The Washington herald., 1907-10-06
AFFAIRS IN IRELAND.
BY SEUMAS MACMANUS
By SEUMAS MACMANUS.

There has been remarkably ill-omened
opening TO Mr.. Redmond's autumn cam
paign. The first Of his series Of great
meetings for the purpose OF arousing
the country, was held in the mountains
Of Donegal, under the patronage OF
Bishop ODonneI (who is Mr. Redmonds
truest supporter among the hierarchy.
People were greatly astonished TO find
that In his speech in Donegal Mr.. Red
mond had no new plan TO put before the
country. His speech was simply that
Of a man on trial for his life. All the
guidance he vouchsafed the thousands
who hunRered for such, was: Put your
trust in me once again, and | promise
you will not be deceived this time
What Mr. Redmond failed 10 do when
he had almost all ireland faithfully sup
porting him, he now promises to do when
his faithful supporters in the land are
few and far between.
Mr. Redmond's second great meeting
was held (where one would expect he
should have held his firsO in the me-
tropolis. But, for the first time in the
history OF the Irish movement, the great
Dublin meeting Of the Irish party was
held in a room, with the doors barred
and bolted, and great force OF police
on hand 10 protect Mr.. Redmond and
his colleagues Admission was only by
ticket-Which tickets were supplied 20
those few in Dublin on whom absolute
reliance could be placed There were
batOn-men outside the building and
truncheon-men inside. and the walls OF
the Mansion House garden manned by
armed policemen 10 prevent the free
and independent electors Of Dublin"
from attending Mr.. Redmond's great
public meeting.
The room was about twO-thirds filed,
and as soon as any one dared question
Mr.. Redmond's statements. he was
promptly seized by the truncheJn-men,
his skull impressively reasoned with, and
then he himself chucked out from the
great public meeting Two thousand
people assembled outside the Mansion
House, being refused admission, held an
0pen-sir meeting. AT which a resolution
was unanimously carried asseyeraung
that the Irish Parliamentary Party had
forfeited the confidence OF the Irish pee
pie and betrayed their best interests.
Then these men formed IN professional
order and marched through the streets
OF Dublin singing patriotic songs and
cheering for Sim Fein. Never was there
"a more striking proof Of how utterly dis
credited is this Parliamentary Party.
who feared 20 let the Nationalist citi
zens Of Dublin attend their great pub
/ l!C meeting Mr. Redmond. "the leader
Of the Irish race at home and abroad,
left the great public meeting by
/ back door under police protection. says
I Dublin paper.
William O'Brien. In The Irish People,
has much TO say about this astonishing
Dublin meeting Here are some extracts
/ from Mr.. O'Brieu: THE scenes which
were witnessed az the Mansion House,
when the leader Of the Irish race at
home and abroad was about 10 launch
I his great autumn campaign, ought 70
open the eyes Of those who believe in
/ constitutional and Parliamentary meth
/ DDS to the grave dangers involved IN the
/ present situation.
Why have the Sim Feiners grown so
strong during the past few months?
simply because the Irish Party has fallen
/ into universal discredit. Mr.. Redmond
/ had 20 confess that ne was afraid 70
/ face a public meeting in the Irish me-
tropolis. He had 10 fall back on a care
fully packed audience. Every precau-
/ ton was taken 10 insure that the tickets
Of admission only reached those who
were believed 10 be in sympathy with the
party.
In view Of contingencies. the rows Of
/ chairs were tied together with strong
/ ropes. the statues and busts around the
/ chamber were carefully boarded up, and
/ a breastwork was erected in front Of the
/ platform which was supposed 10 be
| strong enough To resist the most deter
mined assault. In addition to that an
/ enormous number Of 'chuCkers-out' arm
ed with truncheous. tied 10 their wrists.
I imported from Belfast and recruited from
I Mr. DeYlin's HibernianS. were scattered
/ around the building. ready % pOunCe on
| any interrupter. while a little army Of
bludgeoners was ranged IN parallel lines
/ NJ the door, 10 prevent any suspected
/ person from gaining admittanCe. A lady
| who was going in was hOrrified to see the
/ head Of a boy Of about sixteen split open
/ by one Of Mr.. Redmond's bOdygUards.
/ The event proved that the massing Of an
I
/ borhood Of the Mansion House before
/ hand, was a wise step, as the newspa-
/ per accounts-three Of which will be
found in our columns-agree that the
/ building would otherwise have been
stOrmed and Mr.. Redmonds meeting
made an even more lamentable hasco
/ than II proved TO be"
The spectacle Of Mr.. Redmond being
obliged TO resort to police protection to
hold even a ticket meeting in Dublin is
one of those events which are certain TO
have the most far-reaching consequences.
It makes the whole 'virile campaign a
mockery. 1t disposes OF Mr., Redmond s
right 10 speak for the mass of Irish Ma
tlonaIists. II is the one subject with
which the British press is ringing. II
will have profound effect on the
members OF Parliament. II will
| convince the government that II
is useless to negotiate with a leader who
cannot face a public audience Of his fell
/ low-cOuntrymen. It has already been
made the subject OF sarcastic cartoons
in the Liberal press. II is one of those
/ dramatic occurrences which strike and
profoundly inufience public opinion in
/ Ireland. The nature of Mr.. Redmond 5
/ reception In Dublin has already Travelled
/ to America and the antipodes. and has
l brough; home TO our kith and kin that
/ when such things take place Mr.. Red
mond must have forfeited the confidence
OF the mass of the Nationalists of Dub
! lin"
A few weeks ago I referred to the ru-
mOrs abroad in our press regarding the
temperance in ireland Of the escaped
/ convict, Lynchehaun, whom the British
! government vainly tried TO extradite
from Indiana. Lynchehaun now corrob-
crates the rumors, and it Is difficult to