The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-04-21

He hoped the convention would pass Mr..
O'Brien's motion welcoming the bill
and amending it in various particulars
and ~entrusting the amendments to the
decision of the Irish parliamentary
party.
And concluded Mr.. Redmond. "let
us give the world, which is watching US,
for our orderliness, wisdom and re-
straint, proof of our capacity for self
government"
Lengthy agenda a been provided
for today's proceedings. These consist
ed CT many proposed amendments to
the details of Secretary Wyndham's
proposals. The chief movers were
William O'Brien and Michael Davitt.
The former. while congratulating on
fact that the British ministry had in
troduced a bill accepting in principle
after centuries of struggle tina the land
should be restored to the people of
Ireland, urged the delegates to press
amendments enlarging the financial
scope of the bill. Mr.. O'Brien. however.
asked the convention to entrust to the
parliamentary party the power and re-
sponsibility of eventually dealing in
committee stage with the amendments.
w lille DGSSlIlS lle " let lIHlT
parliamentary representatives settle the
matter, Mr.. O'Brien attacked the land
lords, Irish judges and British rule
with the same virulence as has always
marked his speeches, to the intense de-
light of the audience, which, swayed
by his eloquence Kissed and cheered al
ternately. He concluded with saying that
if properly amended Mr.. Wyndham's
bill would make the peasants IL safe
as the king on his throne in the poses
sion of their land. They would never
again have to stand trembling in the
rent office"
Mr.. O'Brien remarked; IF all goes
we'll it will be the greatest resurrection
of hope, joy and happiness as has ever
visited this country in a thousand
years. 1t is the biggest thing English
craftsmanship has ever done towards
restoring the soil of ireland TO Irish
men,"
Mr.. O'Brien concluded with saying
that while Mr. Redmond himself did
not want to entangle the land question
with home rule they might as well try
to burn 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 Wyndham's Irish land
bill as not meriting the support Of the
Irish party was defeated by an over
whelming majority. The announcement
of the vote created tremendous enthu-
siasm. Only a few hands were held up
in favor of Mr.. Whites motion while
hundreds were waved when "to the
contrary was called, and hats were
thrown up and the convention enthusi-
~astically committed itself to the land
bill, subject to such amendments as the
Irish parliamentary party can secure.
Michael Davitt then received a great
ovation. He demanded the release of
Colonel Arthur Lynch, who is undergo
ing q sentence of life imprisonment af-
ter having been convicted of high trea-
son, and one other agitator who is
still in Jail and whose continued i'm
prisonment, said Mr.. Davitt. was I'M
becoming to the spirit of peace between
Ireland and England. Mr.. Davitt ex-
pressed many differences of opinion
with Mr.. O'Brien, Mr.. Redmond and
the majority of the delegates but he
promised to abide by the decision of the
convention, voiced his undying hatred
of Irish landlords and said he doubted
ff.Mr. O'Brien was right in believing
that they will settle down and help in
the development of the country after
the passage of the bill.
MI. Davitt moved in friendly terms
an amendment to Mr.. OBrien's mo-
ton. providing that the nationalist mem
bers of parliament refer the bill back
to the convention for final approval,
after passing the committee stage in
the house of commons, so that the peo-
pie may say if they accept it as amend
ed and the convention be adjourned
instead of merely dissolved.
Mr.. Redmond, in reply paid to trib-
ute to Mr.. Davitt's fairness n the
| benefit derived from his presence and
| ppo but he said he believed his
amendments would be construed as Il
vote of want of confidence in the Irish
parliamentar part.
Mr.. O'Brien followed with an impas-
stoned speech. He declared Mr.. Da-
Wits amendment menaced the Irish
part.
Mr.. Davitt then, amid tremendous
cheering. withdrew his amendment, on
whose merits the convention seemed
fairly equally divided and the threat
ened split was averted.
The convention then unanimously
adopted Mr.. O'Brien's motion to entrust
the parliamentary party with the power
and responsibility of eventually dealing
in committee stage with the amend,
ments and adjourned until Friday.