The Sun.
London, England, 1869-12-01 00:00:00

TIIE-TENANT3' T:1 MEETING AT

DUNDALK.

The tenant-right meeting in Dundalk, which was so
rudely disturbed, was convened by Lord Bellew in com-
pliance with a requisition presented to him some time ago.
Rumouirs of the intended interruption by the Fenian
party had been in circulation for some days, and the pub-
lication of a placard, appealing to the men of the South
not to attend, with which all the walls of Dundalk were
covered on Saturday, prepared the promoters of the
meeting for the stormy scene which they had to en-
counter. Lord Bellew and some other gentlemen had
been closeted in one of the rooms of the court-house,
for some time before the hour fixed for the meeting,
deliberating as to whether it would be prudent to perse-
vere in their intentions, for outside the street was filled
by an excited, howling mob, clamouring for admission, and
whose passions were being stimulated by the fervid elo-
quence of Mr. A. J. Maenna, who called upon them not
to be satisfied with anything but the unconditional release
of the incarcerated " patriots." At length Lord Bellew
.Znd his friends decided that the meeting should be held
pro fi,rina. His lordship took the chair, and after a few obser-
vations in reference to the opposition given to the pro-
ceedings, called upon the Rev. Mr. Campbell, P.P., to read
the following series of resolutions, which it was intended
to pass in lobo:—"ri 1. That the laws which govern
the relations between landlord and tenant in Ireland
are unsatisfactory and unjust, and require the
immediate interference of the Legislature. 2. That
no legislation can meet the evils of the land
system in Ireland which does not recognise the principle
of fixity of tenure. 3. That no legislative measure will
effectually remedy the evils complained of until it ensures
to the tenant the rights of occupancy as long as he pays a
fair rent, to be determined by a valuation, independent of
his own outlay of capital and industry. 4. That in any
measure adopted by Parliament for the relief of tenant
farmers, the interest of the labouring classes should be
provided for, so that the labourer should be put in posses-
sion of a comfortable house, and a suitable allotment of
land. 5. That the adoption of Mr. Bright's proposition
for the establishment of a peasant proprietary, as far as
may be practicable, will tend to promote the loyalty and
happiness of alarge portion of the occupiers and cultivators
of the soil." Their adoption was moved by Mr. Callan,
M.P., and seconded by Mr. Whitworth, M.P., and they
were at once declared carried by Lord Bellew, without the
formality of putting the question to the meeting. In the
meantime the mob outside, whose fury was momentarily
increasing, were thundering at the doors, and having
found an unguarded entrance, they burst it in and poured,
howling, screeching, yelling, and blowing horns and tin
trumpets, into the court. What followed is graphically
described by the reporter of the Daily Express :
" The Roman Catholic clergymen in the neighbourhood
of the chairman appealed again and again for order, but
in vain. The intruders appeared to be organised in
different divisions, under recognised leaders, and whenever
one contingent physically exhausted themselves, it seemed
to become the special duty of those adjoining to redouble
their efforts, and use their utmost power to increase
the uproar and confusion. Among the first observa-
tions of the mob was a call for Three cheers for Rosen,
and gallant Tipperary,' which was lustily responded to.
Then followed a perfect running fire of 'voices' One
affirmed, We want no tenant-right till the political pri-
soners are set free' (cheers); another, 'And they must bo
set free immediately f and a third, The farmers are well
off compared with the poor labourers—what about them?'
At this stage a young lad wearing a conspicuous green
tie and cap of the same colour descended from one of the
side galleries, and, taking up a position in the centre of
the table immediately below the registrar's desk, directly
fronting the chairman, defied any opponent of uncondi-
tional amnesty' to confront him and fight it out,' to
which end he prepared himself. The would-be champion
of the popular cause ' was removed, however, before his
challenge had time to be accepted, and the previous state
of affairs was renewed, cheers having been frequently
given for the political prisoners.

"Lord Bellew (appealingly) : Will you hear me—just a
few words on that subject ? (' No ;' and great confu-
sion.) _ _ _

" Mr. Callan, M.P. (pathetically): I implore of you
Maguire (a person in the gallery) to procure us a hearing.
His lordship and I wish to refer to some subject of interest.
(A Voice : 'No man will get leave to speak here,' and uv-
roar.)
" The Rev. Mr. Kearns harangued the crowd for a few
minutes, but could not possibly have been heard, save by
those on the bench in his immediate vicinity. On rising he
was received with a perfect torrent of yells and such ques-
tions as 'What right have the priests to interfere ?' I beg
to be allowed to say one word, (4 No,' and voices Sit down
Father Kearns') I wish to know what spite you have to
the political prisoners. (Voices : 'Oh! oh! that's yourgame,
is it?' and Don't hear him, boys?) Do be calm—(The
remainder of the sentence was drowned by a tin trumpet
in one of the galleries.) The rev. gentleman, turning in the
direction of the 'performer,' reminded him—Many a good
turn, lad, I did you (laughter, and great confusion). I say
you are the men who are opposed to the release of the pri-
soners. (Oh! A Voice : No ; its the tenant-farmers of
Louth, father,' and cheers.( lam proud to have it to say
that I expressed my desire to have them liberated before
there was a word uttered on their behalf by the men in the
gallery. (Cheers) I hate a few men who say that they are
their friends, while in reality they are their enemies. (Sen-
sation.)

