Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-08

of such conference depended on the firm
position of the friends of ireland at home
and abroad.
Mr. Blake emphasized the good which
might be done by healthy sentiment In
Ireland's behalf IN this country pledged
upon and founded for freedom America S
influence on England he declared to be most
potent.
parliament, he said, was only myth; that
under this guise the parliament which leg
| islated for Ireland had imposed on her leg
islation to which four-fifths of her popula-
ton was opposed. The voice Of the twenty
anti-Irish nationalists was far more potent
than that of the eighty nationalists when
it came to parliamentary action.
Mr.. Blake was optimistic as to Ireland's
future. He could see a CLEAN of light
ahead.
On the administration Of the laws in Ire
land the speaker had a word to say. Too
often the baton of the constable was the
real law of Ireland go far as the peasant
was concerned. The constabulary he de-
clared to be an army in disguise. Then
there was the perversiOn of the trial by
jury, one of the cardinal principles of lib
erty. and safeguard to freedom which was
insisted on even in England. The personnel
of the Irish bar-bench and prosecuting Of
flcers-he declared to be inimical to the in
terest of the nationalist. His conclusion was
that the main principles of justice and
freedom were killed, and with singing sar-
casm Mr.. Blake asked if 1t was any won
der Irishmen had dfstrust, a hatred and
contempt for Eng1aIfd;s freedom
The only complete remedy to all Of Ire
lands Ills was to leave Irish affairs to Irish
men. This was the conclusion of Mr..
Blake's remarks. and was heartily in
dorsed. s.,
Mr. Davftt's Address.
Michael Davitt who resigned his seat in
the English parlia ndent to take part in the
Boer war spoke next after a most fiatter-
ing Introduction by, Senator Patterson
The most pronounced Irish wit of the
evening fell from Mr.. Davitt's lips as he
responded to the hearty applause of his in
PRODUCTION. THE most naattering and elo-
quent speech which has preceded me-" he
said. lis fortunate and unfortunate 1t was
complete, but 1t has left absolutely
nothing to say. and what is still more un-
fortunate, l have got to say 1t.
There was one argument which at once
established Ireand'S case and condemned
Err gland, he declared. That was that for
1O3 years England's government of ireland
had been fiat failure Her rule was nee
essarily one of coercion. Irishmen at home
were deprived Of free speech and free
press. and their woes were multitudinous.
Mr.. Davitt announced that his remarks
would be designed to show the Irish prob
lem from a labor standpoint.
The land problem of Ireland, he said, was
really the labor question of the emerald
lsie as 10 per cent of her population were
engaged in the various occupations incident
to filling the soil. Irelands land was held
by an aristocratic class of capitalists. Pau
perism was the result of the methods Of
election and hardships which prevailed in
all its vigor up to twenty-five years ago.
The Land League was started some TWEEN
ty-one years ago. and the speaker said that
the combat had been fierce and constant
since that time. but victory was in sight.
Mr. Davitt made a unique statement Of
lrelands contribution to America. declaring
that during the last fifty years she had con-
trlbuted IS 600 to this country. This
was done by the emigration to the United
States Of 10000 Irishruen a year for fifty
years. each individual representing in his
earning capacity $1,000 each. This immigra-
ton was directly the result of EnglandS
oppression Several purchase acts had been
passed. the first in 1886. Under the opera
ton of these acts fully 10000 Irish tenants
are virtually the owners Of their own prop
erty. There are 100000 Irish tenants yet
to purchase, and what is now wanted is
means Of compelling the landlords to sell
their lands upon fair terms. The sale of
the lands has in many instances been Sc
cured by the land commission the stock Of
which is issued to the landlord as his guar
antee for the contract for payment on the
part of the tenant. Out Of 10000 such con-
tracts made, Mr.. Davitt said, but one man
had broken his obligation.
Under the act providing a sanitary COM
mission upwards of 20 600 sanitary cottages
had been erected in different parts Of Ire
land Tor laboring men. Each cottage mas
an acre of ground and is paid for at about
land law is enacted this cottage scheme Will
become mandatory.
Mr. Davitt declared that England was re-
sorting to her usual coercion and oppres-
sion by imprisoning nationalist members OF
parliament. pressmen and others.
There are not enough prisons In ireland
to hold those who are willing, II necessary,
to enter them for this righteous cause,
declared Mr.. Davitt, and England cannot
buy prisons in America as she did mules and
horses to ship down to use against those
two little Boer republics, who. were guilty
only of owning the greatest gold mines in
the world" daughter and appiause.)
This bloodless revolution of ours was
the term used by Mr.. Davitt in referring to
Irelands struggles England would be no
poorer. but Ireland would be far richer III
she were endowed tomorrow with her free
dom. s17s =
An appeal was maf1 for influence from
this country in Ireiandfs behalf that the
desired result mightlbe accomplished.
Mr.. T. v. Powderiy moved vote OF
thanks to the Irishs delegates and to Sena-
Ha nil mali a