Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-03-11
ST. PAUL IRISH LAND LEAGUE.


Thirty-Nine Members Secured
by John Dillon. the Agitator-Committee
of Solicitation, Etc.
A meeting of citizens was held in the old
court house last evening for the purpose of
organizing an Irish-American land league in
this city. The meeting was called to order
at $50 o'clock, Mr.. G. M. MacCarthy being
called to the chair, Mr.. John G.. Donnelly
officiating as secretary.
Upon taking the chair Mr.. MacCarthy ex-
planned the objects of the meeting, after
| which he introduced John Dillon, Esq, of
Dublin, who was received with applause.
In commencing his address Mr.. Dillon ad-
verted to the objects of the National Land
league in Ireland and to the desirability of
organizing collateral branches in this coun-
try.
The speaker said that it was TIE original
intention of Mr.. Parnell to divide the work
in this country into Eve divisions, locating q
land league bureau in New York, Chicago,
st. Louis, Cincinnati and San Francisco.
The speaker then called attention to the cir
cumstances which had called Mr.. Parnell to
England, predicting his early return to this
country.
Mr.. Dillon then spoke of the universal
distress at present experienced by the vic
Tins to landlord rule in Ireland. The speaker
then referred to the ensuing elections in the
United Kingdom. The bitter opposition en-
countered from the aristocracy of the coun-
try was spoken of, together with the inn
mense suffering that had been caused by the
oppression of the landlords.
In abiding to the elections the speaker
said that it cost from 500 to 1000 pounds
sterling for candidate to carry on the par
limentary elections, in addition to which the
current expense of the member, after cleo
ton, was enormous.
After abiding to the impoverished con-
dition of the sufferers the speaker made
cogent reference to the encouragement re-
ceiyed from this country. The land league
was not designed for parliamentary purposes,
its objects being to remove some of the
greatest wrongs under which poor tenants
were eyer suffering.
An extract was read from letter written
by James Redpath. correspondent of the
New York Tribune, which gave narrowing
picture of the reign of terror under which
the tenantry of Ireland was now suffering.
In abiding to the latter, NJ. Dillon said
thai it came from hostile sources, as up to
a recent date the paper referred to had op-
posed the movement.
The necessity of additional pecuniary aid
J was adverted to, and with proper manage
ment the speaker thought that over 100000
Irish-American citizens could be found to
contribute small amount towards the ale
Walton of the suffsrings experienced under
the miserable bondage. A great object of
tire league would be to render aid to the dis
tressed. and where the evictions could not
be avoided it might be necessary to purchase
farms and locate the tenants in this coun-
try.
The landlords were memorable, and they
were determined to prolong the fight to the
bitter end. The land league hoped to pro-
long the contest until they could master the
situation, and the contest might last two Or
three years. The land tenants in the west
of Ireland were hopelessly bankrupt and
the suffering would not terminate with the
famine, the fact being that more trouble
would ensue when more of the poverty
stricken people we're evicted.
In conclusion the speaker moved for the
establishment of land league in this city.
Mr.. G. Nj. MacCarthy made short but
cogent address in favor of the organization
of land league in this city, laying special
stress on that feature of tho movement look
ing towards the location of evicted tenants in
this country.
The meeting was then resolved into land
league organization and all present were in
vited to step forward and subscribe their
names, the invitation being accepted by the