JAMES WOOD EAST DOWN’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 Crossgar, 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 Belfast 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 Journal of Liberal History 58 Spring 2008 5 JAMES WOOD: EAST DOWN’S LIBERAL MP 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 Ulster in Ireland. 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, Killinchy came from a Liberal family of their farms, would have been village, Dundonald, Dundrum in Greyabbey, 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 Strangford 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 Northern Ireland.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 Downpatrick 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 Lecale District Loyal Orange Lodge No.