Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-02-23
HOME RULE
For Ireland Seems to Be Much
More Hopeful.
An Extraordinary Peaceful Revolution
Expected in Parliament
When Irish Party Expects Homo Rule
Bill to Be Passed.

| London, Feb. 22.-.As the result of the
recent conference in dublin it can now
be stated that for the first time in the
history of Ireland, Nationalist, Union
lists, landlords and tenants are in
agreement as regards the plan to final
~ settle the Irish land question. They
have also joined forces in bringing
pressure on the British government to
make Secretary Wyndham's forthcom-
ing bill free in spirit, and all indica-
lions point to the bill conceding these
demands
The measure will be introduced in
Parliament at the end of March and If
passed will accomplish what Mr.. Red
mond and Lord Dunraven agree in say
ing will be one of the most "extraor-
binary peaceful revolutionss ever eff
fected."
If Mr.. Wyndham, for lack of funds
or other causes, fails to meet the views
OF the conference. he will have on his
hands, to quote Redmond, IAN Ireland
such as the world has never seen" In
this view such a strong supporter of
the government as the Duke of Aber-
corn concurs. Mr.. Redmond adds:
If this agreement of keenly opposing
governments refusal, there will be
twice as many members of Parliament
in Jail and twice as many counties I'M
der the ban of the crimes act than
there were prior to the present truce
This truce viii be continued until the
terms of the bill are revealed. A great
Nationalist conference. at which
Bourke Cochran of New York will be
Of ,,sn Iya,..
in Dublin in April, to take action on the
subject
The Duke of Abercorn, who is presi-
dent of the powerful Irish Landlords
Association, which at first declined to
join the Earl of Mayo and Lord Dun
raven in comforting with the National
lists, but who later signified assent,
frankly admits that he is amazed at the
results achieved and at the happy
psy-turvydom' now prevailing in
Irish politics. Asked if he thought the
Nationalist were sincere in their pro-
LESSONS of willingness to settle the
long standing grievances by a COM
promise, the Duke of Abercorn en-
phatically expressed his belief in their
complete sincerity. 60
The duke could not conceive that the
government would stand on any quib-
bles'' when the solution of the most
serious problem of the Empire was
within its grasp. He thought that the
process of changing the holdings from
the landlord to the tenant might pos
sibly cost $5,5G0,00O annually, and adj
ding: 1T surely would be cheap at
that price.
Neither Mr.. Redmond nor Lord Dun
raven believe the transfer of the land
would involve more than 81, 500,0 600 an
nually, and both think that the econ
omies resulting from the cheaper ad-
ministration would greatly reduce this
figure, if they do not eventually quite
wipe out the necessity for state aid in
the payment of the difference between
the maximum price the tenant can af-
ford to pay and the minimum price the
landlord can accept.
Mr.. Redmond was asked if he
thought the landlords We're in earnest
and he replied: Il have every reason
to think they are just as anxious as we
are to settle once and for all Irelands
troubles, If Mr.. Wyndham brings in
a bill on the lines of the decisions ar
rived at by the Dublin conference the
greatest step in the industrial and So
cial history of Ireland will have been
accomplished.
More than that. it will be a most
important step towards home rule.
Under the new system the landlords
will live in Ireland, derive benefit from
their property and begin to take a new
interest in Irish affairs. Theytwill then
see the necessity for an extension of
local government and will eventually
become as anxious as ourselves to Sc
cure home rule"
The Irish unionist leaders are of the
opinion that the whole question might
be declared settled in advance If the
government was mot so desperately
hard up" In consequence of this lack
of funds Mr.. Wyndham's bill will not
be introduced until after the presenta-
ton of the budget SO that any money
to carry out the provisions of the bill
will not be included in this years
taxes.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Richie,
while quite sympathetic towards Ire
CONTINUED on page 81