The Savannah morning news., 1903-02-26
IRISH LAND QUESTION.
Redmond and the Secretary Dis
cusscd it in the House.

cussed it in the House.
London, Feb. 25.-The Irish leader,
John Redmond. in the House of Com
mons to-day moved an amendment to
the address in reply to the speech from
the throne, on the subject of the Irish
land question.
Mr. Redmond's speech was most con-
ciliatory. He said the amendment was
not intended as a hostile demonstration
against the government, but as a
friendly warning" to the ministry;
that he and his friends believed the
government was engaged in framing a
great measure of justice and appease-
ment for Ireland. which, in the words
OF the Kings speech, would complete
the abolition of the dual ownership of
the land"
All he (Mr. Redmond) wanted was
an assurance from the chief secretary
for Ireland Mr.. Wyndham, that the
government was engaged in an honest
attempt to solve the problem on the
lines suggested by the report of the
recent land conference. which, the
speaker added. offered an unexampled
opportunity to end the agrarian trou-
bles and conflicts between classes in
Ireland
Mr. Wyndham, in replying declined
to commit himself to any wholesale
Official approval of the land conference
report, which he said avoided or skirt
ed many considerations which must
be taken into account. The value of
the work of the conference, however.
could hardly be overestimated. 1t
showed that large majority of the
landlords and tenants desired and
were ready to make concessions.
The secretary concluded with eX-
pressing the hope that the spirit of
good sense and good will aninating
the report would be eliminated by the
House in its consideration of the
forthcoming measure. which would
make it possible for Ireland to lay the
social foundations upon which it was
alone possible to rear the fabric of
healthy national life.
Mr.. Redmond eventually withdrew
his amendment.
Although John Redmond failed to
draw the chief secretary for Ireland,
Mr.. Wyndham, into a revelation of the
contents of the coming Irish land bill,
his amendment provoked quite a re-
markable debate. Seldom in the his
tory of the Irish question has such a
conciliatory spirit been displayed on
oil SldeS. Inc only disappointing as
pect from the point of view of the
Nationalist was the ominous silence
of the members of the Unionist party
who seemed apprehensive regarding
the heavy demands on the nations
purse when the bill is introduced a
fortnight hence.
John Morley, the former chief secre-
tary for Ireland, rose to speak during
the hurricane of cheers which mark
ed the close of Mr.. Wyndham's speech.
Mr.. Morley began by declaring that
nothing like the present situation had
happened since Strongbow landed in
Ireland. The demand was no longer to
get rid of the landlords, but that pro-
vision should be made to enable them
to remain on their estates. He said
that the difficulty of the question lies
in it's financial aspects, as he estimated
that the Dunraven land purchase
scheme would involve a free grant of
$110,000,000 and a loan of $500, 100000,
but, he continued, if the matter was
proceeded with in a cautious manner
it would not be necessary to spend the
whole sum at once.