Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-29
GOOD WORK At DUBLIN.
Results of the Convention TO Consider
the Irish Land Bill.
New York Tribune.

the irish Land Bill.
New York Tribune.
A good days work was done at Dublin
yesterday friday. It was good work for
ireland. II was equally good work for
England. II was also good work for peace
and good will and for civilization and
progress the world around. Perhaps we
should say specifically that It was good
work for the United States. Such, indeed,
It was. from at least three special points
Of view: That OF the numerous Americans
Of Irish birth who desire to see prosperity
restored to their mother country; that Of
those who desire to see the fraternal re-
lations between America and Great Britain
freed forever from the Irritation Of Irish
agitation against England, and that OF the
innumerable multitudes who are weary Of
the seemingly interminable wrangling over
the Irish question" and who long for re-
spite from It. There may be here or else
where. those who regard the action OF the
great Irish League convention with dis
favor and disapproval, and who wish that
body had repudiated the land bill now pend
ing at Westminster. II so, for the credit
OF humanity, It is to be hoped they are
few and impotent. Those Of them who
were in the rotunda OF the Dublin Mansion
House yesterday know what the representa-
tives OF the Irish people think Of them.
and the knowledge cannot give them Joy.
The dominant figure Of the convention
was John Redmond. He already merited
the distinction, and he again showed how
worthy he is to be the leader Of the Irish
people. He had been foremost in pre-
pairing the new Plan Of Campaign which
forms the basis Of Mr.. wyndham's bill.
He had been foremost in advocating its
claims upon respectful and sympathetic
consideration. He was foremost yester-
day In leading the convention to remember
its tremendous responsibility and to ex-
ercise 1t Alright. He did not exaESerate
the Importance OF the occasion. Nobody
could have done that. 1t was not Celtic
exuberance OF rhetoric, but fact as cold and
simple as a more phlegmatic Saxon might
have uttered, when he said that each man
must remember that the whole future OF
his country and the welfare Of his children
and that Of unborn generations might de-
pend upon the conventions decision. II IL
no secret that the British government some
time ago decided that II this convention
declared against the land bill II would not
press that measure to enactment, but would
let tho weary old conflict between landlord
and tenant drag its turbulent and some-
times tragic length along, while II the con-
vention declared for the bill It would
press 1t to enactment as promptly as pos
sible, with whatever amendments might
seem desirable.
Well, the convention made it's temper
and its disposition Enthusiastically known.
Mr.. Redmond's measured and solemn words
were greeted with earnest and all but uni
versal approval. The more emotional and
sentimental Mr.. O'Brien added his tribute
to the pending measure as 'the biggest
thing English craftsmanship has ever done"
for Ireland, and as ~foretokening tho
greatest resurrection Of hope. 1oy and hap
piness that has visited this country in
a thousand years" and he was cheered for
It to the echo. Even Mr.. Davitt. the most
rreconcilable Of the ~irreconcllsbles, de-
clared himself willing to abide by the de-
cision of the convention. What that de-
cision will be is no longer q matter OF
doubt. The last word OF 1t has yet to be
spoken. But the first word was spoken
yesterday with an emphasis that must ring
true and masterful to the end. A motion
made by the home rule member of Parlia-
ment to reject the bill as unworthy Of sup
port was greeted with Kisses and hOwls
Of derision, and was voted down by a
majority described as a hundred to one. SO
the convention, probably the most truly rep
reBentative convention OF the Irish Ma
tional league ever held, practically de-
clared itself overwhelmingly in favor of
Mr.. Wyndham's land bill, subject to such
amendments as the Irish members at West
minister might think desirable and might
secure. 1t was, we repeat, a good and .
great days work, and we trust II may be
so followed up as to make its beneicent
effects concrete and enduring.