The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-06-17
MICHAEL DAVITT.
4 Talk With the Father of the
Land League.
Result Of His Ten Years Political Labors.
The Convention Plan Indorsed-ParnelPs
Seat - Scotch Crofters.

II don't want to import the case into this
country for discussion" said the father OF
the Land League yesterday to CALL re-
porter who desired to get his views on the
ParnellO'Shea scandal and the spit in the
Irish national forces ia and out OF West
minister.
al don't want to import it here and don't
care to be quoted on the subject. The
trouble originated among the Irish people
at home and it must be settled by them
there So far as the war has been waged,
however it is true that it has accomplished
the political destruction of Parneu and his
immediate followers. His whole strength.
after the next general election, will not ex-
coed five votes"
Having courteously but firmly declined to
discuss the scandal or any of the matters in
timately allied to it Mr.. Dayitt entered
upon very interesting review of Irish af-
fairs for tie last decade and prophesied,
from the Indications of the present day, an
early realization of the national demand for
home rule.
GREAT CHANGES.
The last ten years, he said, had worked
great changes in the United Kingdom. The
Scotch crofters had no land laws in 1880,
bur the Irish party educated them up to a
knowledge Of their rights, and to-day they
have q better land law than Ireland has.
The Irish also bestirred themselves in the
same direction and are now on the eve Of
important changes in the law governing
them.
In 1880 none but the irish asked for or
even dreamed Of home rule. But they have
convinced the Welsh that it would be a
good thing for them. and even proved to the
Scotch that the making of their own laws
in their own Parliament would be an i'm
proyement on tile present order of things.
England, however, is still to be conquered,
but the ddV when she too Will Join the army
of home rulers is not far distant, as the
democracy at present are strongly inclined
IN that direction.
From the very day I. was inspired to
found the Land League" Mr.. Dayitt con-
tinued, l had but the one object in view
20 cultivate friendly understanding and CO.
operation between the democracy of the
three kingdoms ana to unite them in 0pp0-
sitl0a to the ariStOcracy, which Is but an
other name for the landlOrds-tO found, IN
fact, a democratic federation, leaving the
imperial parliament TO transact imperial
business only"
THE PRIESTS AND THE CAUSE.
Mr.. Davitt was most emphatic in his de-
NAL of the truth Of a recent dispatch from
English sources to the effect that the
Catholic clergy in ireland intended TO Op-
rs they are more commonly designated
here the McCarthytes at the next general
election. believe know the Irish clergy
as we'll as any man today, he said, " and
more sincere advocates Of the Nationalist
movement are not 10 be found. We are the
Observation-Disclosures of Mr.. Mccarthy,
if you chOOse-and the priests are all with
Us. 1t Is possible that at the next
general election we may loose couple
of seats in the northern or Conservative
districts of Ireland, in addition 10 the five
seats the Parnellites are likely TO carry.
But this will only result from ParnelPS &C
ton in cOnteStlng close districts, such as
Sections seat in West Belfast and Justin
McCarthy's in Derry, without any hope Of
gaining them. The parties are 50 evenly
balanced there that a Slight detection from
the Nationalist ranks will give both seats 10
the Orangemen. Ii this happens it will be
ParnelPs doing, and not that OF the noble
priests.
POLITICAL CONVENTIONS.
"Quite another factor will arise at the
next election, however, which may 10 some
extent change tie personnel Of the irish
party in Parliament Three months ago in
the city Of Duhlin a convention was held
which called into existence the National
Federation, and right there, at my Sug-
gestiOn and with Mr.. McCarthy's acques-
cence, the rule was laid Down that, In fU-
tuTP, candidates for Parliamentary hOnOys
viii have 10 receive their nomination from
a convention of the Nationalist IN the dis
tTIct be aspires TO represent. In short we
have effected a change on this point from
the aTiStocratic plan Of Mr.. Parnel when he
Vas leader, 10 tile democratic system which
prevails in this country"
Concerning the present disruption in the
Irish party, Mr.. Davitt said that it has had
a very depressing effect upon the tenant
class has Aused q practical suspension Of
the plan Of campaign" and brought about
a complete collapse Of the new town OF
TippeTary in which from $4,000 TO $4,000
OF the party funds were invested. In MS
opinion, too, PaTnell has little chance OF
holding his present seat IN the Commons
after the next election.
SOLID FOR PARNELL.
His best chance Of election, he thinks, is
IN the East Wicklow district, which em-
braces AvOndale PaTnelPs country seat
There, notwithstanding his fall, the people
are still devoted to him as, ali other reports
to the contrary, he Is good landlord and
generous employer.
Leaving politics, Mr.. Davitt turned to
the consideration Of personal matters, spoke
of his trip and his plans for the future He
left ireland five weeks ago by the Canadian
packet for Montreal, and then by the Cana
dian Pacific, touching at Winnipeg and VIC
toria, for tits city. He visited the Crolter
Colony In Manitoba that he was instru-
mental in obliging the English Government
70 establish, and found the people happy,
cOntented and prosperous beyond their
expectations. His reason for making the
trip TO this distant coast is to secure needed
rest from the excitement and worry Of the
past six months, and he is determined that
while his holiday lasts he will take no hand
in politics, nor will he consent to make
single address during his visit
DAYITT'S PAPER.
The interview was closed with a brief
reference to the failure Of the Labor World,
Of which uutil about six months ago he was
editor-in-chef. He resigned his position
about that time and has had no connection
with it since At Winnipeg he first head
OF its suspension, but lie had no personal
knowledge of the fact. He was succeeded
10 the editorial chair, he said, by Mr.. Mass
writers of the London press, who is be.
lieyed to be the author of the Chronicle arti-
Gle upon the baccarat scandal, which ere
ated such a sensation at the English capital
II the Labor World is really dead he
added Il is because it was afflicted with too