The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-17
Action of Convention Unanimous
After Much Talk Of Both Radical
and Conservative Nature.
ALL CLASSES REPRESENTED
SONS OF THE SOIL, POLITICIANS, AND
OLD AND YOUNG PRIESTS.
Speeches by John Redmond. William
O'Brien, Michael Davitt and Other
WelI-KnOwn Leaders.

DUBLIN, April 16.-By a unanimous vote
the Irish National convention. which met
to-day accepted in principle the Irish
land bill introduced in the House OF Com
mons by Mr.. Wyndham, chief secretary
for Ireland, and intrusted TO John Red
mond and his party the task of securing in
the House of Commons that serious
amendment in various points of vital inn
portance" which the national convention
may consider essential. The convention to-
morrow will outline the shape the amend
ments should take and on Saturday Lord
Dunraven, lord mayor, Captain Shave
Taylor, John Redmond. William O'Brien
and T. w. Russell are likely to meet at a
round conference table to discuss the land
lords and the tenants opinions on the
land bill and to try to arrive at a common
basis Of parliamentary action.
To-day's proceedings at the convention
revealed discomfort with various features
of the bill, but nothing so serious to in
dicate a danger of its ultimate rejection.
Even Michael Davitt, who had an oppor-
tunity of dividing the delegates into two
bitterly opposing camps. amidst dramatic
excitement subordnated his own views and
pledged himself to abide by the verdict
John Redmond and William O'Brien
triumphed over all objections; indeed, the
objectors, save Michael Davitt. were
scarcely given hearing by the delegates.
For six hours the delegates sat or stood
listening to the speeches Of their leaders,
spiritual and political Not for many a
day has such a representative gathering
been seen In Dublin. Irish wit and elo-
quence lived up to its reputation Speaker
after speaker brought the audience TO that
pitch of enthusiasm where mats were
thrown up and men stood on the chairs
yelling with delight
FORCE OF HABIT STRONG.
When platform speaker failed to please
comments from the audience supplied an
| impetus to the motions. The crowd was
irrepressible Old men, white-haired relics
Of the Land League. young farmers, rising
| factors in the United Irish League, fresh
| from the fields of Connaught and Munster,
county councillors. priests. young and old,
| rose constantly from their seats to hurl
interjection OF approval or disapproval at
the speaker The force Of habit was far
| too strong to prevent the sons OF the soil
| from cheering madly when some speaker
| referred to the landlords as blood suck
| ers." Such appellations not infreQuertly
brought the response from the body of the
hall. ITO hell with them," Good man"
| The audience would shout when William
| OBrien, Michael Davitt or some other
| popular orator voiced the prevailing senti-
ment
Throughout the day this gathering Of
Irish tenants, so picturesque. so terribly
| earnest. so swayed by the eloquence OF the
Irish leaders, never ceased to make a Mt
setting for the heroic epithets In which the
speakers described the convention and the
issues depending on Its decision. Through
all the various waves of emotion John Red
| mond sat in the chair impassive and keep
tenaIist hs Grder said Hts heaa as an old Ma
| endangered by the swinging hands and
arms of the speakers. William OBrien and
| Michael Davitt were the heroes of the hour
| 7. w. Russell, the Ulster member, who un-
| expectedly appeared In the hall. received a
| great welcome from his former opponents
| Much significance Is attached to his pres
| ence, as he Is not member OF the Ma
About 1000 delegates assembled in the
| crowded rotunda of the Mansion House
which was incapable OF holding ali who had
| come from every part of Ireland TO discuss
| the land bill. On the platform sat almost
| every Nationalist member OF Parliament
| with a scattering Of prelates. In the body
| of the rotunda was a gathering seldom
| equaled In representative capacity. Farmers
| from Clare in top boots. laborers from Dub
| lin county landlords from Cork and priests
| from all parts. the latter's somber clothing
and tall hats contrasting pleasantly with
the bright homespun apparel OF the ma
jority. 1t was essentially a convention OF
| the soil. though lighter touch was given
| by the presence OF the well-dressed women
| who filled the galleries.
REDMOND's SPEECH
Lord Mayor Harrington and Michael
Davitt inducted John Redmond into the
chair and the delegates rose TO their 1eet,
cheering and waving their hats. Mr. Red
| ho
pressive speech.
"This convention he declared. lis the
most solemn. the most momentous event in
the history of living Irishmen with the ex-
ception of the introduction Of the home rule
BILL There are in the lives of nations. as
there are in the lives OF individuals, op-
portunities which once lost can never be
| regained Such an occasion / believe the
| present 10 be-" Mr. Redmond begged his
| hearers 10 remember their tremendous re-
| sponsibility. IL they rejected the bill II
| was dead forever. and the greatest prospect
| of freedom since the Infamous act OF union
| was passed" would disappear.
| William O'Brien moved the adoption of q
statement containing many amendments 20
the details of Mr.. wyndhams bill. HIS
| motion was supported by Michael Dayitt
| Mr. Brien. while congratulating ireland
| on the fact that the British Ministry had
introduced a bill accepting In principle,
| after centuries OF struggle. that the land
| should be restored 10 the people OF Ireland.
| urged the delegates TO press amendments
enlarging the financial scope OF the bsll
| Mr.. O'Brien, however, asked the conven-
ton 20 intrust TO the Parliamentary party
the power and responsibility OF eventually
dealing In committee stage with the amend
ments. While begging the delegates TO let
their parliamentary representatives settle
the matter Mr.. % Brien attacked the land
lords. Irish judges and British rule with
the same virulence as has always marked
kt~h x...f lxsL l.
hi~sed and cheered alternately. He con-
cluded With SAVING that. IL properly amsna-