Los Angeles herald., 1891-03-11
IRISH AFFAIRS.
A NATIONAL FEDERATION CONvEN-
TION AT DUBLIN.
Justin Mccarthy Presiding-A Draft of a
Constitution Submitted-A Free Fight
at Galway-The Potato Famine.

DuBLlN, MARCH 1U.-ine NatlOnal
Federation convention opened in this
city today, Justin Mccarthy presiding.
A letter from Archbishop Walsh was
read, in which the archbishop said four
fifths of the constituencies were ready
to follow the lead of Kilkenny. Par
nelPs policy involves the destruction of
the work of the last ten years. Letters
of approval of the course adopted by
the McCarthyites were received from
Archbishop Croke and most of the bish-
ops in Ireland.
The secretary OF the convention stated
that 115 organizations had sent delegates
and that letters had been received from
ninety others, stating that these organi-
cations would support Mccarthy. The
latter said the league had allowed
itself to be captured in recreant
way by the ''crowbar brigade" FEEDER
alton, he declared, was we'll rid OF the
National league. 1t was thought by
some persons that they had waited too
long for the leaguers to take action, but
they had felt bound to hold on in the
hope that the party would remain
united.
Thomas Sexton, member of parlia-
ment, made statement to the effect
that during the Boulogne investigation,
the representatives of the majority OF
the Irish parliamentary party, offered
to leave the craftsmanship of the party
open for year if Parnell would retire
temporarily from that position. The
negotiations proceeded on this basis.
Parnell's leadership, he said, is no
longer within the range OF practical
politics.
THE PROPOSED CONSTITUTION.
The draft OF constitution was sub
mitted today to meeting OF the anti
Parnellites in this city. 1t defines the
object of the National Federation as be-
ing home rule; land law reform; i'm
provements in the status of the masses );
assent to the social and political rights
of laborers and artisans; the develop
ment of Irish industries and resources );
the adjustment OF the grand jury sys-
tenn; the establishment OF an educa-
tional system based on the principle of
equal dealings towards all sections of
the Irish people; electoral registration );
reform in regard to parliament and mu-
nicipal governments and other bodies,
and the repeal of the coercion act. A
pledge is also proposed binding all the
members of parliament who declare for
national federation to vote with the
party.
THE POTATO FAMINE.
The Irish local government board has
issued report On the failure of the po-
tato crop and the condition of the con-
gested districts. 1t states that the dis
tricts in which the disease appeared,
comprise about half of Ireland, and that
it is due to planting the old champion
seed. In light dry soil the crop in some
places is excellent. In cold, wet land
and the mountain districts the failure
is everywhere serious. The corn crop is
mostly good. Green crops are up to the
full average. Other resources of the
farmers are about up to the
average. Briefly the report goes on
to show that small farmers are in
good circumstances, but confronted with
a scarcity of potatoes unprecedented in
thirty years, causing the deepest dis
tress in the congested districts. The
distress is aggravated by the reluctance
of the local shop-keepers to grant credit.
Some Of the boards estimated that the
potato crop failure is equivalent to the
| loss OF Lne mld-day meal. Inc report
gives details as to how the suffering OF
the poor should be relieved, showing
that distress is yet on the increase. Re-
lief applications are confined to the con-
gested districts of the west and the la
boring and fishing classes of the south,
but it is expected that the pressure will
become more general between now and
spring.
| FREE FIGHT At GALWAY.
GALWAY, March 10.-A free fight took
place today at meeting of the Galway
town commission. The chairman was
thrown to the floor, and the Parnellites
present cleared the hall of their oppo-
nents, and passed resolution to pre-
vent an address Of confidence in Parnell,
No Reason to Interfere.
| LONDON, March 10.-In the commons
| nr