The Savannah morning news., 1903-04-17
He conclud-

and cheered alternately. He conclud-
ed with saying that if properly amend
ed Mr.. Wyndham's bill would make
peasants as safe as the King on his
throne in the possession of their land"
They would never again have to stand
trembling in the rent office.
Pleading for a friendly spirit in the
discussion, Mr.. O'Brien remarked:
IF all goes well, it will be the great
est resurrection of hope, joy and hap
piness that has visited this country in
thousand years. 1t is the biggest
thing English craftsmanship has ever
done towards restoring the soil of Ire
land to Irishmen."
Mr.. O'Brien concluded with saying
that while Mr.. Redmond himself did
not want to entangle the land ques-
ton with home rule, they might as
we'll try to turn honest Irish blood
into red ink as to allay his own and
Ireland's desire for eventual home
rule
A motion by Patrick White, NJ. P,
to reject Secretary Wyndhams Irish
land bill as not meriting the support
of the Irish party, was defeated by
an overwhelming majority. The an
nouncement of the vote created ire
mendous enthusiasm. Only a few
hands were held up in favor of Mr..
Whites motion, while hundreds were
waved when ito the contrary" was
called, and hats were thrown up and
the convention enthusiastically COM
mitted itself to the land bill, subject
to such amendments as the Irish Par
lialnentary party can secure.
Michael DaVitt then received a great
ovation. He demanded the release of
Col. Arthur Lynch, who is undergoing
a sentence of life imprisonment after
having been convicted of high treason
and one other Irish agitator who IS
still in Jail, and whose continued I'M
prisonment, said Mr.. Davitt, was I'M
becoming to the spirit of peace be-
tween Ireland and England.
Ovation for Davitt.
Mr.. Davitt expressed many differ
ences of opinion with Mr.. O'Brien, Mr..
Redmond and the ajority of the dele
gates, but he promised to abide by the
decision of the convention, voiced his
undying hatred of Irish landlords and
said he doubted if Mr.. O'Brien was
right in believing that they would set
tie down and help in the development
of the country after the passage of
the bill
Mr.. Davitt moved in friendly terms
an amendment to Mr. OBriens mo-
ton, providing that the Nationalist
members of Parliament refer the bill
back to the convention for final APP
prevail, after passing the committee
stage in the House of Commons, SO
that the people themselves may say if
they accept it as amended, and that
the convention be adjourned, instead
of merely dissolved.
Mr.. Redmond, in reply. paid trib-
ute to Mr.. Davitt's fairness and the
benefit derived from his presence and
support; but he said he believed his
amendment would be construed as a
vote of want of confidence in the Irish
parliamentary party.
Mr.. O'Brien followed with an i'm
passioned appeal on the same lines.
He declared Mr. Davitt'S amendment
menaced the Irish party.
Mr.. Davitt then, amid tremendous
cheering. withdraw his amendment, on
the merits of which the convention
seemed fairly equally divided. and the
threatened split was averted.
The convention then unanimously
adopted Mr.. O'Brien's motion to en-
trust the Parliamentary party with
the power and responsibility of event.
ually dealing in committee stage with
the amendments, and adjourned until
Friday.