The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-12-25
Davitt's SeditiOus Words.

The Dublin correspondent of the
London Times has sent to that paper q
report of the language testified by .
shorthand reporter to have been used
by Michael Davitt on the occasion of
one of the recent public demonstra-
tions in Ireland, and for which Davitt
has been indicted on the charge of se-
dition. The words were is follows:
"Why are we here to-day, on the Monday Of
the nineteenth century Of civilization, protest.
that has been swept away from the path of
every other civilized people? 1 say this is q
question we should put to ourselves to-day,
If it is true, deny that you should draw upon
that in this year, with impending famine and
dire misfortune before US, in order to satisfy
you have it, then say look first to the neces-
sity of your children, of your wives and of
your homes. If you have charitable dis
position to meet the wants of the landlord,
give him what you can spare, and give him no
more.
~ am one of those peculiarly constituted
1rishmen who believe that rent for land in any
circumstances, prosperous times or bad times,
Is nothing more nor less than an unjust and
immoral tax upon the industry of q people,
and further believe that landlordism as an
institution is an open conspiracy against the
well-befng, prosperity and happiness Of peo-
pie; and say that anything that 10 immoral,
whether f IT be q rent Or an open conspiracy Of
who suffer in consequence of 1t.
Look at it from purely commercial point
ofview, and how does it operate againss the
farmers in Ireland earn on an average 81 los
each week, and some earn great deal less.
However, we will put FL los as the average
weekly earnings of the farmers Of Ireland, and
that would produce an aggregate sum of about
i1soSs t Yssr , sa ef y saw md IN
exact for themselves every year3 Mind, 1900,
about one-third the number Of persons
present at this meeting. Well, the s,O00
ssS saa0f I'd R Resf1 halt s se sum .nss
earnings of the o5ooo Irish farmers.
But not only that. Not q single one of
tne9e puts foot to Plow 2. hand to
must labor from morn till eve to support
themselves and their children, when IN steps
Mr.. lazy, unproductive landlord, and demands
almost half the money SO earned to sustain
himself in the licentious and volt ptuous life
he very often leads-not in Ireland, but away
in London, Paris and elsewhere. Not only
ings. but il robs Ireland. it impoverishes Ire.
land, and goes away to another country to en-
rich another people who never earned it; and
SYSTEM Are we here to listen to any pro-
pOsal of fxity of tenure at fair rents, with Pc
riodical valuations?
~ say that, in face Of another impending
when the manhood of Ireland will spring to
its feet and say that it will tolerate this system
no longer. say we are here to-day to pro-
claim our determination to work unitedly and
to work increasingly until all the restrictions
that initiate against the proper cultivation of
the soil of ireland and against the happiness
and contentment of its people are swept away
1--WE had got to stand on our just rights as
given to US by Almighty God. He created
this fruitful land of ours, and decreed that
those of His people who should inhabit It
should live on the land by the fruits of their
honest industry and labor. II they propose
traiia, or to Zuluiand, tell them you win not
everlasting hills, and say that you will keep .
bae s 81 nsi Sp and ss. Ss sSn
answer to these emigration schemes.
Mr.. O'Connor told you that it is prob
in its eye when its ofacials and its organ. talk
about an emigration scheme, but will tell you
why do not believe they meant that. There
is great similarity between the Irish pike and
went out to civiiize the Zulus at the point Of
the bayOnet found that the savage Africans
knew how to handle the assegaf almost ae well
'98. In conclusion would ask you not to be
content with coming to these meetings and APP
plauding sentences in connection with landlord
worRrt oe cooperase together, in clubs and in
protection societies., until there fs such an
Ovcrpowering organization throughout the
whole of Ireland that will not only break down
landlordism, but every other barrier that
stands between the people of Ireland and their
just rights"
The only questions asked this wit
ness by Mr.. Davitt were whether he
was ever INSTRUCTED in his duty, and
whether his notes were accurate. To
the first he answered in the negative,
and to the second he said to the best of
his ability thew were.