The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-18
SEEKING AUTONOMY.
Project for an Irish National Con-
vention in 1882.
A CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
Promoters of the Movement Hope that
History viii Repeat Itself

the HERALD made known the determinaton 10 noio
general convention in 1882 arrived at by the repre-
sentatves the Irish national party who constitute
the National Convention Committee The year thus
chosen is one which has q peculiar significance for
lrshmen. 1t will be the centennial year Of an
event which is generally regarded the most
glorious in Irish history. In 1882 the great Con-
yention of the volunteers held ut DUNCAN
non, and the action of that memorable assembly
led directly to the declaration of Irish right and
the repeal of Poynings' law. which up to that
date held the Irish Parliament in subsection to the
English Privy Council. Irish nationalists or to-day
hold that the present situation of the country is
substantially the same that in which it was pre-
vous to 1852. They claim that its dependence on
The pleasure of English statesmen not more
complete at that time than it is now, and as the
Dungannon Convention led to q period Of perfect
autonomy they hope that history may repeat itself
in 1882 and that convention of home rulers. also
assembled at Dungannon. may prove the dawn OF
new period of Legislative independence.
Poynings' law was adopted during the reign Of
Henry yII under the administration of Sir Edward
Poynings. 1t provided that all laws enacted by the
Parliament of England which related to the welfare
of England should have validity and be acted upon
in Ireland that no bill should be enacted
brought forward in the Irish Parliament which had
not previously received the sanction of the King and
be lawful to call parliament In Ireland until "the
chief governors and Council had certified to the
King under the great seal. the and consider
atoms so that the might have the approval of
the King" This meant. in plain English. that
Irish Parliament could be assembled unless all its
work was ready mapped out beforehand.
REVOLUTION 1882.
The first movement against the restrictions Of this
act made in 1850. when Henry Grattan moved
In the Irish House of Commons resolution to he
effect that body had power to make laws for Ire
land except the King. Lords and Commons Of that
country. This motion was. at the suggestion OF
Flood withdrawn. but it seemed like spark which
kindled the entire people. or at least many at
the time had any sort Of political status The Irish
volunteer organization which had originated dur
Ing the period of the American War of Independence
was about 1882 at its zenith. 1t numbered 20, 900
well armed and drilled. and ofcered by gentle
men of high standing. The Empire was just then
strained to its utmost point of endurance
by foreign wars. 1t was at one moment even in dan
ger invasion. and when the volunteers joined to
the opposition to "Poynings' law" that opposi.
ton became irresistible. The Dungannon Conven-
consisted of 2OO delegates chosen by this ..pa-
triot army" They assembled, armed. on February
15 in the Protestant church of the place. vast
host Of volunteers rested their without the
building. A certain Colonel Irvine presided.
The resolutions adopted reiterated with emphasis
the resolution which Grattan had prepared two
years before. and denounced "Poynings' law in
press terms. The Convention speedily bore fruit.
The complete Legislative Independence of the coun-
try established by acts of the English Irish
Parliaments before the middle of April. 1882 only
to be utterly lost by the act of Union 1900
THE AGITAToRs OF TO-DAY.
To-day the nationalist party takes almost the
ground was held by the volunteers In l7S1-2.
They hold that Irish legislature alone has right
to iegislate for Ireland and since the repeal last
BILE to many to bring about repetition Of the events
OF century ago. Mr. Parnell was hrst in the field.
His desire was to call at the earliest possible
moment National Convention to meet at Dun
cannon He proposed that it should consist Of 800
delegates who should be elected by all such persons
contributed one shilling toward the
penses of the enterprise. His plan was that
all who subscribed should be allowed
to nomnate candidates for election to the
Convention and that after a reasonable time
had passed the Managing Committee should submit
the names of those SO nominated to the mass of the
electors. Each person entitled to vote was to be
furnished with printed list of all the candidates
on which he was to mark those whom he preferred.
The lists being then returned to the Managing Com
mittee the votes would be counted and the result
declared.
of arrangements organized In last September TO
carry out the details, and to il given power to
increase its own membership. Among the first In
vited to join its ranks Mr.. p ]. Smytn, NJ p.
He expressed no unwillingness to do so, but in
timated. in a communication to the committee that
he thought the project of holding convention
forthwith was premsture. Hs also thought
that the mode Of election too complicated
to work well, and the system OF representation I'M
satisfactory. He showed that all the 800 men,
bers would be elected by the same constituency
that is the country ut largethey should necessarily
represent the same shade of opinion. and minorites
would have chance to advance their theories and
obtain a fair discussion of them. He thought the
representatives should. like members of Parliament
be chosen to represent particular localities 1t also
seemed to him. he said. that from the associations
connected with 1882 it would be . very appropriate
time for the great event OF national conventions;
and he believed that two years OF agitation and
success to the movement than could be hoped from
an almost extemporzed gathering.
Other letters to Mr.. Parnru and Co the committee
conceded in these views. The difficulties of the
Immediate enterprise were great the promises of
1882 tempting, and. the cable has announced Mr..
smyth's plan appears to be in all material points
adopted. The notion of assembling q representative
body to deliberate ON questions OF great moment to
the nation in the present century, first put in
circulation by O'ConneIl. In 1s43 he meditated
calling Council of Three Hundred" to deliberate
on the great question Of repeal The Convention
act' was. however obstacle. and the "Liberators
arrest in the close of the year prevented any at
Tempt to put the design into operation
FRUIT?
What will Mr.. Parnels convention achieve, sup
posing it ever becomes accomplished fact?
"Oh. IL will pass resolutions more less infiam-
r1atory There will be deal OF loud talk and then
adjournment"
All shades of natonasts the contrary, expect the
greatest things from it. What done in 1852 is
possible now. they assert mo" say the advocates
OF the Union. 1.-THE conditions entirely dfferent."
Then reasoners OF this class go argue that tho
ulncuitits OF the Empire IN tho last century
the real cause OF the concessions then granted. No
similar peris now surround the throne, they say.
Then, again. the Irish have now no II. 900 drilled
troops to back their demands the co ntrary they
are disarmed and disorganized, in the hands of q
powerful police and military force and bound in
chains by elaborate railroad and telegraph avs
TEN. Further. they argue that while the Irish par
lament was In the hands OF Protestant ascen-
dancy party but little danger to the Empire was to
be feared. Its policy. they think likely 10 run
IN parallel groove with that OF England. Now they
fear that autonomy for Ireland would soon lead to
complete separation of the countries the power in
Ireland being in the hands OF the Roman Catholic
majority of the population. Such contingency az
this is OF course. In the minds Of this class a csas-
trophe to be avertcd by any means, however violent
THE HOME RULERS VIEW.
The loyal home ruler. on the other hand. assures
the government that separate legislature for Ire
land would prove prop to the stability OF tho
Empire. "divc this people local selfgovernment,"