The Irish standard., 1907-05-25
The Country Spoke in Certain Voice and
the Irish Members of Parliament
Acquiesced in Its Will.
Home Rule or Nothing Was the Demand of
the Convention; No One Had Word
to Say in Favor Of Measure.

world goes out to John Dillon In the
hour of his great affliction."
A resolution of sympathy with Mr..
Dillon in the loss of his wife was
adopted, as was another for the widow
of Michael Davitt, who died since the
last convention, and recalling Davitt's
imprisonment for Ireland's sake and
the part he bore in raising the Irish
peasant from a serf to free man."
Telegrams Of greeting from many
Irish societies in America and else
where were read, after which Mr.. Red
mond reminded the delegates that
Irelands fitness for self government
would be judged by their conduct at
this convention.
Mr.. Redmond then read the resolu-
tion on the Irish bill, which was
clamorously cheered, as follows:
,-., THAT this convention, representive
of Irish snational opinion. which es-
pectally places Oh. on record 1ts sound
conviction that. nothing can satisfy
the National association Of Ireland or
bring peace and contentment to our
people but a measure of self govern
ment which will give the Irish peo.
pie complete control of their domestic
affairs.
"That while we have never wavered
in our belief that it is impossible to
produce any logical or workable
scheme for the extension and develop
ment Of popular power and RESPONSE
bilfty in Ireland short of the conces-
sion Of home rule, in accordance with
resolution of the national directors Of
the 5th of February, 1907. and with
the public declarations made from
time to time on our behalf, we have
been willing to give fair consideration
to any scheme prepared by the Brit
ish ministers which in their opinion
would be consistent with and lead up
to the larger policy to which they
were pledged. ...
THAT, having considered the Irish
council bill introduced by the govern
ment, we declare that it is utterly in
adequate in its scope and unsatisfac-
tory in its details and should be reject
ed by the Irish nation, and we regard
the production Of such a measure by a
British government pledged to home
rule as confirmation of the position
we always have taken-that any at
tempt to settle the Irish problem by
half measures would be entirely un-
successful, and we call upon the Irish
party to oppose the bill in the house
of commons and press upon the gov
ernment with all their strength and
power to introduce measure for the
establishment of native parliament
with a responsible executive power
over all purely Irish affairs, and at
this crisis in the fortunes Of ireland
we invite the Nationalist forces of the
country to unite in support of our
representatives in parliament and en-
able them to. effectively press for the
speedy and genuine settlement Of the
Irish question"
Continuing, Mr.. Redmond first de-
MED the claim that he and his COL
leagues were committed to the bill
On the contrary. he declared, the
trainers Of the measure had refused
his advice as to the only safe basis
on which the proposed council could
be founded. The Irish members Of
parliament were. not committed to any
part Of the bill or to the government.
They had voted for its introduction
in order to fulfill their promises and
so that the governments proposals
might be submitted to a convention.
Summarizing his views, Mr.. Red
mond asserted that the Birrell bill
was not workable and therefore would
end in disgrace. and disaster: its fail
ure would be used as an argument
against Ireland's capacity. for self
government and its operation would