred years ago. Perhaps someone they must not judge the House MP for South Tyrone and later will discover the whereabouts of of Commons by the quota con- North Tyrone until 1918, serv- the accompanying silver tea and tributed by the Orange Order. ing for eleven years as Liberal coffee service from that Belfast He was glad to see James Wood Vice-President of the Depart- banquet of 1906. being honoured and he felt his ment of Agriculture and Tech- election in East Down was one nical Instruction for Ireland. He Berkley Farr is a former Chairman of the great turning points in became an Irish Privy Council- of the Ulster Liberal Party and was the land war. He ought never to lor in 1908, a baronet in 1917, candidate for South Down in 1973. have been lost to the House, but and died in 1920.26 This article is based on one published accidents would occur in poli- James Wood contested East in the Lecale Review: a Journal tics as well as in other things and Down again in 1910 as a Liberal, of Down History, in 2006.

10 Journal of Liberal History 58 Spring 2008 james wood: east down’s liberal mp

1 Address to James Wood, Linen 9 Ibid. Macmillan, 1981) p. 28. 1997) p. 321. Hall Library, Belfast. 10 Ibid. 18 Jackson, ‘Irish Unionism 21 Walker, Parliamentary Election 2 Details from James Wood 11 Ibid. and the Russellite Threat, Results in Ireland, 1801–1922, p. archive in Linen Hall Library 12 The Down Recorder, 8 February 1894–1906’, p. 397. A study of 343. and , 3 Novem- 1902. the relationship between Liber- 22 The , 29 Septem- ber 1936. 13 Alvin Jackson, ‘Irish Union- als and Ireland over the last two ber 1906. 3 Ibid. ism and the Russellite Threat, centuries is to be found in Jour- 23 Ibid. 4 Frank Thompson, The End of 1894–1906’, Irish Historical Stud- nal of Liberal History 33 (Winter 24 Ibid. Liberal Ulster: Land agitation ies, XXV, no. 100 (Nov. 1987) 2001–02), including Berkley 25 A. D. McDonnell, The Life and land reform 1868–86 (Belfast: p. 400. Farr on ‘Liberalism in Unionist of Sir Dennis Henry, Catholic Ulster Historical Foundation, 14 Personal communication, Alan Northern Ireland’. Unionist (Belfast: Ulster His- 2001) p. 297. Clarke. 19 Eamon Phoenix, ‘On this day’, torical Foundation, 2000) p. 5 B. M. Walker, Parliamen- 15 The Down Recorder and The The Irish News, 3 November 24. tary Election Results in Ireland, Newtownards Chronicle, 8 Feb- 2005. 26 Jackson, ‘Irish Unionism 1801–1922 (Dublin: Royal Irish ruary 1902. 20 Brian Walker, ‘Landowners and the Russellite Threat, Academy, 1978), p. 342. 16 Thompson, The End of Liberal and Parliamentary Elections 1894–1906’, p. 403. 6 The Down Recorder, 1 February Ulster, p. 298. in County Down, 1801–1921’, 27 The Irish News, 3 November 1902. 17 Michael Kinnear, The Brit- Down History & Society edited 1936. 7 Ibid. ish Voter; An Atlas and Survey by Lindsay Proudfoot, (Dub- 8 Ibid. since 1885 (London: Palgrave lin: Geography Publications,

Centenary commemoration supported by the Liberal Democrat History Group Campbell-Bannerman COMMEMORATION Sunday 27 April 2008 Meigle (Perthshire)

The Rt. Hon. Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, GCB, 1836–1908

Sir Henry, born (as Henry Campbell) at Kelvinside House, Glasgow on 7 September 1836; Liberal MP for Stirling Burghs (Stirling, Dunfermline, Culross, Inverkeithing and Queensferry) from 20 November 1868; Prime Minister from 5 December 1905; resigned as Prime Minister on 3 April 1908; died in Downing Street on 22 April and, after a memorial service in Westminster Abbey on 27 April, was buried beside Lady Campbell-Bannerman (died 1906) in Meigle on 28 April 1908.

The Commemoration Programme on Sunday 27 April 2008 will include a visit to Belmont Castle (Sir Henry’s last Scottish home) at 11.30 a.m., lunch in Meigle at 1.00 p.m. and a wreath-laying at the Campbell-Bannerman grave beside Meigle Parish Church at 2.30 p.m.

For further details and tickets (for the Belmont Castle visit and lunch), contact Dr. Sandy Waugh at: email: [email protected] phone: Banchory (01330) 823159 before 17 April.

Journal of Liberal History 58 Spring 2008 11