Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-04-17
IRELAND's HOPES
CONTINUED from page ~

essentials. Ireland is united as she
never was before. Each man must
weigh we'll his words and remember
that the whole future of his country
and welfare of his children and that
of unborn generations may depend up
on the conventions action. I hope nc
| man will advocate renewing the strug-
| gle of land war without knowing what
that renewal means-the indefinite de-
lay of industrial and economic welfare
and even of political freedom. No man
must care to do that unless he is will
ing to take his share in the terrible
| fight which would be involved by j
refusal of the bill"
Mr.. Redmond deprecated carping
criticism and advocated friendly dis
cussiOn of the suggested amendments.
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, by our orderliness, wisdom and re-
straint, proof of our capacity for self
government
Mr.. OBrien, who was greeted with q
hurricane of cheers, followed with an
impassioned appeal on the line of Mr.
Redmond's in which he urged that the
bill be accepted in principle.
While begging the delegates to let
their parliamentary representatives
settle the matter, Mr.. O'Brien attacked
the landlords, Irish judges and British
rule with the same virulence as has
alweys marked his speeches, to the in
tense delight of the audience. He said
that if properly amended Mr.. Wynd-
hams bill would make the peasants
as safe as the King on his throne in
the possession of their lands.
IF we go on it is not too much to
say that in the next generation it will
be as hard to find a man who has wit
messed an eviction as it is now to find
a man who has not witnessed an evic-
ton.
IF all goes well it will be the great
est resurrection of hope, joy and hap
Diness that has ever visited this coun-
try in a Thousand years past. 1t is
the biggest thing English statesman
ship has ever done towards restoring
the soil of Ireland to Irishmen.'
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 turn honest Irish blood into red
ink as to allay his own and Irelands
desire for eventual home rule"
One of the results might perhaps
10 It'll l,o s-l,
sition to a Parliament on College green,
where. all Irishmen without distinction
of creed and politics might meet and
legislate for Ireland's good.
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 imprison-
ment. said Mr.. Davitt, was unbecoming
to the spirit of peace between Ireland
and England. s.
During the course of his speech, Mr..
Davtt expressed 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 by undying
hatred of Irish landlords, and said he
doubted if Mr.. O'Brien was right in be- \
lieving that they would settle down and
help in the development of the country
after the passage of the bill.
Mr. Davitt also made a strong plea
in behalf of the Irish agricultural la
borer. who he will elaborate, tomorrow,
when the suggested amendments are
taken up in detail. He maintained that
the bill. even as amended, would not
put an end to the land struggle, and
moved in friendly terms an agreement
to Mr.. O'Brien's motion providing that
the Nationalist members of Parliament
refer the bill back to the convention for
final approval. after passing the COM
mittee stage in the House of Com
mons. so that the people themselves
may say if they accept it as amended
and that the convention be merely ad-
journed instead of dissolved.
Mr. Redmond. in reply, paid a tribute
to Mr.. Davitts fairness and the bene-
fit derived from his presence and sup
port. but he said he believed his amend
ment would be construed as a vote of
want of confidence in the Irish parlia-
mentary party.
Mr.. O'Brien followed with an impas-
sionel appeal on the same lines He
declared Mr. Davitts menaced the Irish
party.
Mr.. Davitt then, amid tremendous
cheering, withdrew his amendment, on
whose merits the convention seemed
equally divided, and the threatened
split was averted.
II. F. O'ConnOr, summing up the re-
cults of today's debate, said they show
ed that they all practically agree that |
the bill is the greatest measure ever in |
troduced. that landlordism is condemn
ed to die but no more compulsion will
be shown to tenants than to landlords,
that the financial terms have been i'm
proved and that not one evicted tenant
iS left without redress