Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-04-14

Praying for the Day When the Sudbfst
Shall Kiss the Breeze, as it Floats
Over Free and Happy
-, - People. rF'
IRISH NATIONALITY THE SHlBBoLETHY


amount sent to Ireland, both direct and
from the Treasurer; $272 $40. The Secre-
tary stated he believed the total receipts
since the Buffalo convention would aggre--
gate nearly s3oc,ooo - - 4
Followingis is the report of the Committee
on Resolutions:
WHEREAS, The evil and long-continued
English laws relating to land IN Ireland
hsyeH kept the people in constant pow
erty, subject to terrible visitations OF fam
inc and rebellion, the Irish people have at
length resolved to abolish those unjust
laws by public agitation and other legiti-
mate means; and We recognize tins as an
American, as well as an Irish, question,
the millions of Irish-American citizens in
tbis country having a deep and natural in
terest in their kindred in Ireland, to whom
by their flial relation, they are compelled
to keep sending annually enormous snms
of meney to pay the rack rents of landlords
and save their brethren firm dlstralnt
and eviction, and suffering. The Irish
people, under this iniquitouS system, have
been too often misunderstood by other ma
tions, through the malevolent misrepre-
sentations of the English press, which as
emily maligns the character OF the Irish
people and their movements, by exagger-
ated and false reports OF manufactured
"sgrarian outrages." and the people OF Ire
land are gagged into silence by the sup
preston of the free press; by the lmpris-
onment without trial of 700 of the most re-
spected representatives OF the people; by
constant threats of arrest leyelled at every
man who dares to CritiCiSe the injurious
policy Of the government, or address the
peopie on their rights and duties, while
IL on1 nlD military nnlCp
oyerawe the people under the absolute
control of magistrates paid by the govern
ment; while cannon are planted in the
public places of the cities OF Ireland;
while public meetings are prohibited and
dispersed; while the police invade and
search at will private dwellings, and enter
and remain at private meetings; while
every mans liberty is at the mercy of spies
and infOrmers, who are encouraged by gov
ernment proclamation; While among the
political prisoners are four members OF
Parliament, one of whom is acknowledged
to be the leader of the Irish people, and
would, under free institutions be Chief
Magistrate OF the country; while the pos
session of arms is crime punishable by
heavy fine or imprisonment; while
the habeGS corpus act has been
for years suspended in time OF
profound peace. and the country is suffer-
ing under the 59th savage coercion law
since the year 1900 No reform can be ex-
pected while over six millions of acres of
Irish land, tout of total acreage of li,905,-
OOO, } are owned by less than three hundred
individuals most of whom live in England
and spend the enormous revenue of E2O-
600, 900, (or 800, 900, ,OO0) which they grind
yearly from their Irish tenants while
twelve of these monster absentee laRdloEds
are in possession of nearly l,3OO,OOO acres,
and 5 ,OOO, 900 of the Irish people own not
solitary one; while for the protection and
propretorial rights of these few thousand
landlords, a standing army OF l5,o9O mill.
tary police is maintained at the expense OF
an Impoverished and defenselesS people,
and,
WHEREAS, The suffering Irish tenant
farmers look TO their kindred in America
for sympathy with them in their efforts to
better their condition, and to explain
the motives of their agitation, and protect
their good name before the world from the
falsehoOd and aspersiOn OF the English
press therefore, be it
Resol,td, That this convention OF the
Irish National Land League OF the United
States, send TO the struggling tenant farm
ers of Ireland, an expression of profound
sympathy from the millions of their race
in America who are proud of their faith
full and enduring adherence to the prin.
ciples laid down by their brave leaders now
in prison; and an earnest assurance that we
will stand by them with continued moral
and financial support, until they have sue
ceeded in abolishing their antiquated and
destructive land system.
Resolved, That We heartily endorse the
desire of the Irish people for national ex.
istence, and as Ireland, first by force, and
again by corruption, was robbed OF her
national birthright, we pledge ourselves to
do all that is consistent with American citi-
zenship, to place her once more among the
nations.
Resolrcd, That we advise the farmers OF
Ireland to continue, steadily and patiently,
in their passive resistance, which has
already proved so effective a weapon. We
exhort them to stand unfiinchingly by the
policy left them by their leaders now in
prison, and to keep fresh in memory these
words of Chas. S. Parnell, addressed them
before his imprisonment: Let no man
leave his post Continue your organization
Just as before, and have others ready to
| take the place of those who may be arrest
ed. BY this policy OF passive endurance,
| the Irish people will command the respect
of tteworld; and prove themselves worthy
of freedom
ReSolrcd, That this convention instruct
| its officers TO confer. at their earliest oppor
| tunity, with their council of seven, chosen
| at the Chicago Convention, as to the feasi-
| bility of uniting, under one head, all the
Land League branches now organized in
| the United States.
| Resolved, Fhst we express the gratitude
of the Irish American people to the ladies
| of Ireland who, like the women of Linn
erick, took the place Of their husbands aud
brethers, and assuming the risk OF arrest
and imprisonment, nobly upheld the
Land League.
Rcsoi,ed, That we are proud of the Chris
| tian forbearance OF the Irish people under
their dreadful evaporation. and while eX-
horting every man in Ireland to continue
to use his influence in preventing even the
least act OF violence, we solemnly charge
| the British government with responsibility
for all the crimes and outrages of eXtraor-
dnary nature occurring since the impris-
onment of the chosen leaders of an indom-
| liable and exasperated race.
Rcsolred That while we do not ask the
release OF any citizen who has violated the
Just law OF the land, we demand OF the
proper authorities, not as a favor, but as
right, the immediate trial or unconditional
release OF all American citizens confined
! without accusation in foreign jails.
The report was adopted by an almost
! unanimous vote.
The committee on constitution and by
laws presented their report, which provides
for the adoption of the same constitution
and bylaws under which the proceedings
of the land cenvintion were conducted,
the only important change being a
provision for increasing the Central Coun-
Gil from three to seven members. The COM
mittee also referred to the convention with
out Recommendation, proposition made
to establish State leagues in States having
| FIVE or more branches.
Many speeches were made upon the first
proposition. O'Brien, Of New York, said
they were only here to collect money, moi
| to enact laws. upon which John Curren. OF
alabama, said he seconded that idea, and
would contribute 500 now as Alabama's
| share.
1t was finally decsded. l0+ TO 81. to con
tinue the Central Council. with thret
members only.
Several members asserted that parties
had voted who were not delegates, whict
assertion caused some half dozen persons Il
suddenly leave the hall, and. doubt having
been thus cast upon the correctness OF th'
vote, it was decided to call the roll upor