Butt elected Home Rule MP

ISAAC Butt is recognised as the founder of the first Home Rule movement in the Westminster Parliament but his background was completely different.

His idea of Home Rule had nothing to do with independence but rather was meant to strengthen the Union. He was a critic of the mismanagement of Irish affairs by Westminster and founded the Home Government Association to mobilise public opinion behind the concept of an Irish parliament in control of domestic affairs. What he envisaged was much like what operates in Scotland and Wales today.
Butt was born in Donegal into a staunchly pro-Union family. He was educated at Trinity College, where he became professor of political economy. He founded the Dublin University Magazine, often nicknamed the ‘Orange Young Irelanders’. He was conservative in his politics and served as Tory MP for Youghal. He even debated against O’Connell against the repeal of the Union.
Called to the Bar, his professional experiences had a huge influence on his future. He was defence counsel for William Smith O’Brien and Thomas Francis Meagher and some of the Fenians. He was impressed by their courage and determination and his defence of them raised his popularity in the country. However, it did not help him with the people of Youghal and he lost his seat in Parliament in 1865. He was also beset by financial problems and scandals. He was a gambler often in debt, pursued many romantic involvements and was accused of accepting political donations from Indian princes for representing their interests in Parliament.
In 1871, he stood again for Parliament and was elected for Limerick as a proponent of Home Rule. In 1873, he renamed his group the Home Rule League and they decided to contest the General Election of 1874. This was the first election held with a secret ballot and 59 Home Rule MPs were elected.
The increased number also brought a change of stance and they became much more nationalistic in their outlook. Butt was not strong enough to control such a group and many became disenchanted that he did not pursue the aim of Home Rule more vigorously.
Joseph Biggar was one of the new MPs and he introduced the tactic of obstruction. He delayed the business of parliament by talking for hours on end on the topics for debate. He was soon joined by others, much to Butt’s disappointment.
The MPs were growing increasingly disenchanted with Butt’s gentlemanly style but could not openly oppose him because of his popularity, resulting from his defence of the Fenians. When Parnell was elected, he joined in support of Biggar and on one occasion, Home Rule MPs talked for a continuous 45 hours.
Butt threatened to resign if the tactic of obstruction was not dropped. In February 1879, he forced a vote of confidence in himself, which he won by eight votes. It was obvious that his days as leader were numbered. His health deteriorated rapidly and he died a short few months later. He was succeeded as leader by William Shaw but within 12 months, Parnell became leader and in full control.
Isaac Butt, founder of the Home Rule movement, lost his seat in Youghal but was elected Home Rule MP for Limerick on September 20, 1871 – 140 years ago this week.
n Michael Torpey