Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-11-19

10 be aimed az, and thought anything
less than that not worth acceptance.
Bv and by, however, the Home Rulers,
as they now began 10 be- called, grew IN
numbers and in influence, and in Janu.
afv, 1872, they we're able 10 carry two
Irih counties-nameiy, Galway and
ksrry-in a fatr stand-up fight against
the Wings. Thenceforward, they were
dominant in Irish politics. In Novem-
Der, 1873, they determined to place their
organization on a wider basis. a requsi-
ton calling "a national conference
convention was then illegal-was put in
circulation, and it obtained "a 900 sig
natures. Among the signatures were
representatives OF every class in the
country, including the aristocracy. The
conference duly met in the Rotundo in
this CITY, and its proceedings lasted four
DAYS. 1t adopted Butts platform and
founded 1.-The Irish Home Rule League,
the Home Government Association at
the same time Ceasing to exsist. All
this had no sooner come to pass than
Mr.. Gladstone preci plated the general
election of 1874 Tue newly established
league was suddenly
CALLED UroN TO Snow ITS rowER.
The result in Ireland was an over
whelming victory on the advocates OF
seli-government. Sixty out of the l03
Irish members returned to the new Par
lament stood pledged TO the programme
of the conference. The agitation then
proceeded in Parliament and in the
country, and an auxiliary association to
the league was started in England and
Scotland under the name OF ''the Home
Rule Confederation OF Great Britain. "
Strong hopes were entertained, espe-
clally by Butt, that the English ministry
would make some advance toward CIV
ing the concession asked for witH such
singular unanimity, and in 80 peace
fIl and constitutional a man
ner in Ireland, and there can
hardly be a doubt that ii that conces-
sion had been made the Irish would
have jOyfully accepted it. 1t was not,
however, made. The Tories were in
power, and their leaders denounced
home rule as treason. Tho Home
Rulers were not yet discouraged, but
held on TO their movement, and again
in last year the opportunity afforded by
a general election was given them 10
show their strength and express their
faith in their cause. Again they were
highly successful in Ireland. Six y.tive
members were elected, pledged to sup.
port the cause OF self government. But
at this point tie agitation was
forced to stop. The distress came, and
with it the absolute necessity OF at once
altering the land laws, which were its
real cause; whereupon arose the land
agitation and Land League. What
followed | need not state here. In pres
ence of the great movement led by Par
nell and Dayitt, and the Home Rule
League could do nothing but keep itself
alive by holding small private meetings.
But it never had any intention OF dis
solving. On the contrary, it resolved TO
seize the first favorable opportunity OF
resuming its work, and that opportu'
nifty, it thinks, has now arrived. One
word more. 1t may, perhaps, be imag-
ined that the Land League and Home
Rule League were antagonlstlc assocl-
ations, but that is not so. MIR. Parnell
is at this moment actually member OF
the executive council of the Home Rule
League, and the majority OF the men,
bers OF that same council are his devoted
followers. 1t is true that many mem
bers OF the Land League do not belong
to and would not join the Home Rule
League, because they are uncompromis'
ing Nationalists, ami Mr.. Parnell has
lately declared for larger measure OF
independence than Butts, but the two
bodies. nevertheless. have never crossed,
and probably never will cross, each
9th rs path. 1t remains to be seen
what success will attend the renewed
effort the Home Rulers are about TO
maxi, bat the opinion OF many is that
it is on their lines England and Ireland
will ultimately be recOnciled.