The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-26
CONCILIATORY SPEECH
FOR IRISH LEADER
John Redmond Asks and Receives In
formation From the Government.

LONDON, Feb. 25.-The Irish leader
John Redmond, in the house of COM
mons today, moved an amendment to
the address in reply to the speech from
the throne, on the subject of the Irish
land question. Mr.. Redmond's speech
was most conciliatory. He said that
the amendment was not intended as q
hostile demonstration against the gov
eminent, but as a friendly warning
to the ministers that he and his friends
believed the government was engaged
in framing great measure of justice
ami appeasement for Ireland, which,
in the words of the kings speech, would
complete the abolition of the dual
ownership of land" All he (NIr. Red
mond) wanted was an assurance from
the chief secretary for Ireland Mr.
Wyndham, that the government was
engaged in an honest attempt to solve
the problem on the lines suggested by
the report of the recent land confer
ence, which, the speaker added, offered
an unexampled opportunity to end the
agrarian troubles and conflicts between
classes in Ireland.
Mr.. Redmond pointed out that the
compromise proposed in the confer
ence report was impossible without
state aid, and warned the government
that If there was any attempt by the
Juggling of figures to make the tenant
bear the whole burden of the transfer
OF land, 1t would be vigorously oppos-
ed and the whole scheme would be
ruined. The state. Mr.. Redmond as
serted, must supply the difference be-
tween the amount that the tenant could
afford to pay and that which the land
lord could afford to take.
Mr.. Wyndham, in replying, declined
-
cial approval of the land conference
report, which, he said, avoided or skirt
ed many considerations which must
be taken into account. The value of
the work Of the conference, however,
could hardly be overestimated. 1t show
ed that large majority of the land
lords and tenants desired and were
ready to make concessions. The secre-
tary concluded with expressing the
hope that the spirit of good sense and
good will animating the report would
be emulated by the house in its consid-
Grafton Of the forthcoming measure,
which would make 1t possible for Ire
land to lay the social foundations upon
which it was alone perfectly possible to
rear the fabric Of healthy national
life.
Mr.. Redmond withdrew his amend
ment.
Although John Redmond failed to draw
the chief secretary for Ireland into
revelation of the contents Of the coming
Irish land bill, his amendment provoked
quite a remarkable debate. Seldom ia
the history of the Irish question has such
a. conciliatory spirit been displayed on
all sides. The only disappointing aspect
from the point of view of the Nation
alists was the omfnous silence Of the
members Of the Unionist party, who seem
ed apprehensive regarding the heavy de-
mands on the nations purse when the
bill is introduced fortnight hence For
seem to have disappeared. John Redmond
and Mr.. Wyndham exchanged almost flat
tering compliments; Col. Saundersen, the
member for North Armagh, confessed
Dublin landlord and tenants conferences:
Il. w. Russell (Liberal Unionist) express
ed the strongest. belief In. the govern
ment's generosity and hardly dissenting
voice was raised