The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-05-22
IRELAND REFUSES
TO ACCEPT IRISH
COUNCILS BILL

Dublin. May 22-Ireland yesterday
branded the Birrell bill an insult and
threw the plan for a limited Irish council
in the face OF the Liberal government
The action. which was taken AZ the larg-
est, most harmonious and most represen-
tatlve convention ever assembled on Irish
soil. kills all hope OF Home Rule legisla-
tion by the present parliament. creates
a split In the governments forces and is
pregnant with consequences which may
be far-reaching.
The bin was all the Liberal party had to
offer In fulfllment OF it's campaign prom
ises II had been condemned by the anti
Home Rulers of the party as offering too
much, and IL Is now repudiated by the
Nationalists as a violation OF a pledge
which called for bread and brought
stone.
Three thousand delegates attended the
convention and in less than a minute the
Mansion house was packed beyond the
limit OF safety. A deep earnestness per-
vaded the session, and the meeting was
more quiet than most Irish parliamentary
gatherings. 1t lacked thu dramatic incl
dents and the exuberance which marked
the oid-time Home Rule demonstrations
when Davitt Dillon, Healy and other
and played on Irish heartstrings.
The speeches were temperate and there
was little denunciation OF the government.
but the temper of the Convention was
plain from the beginning.
No one had word 10 offer in behalf of
the bill. and II anyone had been present
who had the temerity to say n word In
its favor there would have been no one
willing TO listen. Home Rule or nothing
he nj, O.
olution rejecting the measure, proposed
by John K. Redmond, commanded every
vote.
Mr. Redmond, who presided. was greet
Cd with great cheering when he rose to
speak. His first words were; "rhe heart
OF every Irishman I'm the world goes out
20 John Dillon in the hour of his great
affliction."
A resolution OF sympathy with Mr.. Dill
lon In the loss or his wife was adopted.
as was another for the widow OF Michael
Davitt
kilograms OF greeting from many Irish
societies in America and elsewhere were
read, after which Mr.. Redmond reminded
the delegates that Ireland's fitness for
elf-government would be judged by their
conduct at this convention.
Mr.. Redmond then read the resolution
on the irish bill. which was clamorously
cheered, as follows:
REDMOND's RESOLUTION.
That this convention. representative OF
Irish national opinion. emphatically places
on record It's profound conviction that
nothing can satisfy the national aspira-
tions OF Ireland or bring peace and con-
tentment 10 our people. but measure
OF self-government which gives the Irish
people complete control OF their domestic
affairs:
THAT while we have never wavered In our
belief that II Is impossible TO produce any
logical or workable scheme for the ex-
tension and development OF popular power
and responsibility In Ireland short OF the
concession of Home Rule, at the same
time, in accordance with the resolutions
OF the national directory OF the 9Th or
February. 1907. and with the public de-
clarations made from time 20 time on our
behalf. we have been willing TO give fair
consideration to any scheme proposed by
the British ministers. which In their opin-
ION would be consistent with and lead up
20 the larger policy to which they were
pledged;
THAT. having considered the Irish
council bill. introduced by the govern
ment:
"we declare that II is utterly made
quate In its scope and unsatisfactory In
fits details and should be rejected by the
Irish nation, and we regard the produc-
ernment pledged to home rule. as con-
firmation OF the position we have always
taken, so that any attempt to settle the
irish problems by half measures would
be entirely unsuccessful, and we call
upon the Irish party TO oppose the bill
in the house OF commons, and press on
the government with all it's strength and
power to introduce n measure for the
establishment of native parliament.
with a responsible executive. having
power over all purely Irish affairs. and,
at this crisis in the fortunes OF Ireland
we invite all the Nationalist forces in the
country TO unite in support OF our repre-
eentatives I'm parliament and enable them
20 effectively press for the speedy and
genuine settlement OF the Irish ques-
ton"
DENIES CRITICISM.
Continuing. Mr. Redmond first denied
the criticism that he and his colleagues
Vere committed 10 the bill. On the con-
trary. he declared. the trainers OF the
Xneasure had refused his advice as TO the
oAily basis on which the proposed coun-
cif could be founded. The Irish members
of parliament were not committed TO any
part Of the bill. or 10 the government.
They had voted for its introduction in or