Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-06-23
ParneIl on Dayftt's New Departure

The London correspondent of the New
York Herald has interviewed Mr.. Parnell In
that city with regard to the alleged new de-
parture advocated by Mr.. Davitt and some
other Land League leaders, and cables the
interview to his paper this morning. The
correspondent asked: "What do you think
of Mr.. Davitt's new departure of the na-
tionalzation of land?" Mr. Parnen ans
wered: SIN my judgment, however theo-
retically sound the plan of the naturalization
OF the land may be considered In the Opin-
ion of its supporters, cannot see how It can
ever come In Ireland within the region OF
practical politics. The original programme
of the Land League movement claimed for
Irish tenants the right of becoming occupy
ing owners, and the cutting down of rents
was to be necessary preliminary TO attain
ing this right. This was the platform
adopted at the WestpOrt meeting In the
spring of 1879, which was practically the
first meeting OF the movement, and certain
ly the first whereat Mr. Davitt and l attend
ed. The organization of the Land League,
which was formed subsequently 10 the
autumn Of same year, adopted the same
platform, and, so far as I am aware, 1t has
never been departed from in the resolutions
adopted at any Of the hundreds of Land
League meetings which have been held
since, or at either of the two National Con-
ventions."
"Wb&t is your Interpretation of the
phrase, the land for the people, which you
have yourself used, believe, on several
occasions"
"In using this expression never intended
to convey my adhesion to naturalization,
but l meant that IL Irish tenants were con-
verted into occupying owners, the land
would be held in such a way and cultivated
in such a manner as to be of the most ad-
vantage to the people. l see that Mr.. Da-
Wit estimates the compensation to be given
to Irish landlords at 9l40 000, 900 sterling:
that one of the results of his system would
be that tenants would be sold their land on
the payment of an annual tax equivalent to
about half their present rent. 1t would not
be any easier, and perhaps not as easy.
from the landlords for el4O,OOO
600 compensation under the system
of the nationalizatiC n OF land than under
the system proposed by the Land League.
If under the former system the land can be
obtained for el40 ,000, 900 the Land League
would certainly be able to obtain It for the
tenants for not greater sum-possibly for
q less. If we assume that Mr.. Davitt's es-
innate of &l50,0O0,000 as compensation to
be paid is correct, the tenant farmer would
have q smaller annual payment to make un-
der our system than under that Of the ma
tionalization of land. While under our svs-
tenn the payments by the tenant would ter
inmate at the end of ffty-two years, under
the other system they would continue for
eVern
"What is your opinion of the propriety Of
advancing the naturalization programme
into Irish politics ?"
"We have every hope of an amendment
OF the Bright clauses of the land act in such
a way as to enable tenants to become own
ers under the terms have described above.
We have no hope whatever that this gov
ernment or any government likely to be iH
our time will advance money for the pur-
pose of carrying out the naturalization
scheme. The conversion of any tenant into
an owner is, according to the views of the
Nationaliz alton party, step in the wrong
direction-a step which will have to be re-
traced hereafter. IL their views are to OBJ
tain we therefore should incur the i'm
pHtation Of not knowing our own minds,
If, after two years of successful agi-
tation towards sn occupying proprie-
theory; for, as have shown, those In favor
Of naturalization cannot consistently sup
port an extension of the occupying pro-
prietary. l recognize to the fullest extent
the right of anybody to formulate his own
opinions and to influence the people to fol-
low him in the direction of those opinions,
but having regard to all the circumstances
OF tue ca5e-bn6 great r1ek OF division In
America and Of the serious evils which
have always attended division in the ranks
Of our people, cannot view the step lately
taken In formulating this new plan as one
likely to be justified by successful resuIts.o
"Then / may lake II that you intend to
adhere strictly to the original programme
OF the Land League and recommend no al
teration?"
"Most certainly"
SIS there not serious danger of division
at home In Ireland In consequence OF start
ing this new theory?n
81 scarcely think so. believe that Mr..
Davitt is simply desirous of testing public
opinion In Ireland with regard to this
matter, and that when he finds, as believe
be viii find, that large majority of his
own people are not inclined to depart from
the old lines,he, with that public epIrit, in
tegrity and desire for union which have SO
DISTINGUISHED his career, will see that the
interests of Ireland can best be served by
working out the results to which we have
been deyoting our energies eIncs the begin
ming OF the movement