The Irish standard., 1888-01-21
MR.. DAvITT IN The NORTH.
& Great Nationalist Demonstration
at sheepbridge, in County
Down,
THE LOW PRICES FOR PRODUCE,
The Solution of the Great Problem Must be
Found in the Abolition Of
Iandlordism.

On December rs. one of the greatest
| National demonstrations ever held in
Ulster took place at Sheepbridge, IL
Soutf Down, within five miles OF Newry.
The men Of South Down and Armagh,
and of the town Of Newry, thronged 10
the meeting place With bands and ban
ners. Mr.. Davitt arrived by the mid
day train from Dublin, and was met by
the Rev. DR.. M'Conville, Adm. Ne rY,
and Rev. DR.. Mooney, P. p. Mi|ltown.
MIR. M'Cartan. Nj. z; Mr.. Small, solici-
tor; and 81 number of prominent Ma
tionalists. MI. Davitt having luncbed
at the Imperial Hotel drove in a
wagonette to the place of meeting at
the head Of an enormous procession.
Rev. Ur. M'Conville was called to the
chair.
Contingents, with bands and banners,
were present from Newry, Sheepbridge,
1'ullylish, Ballyvarley. Loug ughbrickland,
Hilltown, MayoEbridge, Rathfriland,
Bessbrook. CastleweIlap, Kilcoo, i'ar
rem: Warrenpoint and Camlough. A
large number Of bands were present.
Mr. Davitt, who was loudly cheered,
said he was proud to find himself taking
part in such a magnificent dsmonstra-
ton, and TO be permitted TO add his
voice to theirs in reiterating again the
dual demand Of that great public moye-
ment, namely--the complete abolition
Of Irish laudlordism and the substit1l-
tion of a native parliament for Dublin
Castle rule. He might also be allowed
to say in justice 70 them that with a
pretty long experience Of public meet
ings in Ireland he had seldom seen one
characterised 10y greater enthusiasm, CT
by deeper loyalty to the cause OF Ire
land. Looking at the position of the
Irish farmer at the present time not
only there but in the South and other
parts OF the country, the question he
would like to ask Of the landlords in
that locality was whether rent had been
earned during the last twelve months?
"A voice--It has been earned nowhere.
Mr. Davitt-if they took the condition
Of things in that neighborhood as an
example, he might ask was there an
acre Of land within miles Of them which
had produced G5 worth Of fax fibre
during the time he had mentioned
("No, no'Y. Was it not a fact that the
yield of flax had fallen 50 per cent?
H. voice-More than l5o per cent
(laughter).
Mr.. Davitt-No withstanding this
very small yield the price has also gone
/, down,
| a Voice-Thirty per cent.
| Mr.. Davitt-ThiS being an iudisputa-
BILE fact which no landlord could deny,
he might ask those who would be ccm-
ing for rent soon how they could in JUS
tice or in right demand that which the
land had not produced?
A. Voice-They will have TO do with
out it.
Mr. Davitt-All the wisdom Of in
genuity and all the strength Of man
kind had not sufflced from the begin
ming Of time to squeeze blood out of
tprnip daughter nd cheers J. There
FORE he wanted to know how the land
lords Of that locality were going to
screw the old rents out Of the tenants.
He seldom found himself in the posi-
tion of appealing to the sense of justice
| possessed by Irish landlords, because
after a pretty long study of them and
great deal of experience Of their actions
he found it had very little effect. He
would ask the landowners of the coun-
ties of Down and Armagh as we'll ir the
interests of Justice as in the interests Of
peace to recognise those facts to which
he alluded and to do voluntarily what
otherwise they might be compelled TO
do by giving reductions commensurate
with the depreciation in the prices Of
produce. What he had SAID to them of
flax could be said with equal truth Of
almost every other. There might be a
slight rise in the rrices of cattle
A voice-No, no.
Mr.. Dauitt-ONing to the falling Off
in the mean growth of the United States,
but that would only last for a short
time. In short, they would have the
whole South American continent COM
.peting with North America, Canada.
Australia, and Russia in supplying
meat to the markets of Great Britain
and ireland; 80 that in view Of the cir
cumstances there was no. hope what
ever of prices of produce in Ireland
ever again reaching the figure they
stood at some ten or ffeeen years ago.
(cheersl. These being the economic