New-York tribune., 1903-04-17
LAND BILL ACCEPTED.
N4TION4LISTS APPROVE.
Dublin Convention Enthusiastically
FOHozrs Redmond'S Lead.

trusted to John Redmond and his party the task
of securing in the House of Commons that
serious amendment in various points OF vital
Importance" which the National Convention
NAV consider essential The convention will
outline tomorrow the shape that the amend
ments should take. and Saturday Lord Dun
raven Lord Mayo, Captain Shawe-Taylor. John
Redmond, William OBren and T. w Russell
are likely at a round conference table TO
discuss the landlords and tenants opinions
on the Land bill and try to arrive at common
basis of Parliamentary action.
To-day's proceedings at the convention re-
vealed passionate discomfort with various feat
ures of the bill. but nothing serious as to
indicate danger of it's ultimate rejection.
Even Michael Davtt. who had opportunity
of dividing the delegates into two bitterly op-
posing camps and who, amid dramatic ex-
citement subordinated his views, pledged
himself to abide by the verdict. John Redmond
and William O'Brien triumphed over all objec-
tions; indeed. the ob1ectors, save Michael Davitt,
scarcely got a hearing from the delegates
REPRESENTATIVE GATHERING.
Every available seat in the round room of
the Mansion House taken by the delegates,
who surged up the afsles in a solid mass and
overfowed the surrounding rooms. For six
hours, without a break the delegates sat or
stood listening to the speeches of their leaders.
spiritual and political. Not for many day has
such representative gathering been seen in
Dublin Irish Wit and eloquence lived up to its
reputation. Speaker after speaker brought the
audience to that pitch of enthusiasm where hats
were thrown up and stood yelling with de-
light upon the chairs. When a platform speaker
failed to please. comments from the audience
supplied an impetus to the emotions. The crowd
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 con-
stantly from their seats to hurl some interjec-
tion of approval otherwise at the speaker.
The force of habit far too strong to prevent
the sons of the soil from cheering madly when
some speaker referred to the landlords as blood
suckers which not infrequently brought the
response from the body of the hail: ITO hell
with them Good man. The audience would
shout when William O'Brien, Michael Davitt or
some other popular orator voiced the prevailing
sentiment.
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 fit setting for the heroic
epithets in which the speakers described the
convention and the issues depending on its de-
ciston. Through all the various waves of emo
and keeping order like Parnen" as an old Ma
tionaist said. HIS head was constantly en-
dangered by the swinging hands and arms of
the speakers William O'Brien and Michael
Davitt were the heroes of the hour. T W
Russell, the Ulster member, who unexpectedly
appeared in the hall. received a great welcome
from his former opponents. Much significance is
attached to his presence. he is not a member
of the Nationalist party. After the convention
+boI
correspondent their complete satisfaction at the
proceedings and the practical unanirnity of SO
many representative bodies throughout Ireland.
Eager for peace but ready for war in case the
English wish to continue" was to quote one
speaker, the keynote of to-day's convention.
TWO THOUSAND DELEGATES
The convention met this morning in the his
toric round room of the Mansion House here
About two thousand delegates assembled in the
crowded Rotunda. which was incapable of hold
ing all who had come from every part of Ireland
to discuss the Lend bill On the platform sat al
most every Nationalist Member of Parliament
with a scattering OF prelates In the body of
the Rotunda a gathering seldom equalled in
representative capacity. Farmers from Clare in
top boots; laborers from Dublin County, land
lords from Cork and priests from all parts. the
latter's sornbre clothing and tall hats contrast
parel of the majority. It was essentially con-
venton of the soil. though lighter touch was
given by the presence of the well dressed women
who filled the galleries
Lord Mayor Harrington and Michael Davitt
inducted John Redmond into the chair, and the
delegates rose 10 their feet, cheered and waved
their hats. Cable messages were read from
various Irish organizations in New-York, Ralti-
more and other cities. wishing the convention
1o1a
Ion and Edward Blake, who are both i'll. John
Redmond opened the proceedings with an i'm
pressive speech
solemn, the most momentoSs event in the his
tory of living Irishmen, with the exception of
the introduction of the Home Rule bill. There
are in the lives of nations, as there in the
lives Of individuals, opportunities which once
lost. never be regained. Such an occasion
believe the present to te' In solemn tones and
amid tense silence Mr. Redmond begged his
hearers TO remember their tremendous RESPONSE
bility If they rejected the bill it was dead for
ever. and the greatest prospect of freedom since
the Infamous Act of Union was passed would
disappear. Continuing Mr. Redmond said:
Whatever defects Mr.. Wyndham's bill has
and I inclined TO minimize them. its object
10 the complete and final abolition of landlord
ism in all its essentials Ireland is united as
she never was before Each man must we'll
weigh his words and remember that the whole
future of his country and the welfare of his
children and that of unborn generations may
d4pend upon the conventions decision. I hope
man viii advocate renewing the struggle of
the land war without knowing what that re-
neval means-the indefinite delay of industrial
and economic welfare. and even of political free
dom. No man must dare to do that unless he is
willing to take his share in the terrible isht