William Morris~letter~irish Politics~1881 For Sale

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MORRIS, William. Autograph Letter Signed ("William Morris") boldly penned in black ink, on 26, Queen Square, Bloomsbury, London, November 16, 1881. 4 3/4" x 7 1/2", 4 pages on bifold leaf. Very good (minor signs of handling).

To James A. Manson*

Letter discussing the accounts of the National Liberal League, telling Manson that he concurs with the views expressed in his speech [on the Irish crisis].

In part: "...I am one of the very small minority among liberals who lament the late razzia on the Land Leagues...& concluding, 'As to the name of the [National Liberal] League, I quite agree that it might as well be changed; that it sounds for one thing over pompous. For my part I think some raison d'etre might be found for us, if we had fewer planks in our platform, something to distinguish us from other societies & gave us definite work to do: I do so hate...everything vague in politics as well as in art..."

Morris had become treasurer of the National Liberal League in 1879: "but after the Irish coercive measures of 1881, he finally abandoned the Liberal party & drifted further and further into socialism". In January 1883, in a decisive move, he joined the Democratic Federation, a new revolutionary socialist party; at the end of 1884, dissatisfied with the Federation's moderation, he led a breakaway group & became leader of the Socialist League.

*James A. Manson (1851-1921), journalist & author; 'an old colleague of Morris's on the executive of the National Liberal League'; his speecH, entitled "The Irish Crisis". A short speech against coercion, was delivered before the Brixton & Heme Hill Liberal Association (1881).

Morris (1834-1896), born March 24, 1834, died October 3, 1896; English designer and poet; designer of furniture, wallpaper and stained glass; wrote "The Life and Death of Jason" (1867).

Not in "The Collected Letters", ed. Kelvin.

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