Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-04-26
LAND LEAGUERS.
Winding Up the Affairs OF the
American League.
A DISPATCH FROM POPE LEO XIII.
A New Organization to be Formed Which
Will Deal With the Questions Of Land
Law and National and LocaI
Self Government

mencement. the Massachusetts and ILLINOIS
men came in, and the, galleries slowly
filed with spectators. Frank Byrnes, tn
recent dynamite refugee from Paris, was
among the spectators.
Among the lady delegates present were
Mrs. DR.. Riley, Miss Mary E. Callagan, MISS
Kitty Fitzgerald, Of the st. Louis Ladies
League, and Miss Alice Gallagher, OF the
Parnell Land League OF ST. Louis, and the
twenty.one female delegates sent by seven
female Land League branches OF this city.
Tha call tor this second convention states
its object to be TO form new league, after
the plan OF the National League OF Ireland
which will blend into one organization all
the Irish societies of the United states ana
Canada. The new organization IS 10 De al
filiated with the Irish National League OF
Ireland. =, >-...,
League. which was formed III Dup!lh III
Oct lber last, are as follows:
First-National seligOvernment.
Secondhand law reform.
Third-LOcal selfgovernment.
Fourth-Extension OF parliamentary and
municipal franchises.
Fiith-The development and encourage
ment OF labor and the industrial interests
Of Ireland. -, -,
These principles, it is believed. will form
the platform upon which the new National
League 10 be created tomorrow Will stand.
The Convention was called to order oy
lame, Mooney, OF Buffalo, President OF the
irish Land League Of the United states.
On taking the chair, Mr.. Mooney spoke as
follows:
president Mooney's Address.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: We are now as
sembled in the convention to which We
have so long looked forward, 1t was our
hope to have welcomed here Charles stew
art Parnell, whom we love ana revere III
America no less than they do in Ireland
itself, To our great disappointment he
cannot be here TO direct and inspire our
labors. In unfriendly quarters it is sought
to make it appear that he fears to join us,
lest words spoken or action taken in our
convention might compromise hun. Such
statements are pure fa.Sehood, Charles
| Stewart Parnell well knows the loyalty of
his American allies. He does not and need
| not fear them. He had hoped to the very
| last moment that he might be with US, and
l have to convey to you ms deep anu sincere
regret that, owing to the present aspect
| of affairs it was absolutely impossible for
him to absert himself from Parliament.
| Though he is not here, We have to direct
our labors % the plan approved by him OF
! the new National League in Ireland. Then,
I too we have to aid us, by wise counSelS,
! Patrick Egan, the worker and organizer,
! hardly second in importance to farnell
| himself in the successes already achieved.
Public opportunity is thus given us TO
testify our admiration for the integrity
ard ability with which he discharged his
| difficult duties in the care and dlsburSe-
| II. 4 l. lob Inl, I'm fol ng
! so lively an interest. II is too late now TO
say words of welcome 10 our honOred guest
| since so many of his fellow COuntrymen
have already rendered him their heartfelt
| greetings.
The short year that has passed since our
| last aSSpmbiin" has been crowded with
! startling events. The affairs OF Ireland
have 80 oCCuliun the wOrld,s attention,
that those Of other nations have almost
seemed to stand still, while their peoples
| listened to her pathetic history. Nothing
| that malice could invent has been left un-
| said, 10 effort has been spared To bellttle
her cause and misrepresent her, but above
all, to insult and d;>creiit her champions.
| TO America more than 10 all
| other nations has this industrious
malgnity addressed its greatest energy.
| II the object sought was to break the
solid ranks of Irish. American sympathiz-
erS, to discourage their faith in the leaders
in Ireland. and thus dissuade them from
! further Cil0,r, 10 support, II has hopeleSsly
| signal,y iaiIcd. L would take more PigOtts
and DINies than even England could bribe,
/ 10 Shrek her now wOrn-Out cry OF stop
Thiei" 10 make even one contributor to
the Land League fund believe that Patrick
! Ian had ever misplaced dollar OF their
sacred trust, to the care of which he so un-
sclii>hiy sacrificed his entire time, the
comforts of his home, and the prosperity
OF his personal affairs.
| Mistaking the views of the inSignitican
| number of Anglo-AmeriCans for the p b.
lie sentiment of our country, and misled
| by the syCophancy of the envoy who mis-.
| represents our government at the court o..
st. James, British stupidity has made itself
ridiculous few weeks since by its friend! Y
remOnstrance sent out TO our government
at Washington, reprehensiye OF some re.
ceht expressions OF Irish sympathy, that
were not mild enough for delicate
English ears. This impudent attempt
TO apply the gag in free America, has
done US good service. The indignation il
! evokeS has organized our race, to help on
| the good work of sympathy and support.
Let EDglsnd restore justice to her Irish
courts, protect women and children from
her brutal cOnsta5uiary, feed the famish
| ing multitude her landlord system has Civ
| ell over TO starvation, cease to throw out
the aged and the dying upon the wayside
without shelter before the appeals to a na-
tion that once cast of her hateful yoke
! for tyrannieS less than these-to check the
| passionate OutburSts of those who have
suffered in her prison pens, or still re-
! member her prosecutions.
In forming public opinion, in counter.
| acting the Interpretations OF the British
! cable and the press, in keeping alive active
! sympathy with the Irish leaders, the Amer
| iCan branch of the Land League has borne
an hopored part. With much to discour-
! are. II has never lost heart: even the dis
! banding by British coercion OF the parent
society in Ireland has not diSorganized it.
| Its vitality and strength are testified in
this large assembly to-day, and are credita-
! bic 10 the earneStness and perseverance Of
! the who compose this organization.
We are here 10 day chiefly to reOrgan!zs
| upon the same basis as that upon winch
| the new National League in Ireland stands.
| We shall have the great advantage OF the
| advice and suggestions OF one who helped
| 70 inaucurate that body. In il are Joined
! together there. all who cen lay any claim
to pstriotiC feeling, priests and lavmen,
| Catholic anu Protestant. IL is necessary
! for us to be affiliated with the new organ
| ization, that we may more effectively coop
| crate with our brethren in Ireland. How
| TO make the change, will be for this Con-
ventiOn to determine.
In spite of England the Irish, American
will bH r most important factor, in her
Irish question, till that veXed question
shall have reached solution.
In Charles Stewart Parnell the Irish peo-
PIE have leader whose place in history
will be proud one. England has ratified
their choice by calumny and hate. II
is eur desire to unite with the League h.
has establish in Ireland that
We may strengthen and support
him in the labors he has
undertaken. Setting aside our personal
views We must work under his guidance in
such a wsy as to best support and least
en- nrbarass him. II is our hope 10 see him
win for Ireland, land-law reform, local self
government, extension of the franchise.
development of industrial interests, and If
all these were won, the day would surely
dawn the Brighter, for the realization OF
the hope that would spring up in every
Irish heart that under heavens blessing he
might still lead on to that best and highest
goal Of rational inGep p-n ienCe.
n !