" A respectably dressed person, named Goodman, ap-
parently of the artisan class (excitedly): That will do
now; first give the labourers an acre of ground and a
free house, and then we'll talk about the tenant farmers,
(Cheers.)

The Rev. Mr. Kearns (dejectedl)y : Do listen just to one
word. (Cries of :No, no') Who wrote tho letter to have the
lives of Allen, Larkin, and O'Brien spared? Lord Bellew.
(Loud cheers.)

"Lord Bellew (triumphantly): Will you hear me now?.
No, no,' and a Voice : This is a meeting to oppose that.')
"The Rev. Mr. Kearns (authoritatively): Hear Lord
Bellew now—Lord Bellew who wrote the letter for the
martyred men (cries of No,' and 'Sit down').
" Mr. Goodman : Let us have unconditional amnesty
first, a labourer's bill afterwards, and then we will talk
about a tenant-right bill. (A Voice : We won't hear any
one speak.' Another : Let them all go to h-I,' and sen-
sation). How many hundreds of them (labourers) have been
sent wandering through the land? (Hear.) What subsis-
tence can a man get on five bob a week ? (Cheers.)
"The Rev. Mr. Kearns (as if by way of farewell): You
ought to be ashamed of yourselves, boys.
" Mr. Goodman : We want a labourers' measure first, in
preference to a farmers' measure. (Hear.)
"Mr. Callan at this point invited Mr. Goodman to join
ns party on the bench, and, having done so,

" Lord Bellew remarked in a confidential tone : We are
not going to hold the meeting. It is all over. Toll the
People that. Tell them that we are not hostile to them.
"Mr. Goodman (patronisingly) : I respect you as an
Irishman to the heart's core, my lord, but-

"Mr. Callan: Get us a hearing, then. We are going to
.peak about the political prisoners.
"Mr. Goodman: It is impossible, sir. It could not be
aone.

"During this conversation, the youth of boxing propen-
sities again mounted the table, and repeated his generous
offer.

"The Rev. Mr. Kearns (angrily): Go down out of
that-

" Maguire (defiantly) : No, I shan't, sir.
" The Rev. Mr. Kearns (excitedly) : I will kick you, if
you don't go down (oh !) I know it would he unbecoming
of me as a priest, but look out.

"This threat appeared to have the desired effect, Maguire
beating an ignominious retreat.

" Meanwhile Goodman had been persuaded by Mr. Callan
to exert his influence in restoring something like order; but,
notwithstanding that he appeared to use his utmost en-
deavours to tliat end, it was of no avail.
" Lord Bellew (to Goodman) : I wish to tell them what I
mean. The meeting has been adjourned, and I only remain
here to address you upon a different subject altogether.
" Mr. Goodman : I know to what you refer, my lord,
and I would get them to hear you if I could ; but it is im-
possible.

" Lord Bellew (dejectedly) : Then we must just retire.
(In a loud voice)—The meeting is over. I want to consult
the people here (no, no; and confusion.) Ido not want to
oppose their action in any way.
" ➢lr. Callan : A last appeal ! Will you hear me ? (A
Voice : Give us a song') (cheers, and cries of Chu, chu')•
" The Chairman, Mr. Callan, and the priests on the
bench, then retired by a back entrance, amidst the jeers
and groans of the mob."

MONSIGNOR 13ATEn s SPERCII.—AII the corre-
spondents in Egypt speak rapturously of the eloquence of
Monsignor Dauer, the chaplain of tho Empress Eug6nie,
who, as the representative of the Catholic clergy,
celebrated Mass, and pronounced a benediction on the
labours of M. de Lessops, and delivered an inaugural
oration in which the magnificent enterprise was ex-
tolled in rhetoric, not unworthy of the scene and
the occasion. According to the correspondent of the
Independance Belge tho gallant ecclesiastical orator, turn-
ing to the East and to the.:7Frit,lexclairae4-..."
radiant East Hail, afficien;lEurdpo rip);(i agreo with the
Bogian congeeutator that !t 091014 vas.' Vs ilomewhat
bold apostrophe to, Europe fof it fashionable divine of the
nineteenth century standing oU "the banks of the Nile.
Had he repaembere,l,.th9 girSt Napoleon's;." forty centu-
ries," Pa4er. 'uobabli hrt7o-changed his
PlgthetelnalaSt ArdtaW