The Irish standard., 1907-05-25

Dublin, May 21.-The largest, most
representative and most harmonious
convention which ever assembled in
Ireland today repudiated the plan for
a limited Irish council, which was all
the Liberal government had to offer
in fulfllment Of its campaign prom
ises. This action killed the hope of
any home-rule legislation by the pres
ent parliament, created serious split
in the governments forces and may
have far-reaching results.
The temper of the convention was
plain from the beginning. No one
had a word to offer in behalf Of the
bill. Home rule or nothing was the
unanimous sentiment, and the reso-
luton rejecting the measure, proposed
by John e. Redmond, commanded
every vote.
The Irish parliamentarians had been
deluged with resolutions from town
councils and all sorts of official and
unofacial bodies since they arrived in
Dublin, all denouncing the bill. The
country spoke in an unmistakable
voice and the Irish members of par
lament oheerfully acquiesced in its
will.
Three thousand delegates came here
to attend the convention, and soon
after the doors of the mansion house
were opened it was impossible to get
into the building, which was packed
uncomfortably. The gathering was
uuieter than most Irish political meet
ings. It lacked the spirit Of the old
home-rule gatherings, when Davitt,
Dillon, Healy and other fiery orators
had the center Of the stage. The
speeches were temperate and there
was little denunciation of the govern
ment. Except for the outbreak of a
priest, who attempted to make the
bill a church issue and was rebuked,
everything went smoothly.
The American delegates were all
greeted enthus' stically. The key
note Of the speeches and of several
resolutions was that the bill was an
insult to Ireland.
Richard Croker was cheered at the
evening session of the convention.
when the chairman announced that he
had contributed $500 to the Irish par
liamentary fund.
Subsequently resolutions were
adopted calling upon the government
to fulfill its pledges of legislation for
the relief of evicted tenants. as we'll
as for university and primary educa-
tion.
Mr.. Redmond had requested Dennis
O'Sullivan of San Francisco to sinte
''God Save Ireland" and before the
adjournment Mr.. O'Sulivar mounted
the platform and rendered the song.
The closing scene of the convention
was most enthusiastic. All the dele
gates, as we'll as the ladies who
crowded the galleries, were on their
leeL singing CNS CHORUS W1tQ MT.
OSullivan.
The floor Of the rotunda was packed
with delegates from many societies
and constituencies representing every
part of Ireland. The Irish members
Of parliament were present in full
force and many of the Catholic clergy
were conspicuous on the platform.
Seated beside Mr.. Redmond were
the American delegates, John O'Cal-
lahan, secretary of the United Irish
League: T. B. Fitzpatrick. treasurer
of the league, and Patrick J. Timmins,
a member of the executive committee
of the league: a venerable man who
Is pointed out to every one as John
Parnell; Richard Croker. whose close
cropped beard is now completely
white, and several bishops.
Mr. Redmond, who presided, was
greeted with great cheering when he
rose to speak. His first words were:
Tho heart Of every 1rishman in the