The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-28
THIS COUNTRY's PART.
William II. Redmond Has Sent $780,
900 Back to His Associates.

William II. Redmond Has Sent S1O,-
900 Back to His Associates.
or the distinguished Irishmen who were
expected TO arrive yesterday afternoon,
William x. Redmond, member of Parlia-
ment from the County Clare, was the only
to appear. James Devlin. of Belfast,
who also helps fight the battles in the
British lower house, was unable to come
on account of duties which detained him
elsewhere. Michael J. Finnerty, of Chica-
go, eloquent speaker and a prominent
worker in the cause Of Ireland was looked
for until the last minute, but notified the
local organization of Irishmen that it was
impossible for him TO leave Chicago.
With Mr.. Redmond is his wife, who has
been accompanying him for two months
and a half during his organizing and
speaking tour over this country. The noted
Irish agitator and orator is a man of me-
dunn size. slightly inclined to stoutness.
with typical Irish blue eyes, sandy hair
and a short reddish mustache. He is the
picture of rudy health and strength, and
the story, recently reported, that ii took
twenty policemen 20 eject Mr.. Redmond
from the House of Commons during a par
ticularly heated debate the Boer war;
seems not unreasonable when near view
OF the man is obtained He dresses with
neatness and some approach TO the pre-
vailing style. and speaks with touch of
English broadness of accent. Mrs. Red
mond is woman of great personal at
tractiveness. who takes the utmost inter
est in the career of her husband and who
has greatly enjoyed their soiourn in the
United States.
MET BY COMMITTEE.
Mr.. Redmond was met at the depot yes
terday afternoon by a committee of men,
bers of the local branch of the United
Mahoney and others escorted him to the
Grand Hotel where a short and informal
reception was held and he was introduced
to a number of wel-known Irishmen of
this city. Afterwards Mr.. Redmond talked
to reporters about the purpose of the move
ment he represents and about his success
in America.
Il am here" he said. Ito help along the
cause of the United Irish League. 1t
was organized about four years ago in the
County Mayo, and is the successor of the
old Land League. Before j came over
my brother and others had had so much
success in interesting Americans in the
movement that they asked me to come and
assist. L have been here over two months,
i have spoken in almost every city of any
size in the country, and L have been met
with open arms everywhere. Not only men
of my own nationality interested in
the work of the league, but people gener-
ally, wherever L have been. Mayors of
cities, representative men in the communi-
ties. and people of prominence have come
u.
American people are in sympathy with Ire
land. and although they may not know
some of the facts about the Irish ques-
ton, which is only natural, they for
the most part well informed and able TO
arrive at a just view
The league, L might remark, was or
ganiZed for two purposes, broadly speaking.
One is to further project by which the
tenants and small landholders may be en-
abled to purchase their own land from the
great landlords; the other is for the free
dom of Trpla nd The first hopad 70 no
obtained by giving the people chance
TO borrow from the government enough
money to pay for their lands and then
having the government give them sufi-
cient time to repay the loan. The plan has
already been in operation in a way for a
en- il and make it take in many more peo-
pie. The second purpose, like the deserv-
ing poor. we have always with us.
HARD TO UNDERSTAND
Land conditions in Ireland are perhaps
a little hard for the average American to
understand. In the north and west of Ire
land particularly these conditions are very
bad. The peasantry rake a bare existence
out of a sterile soil on a rough coast and
the good land is held by big landlords, who
use il for cattle ranches some of them as
big as cattle ranch in Texas. The league
wants TO have things fixed so that these
poor people will be given a chance 10 help
themselves to a better condition of life
The peasantry and the landlords are the
descendants for the most part of the peas
antry and the landlords of Cromwell's time
and even before. You see when Ireland
was conquered by Cromwell the English
picked out the best land and kept it and
drove the natives west and north to the
rough, unprOductive land. 1t is said of
Cromwell in this connection when he was
driving the people out of their own good
land: What do you intend TO do with these
people? Where will they go?' And il Is
related that the Protector answered: They
can go To hell or COnnaught' Well. the
people went TO Connaught largely at that
time and stayed there. As for Cromwell,
II is not hard To predict where he went
This league is doing great work for the
Irish in more ways than one. one of its
results is that il is bringing the people into
closer union. The Irish Catholics and Irish
Protestants are laying aside old differences
for the good OF the cause and the welfare
Of the country.
You would be surprised TO know how
much has been accomplished in this coun-
try. There seems TO be great enthusiasm
and although / have not asked especially
Tor money. prercrring TO arouse interest
IN the NOV ement before calling for con-
tributions l have already sent home over
$4,000
William n Redmond is one of the bitter
est opponents in the House of Commons
of Englands South African policy. When
ever he rises TO address the House on that
question ~ IS said that the supporters or
the government always look for a demon
stration. IL is said of him that his infiu-
ence is more feared by the government than
that of any other Irish leader Recently
Mr. Redmond went TO Amsterdam Holland.
10 carry 10 Paul Kruger the sympathy OF
the Irish sympathiZers. Il found the old
man in the best OF health and fairly cheer
ful' he said 4 predict that he will out
live all OF them.
Mr. Redmond saws that about The ONLY
thing ne has against Americans is that
they Will persist IN keeping their hotels
private houses and trains unbearably hot
Il must have fresh air he said. and the
first thng | do when | go into my room
az hotel is TO turn off the heat and throw
the windows wide open. l must have fresh
air"