The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-09-11

At large gathering Of the Yoe-
nanry Of Louth, recently held In the
historic town of Drogheda, Mr.. Nolan,
M. r.. delivered an interesting ad-
dress, saying in part:
We were told some time ago by GER
tain sceptic critics that as soon as the
would bid adieu 20 the national move
ment. never believed that-(applause)
and the presence of 30 many repres-
| entatives Of the farmers here today
gives the lie to the statement (renewed
applause). am glad also to find the
agricultural laborers represented here
(applause). They have always been
amongst the truest and most sterling
friends Of the national movement, and
they are not likely to fail In this the
hour when she wants the assistance
of all her sons (applause). am glad
also to see Drogheda represented by
both the trading and working sle-
ment (hear, hear). 1t 10 very reas-
suring to anyone having the national
cause at heart to find this spirit alive
in the hearts of the people. 1t meanA
business This movement Of ours has
for its ultimate object sthe gaining 81
Natinns1 self- Government Cloud up
| plause). without that everything eli,
would be as mere nothing. At the
same time the immediate and pressing
work that is before us in connection
with the Land Bill, which will again
come before the House of Commons to-
morrow, and let me say that the work
of those who are trying to amend the
Land Act of 1908 will be helped on by
the people at home in Ireland taking
up resolute' attitude with regard to
the land question here (applause).
With regard to the new Land Bill, II
is being introduced for the purpose OF
amending the Land Act Of 1908. There
is this regular feature to be observed
about the various Acts that are passed
| by the British parliament, that no
sooner has the Act come into opera
ton than it is found 1t has grave and
serious defects In fact, the way in
which the British government deals
with Ireland in the matter Of legisla-
! ton reminds me Of the old lady who
never gave away q pair Of breeches
without first cutting of the buttons
(auEhter). There never had been an
Act passed by the British parliament
for Ireland that has not been full OF
flaws and defects, and SO 1t is bound to
continue. The British parliament Is
constitutionally incapable of legislatina
for Ireland--(applause)- hence the
necessity for what we ask, that is Ma
tional Self Government Ooud ap-
plause). Let us take the history of the
land legislation for the past thirty
years. We had the Aot Of 1881, a very
useful Act certainly, but by no meanf
perfect. Then, in 1887, we had q fur
ther Act to amend the Act Of 1881
I The Act Of 1887 was in operation fol
/ some four years, when there was an.
other Act passed for the purpose OF
amending 1t. Five years elapsed, and
1t was found there was a necessity fol
another amending Act, and we had the
! Act Of ,96. AS you know, we had sever
(! years afterwards the great and ambi-
/! tious measure Of 1908, which is com.
monty known as the Wyndham Act
/; 1t, too. was found incapable OF doing
/ the work for which 1t was intended
and now we have got Bill before
| Parliament for the purpose Of amend.
ing the Act Of 1908.
This new Bill has had many critics
I don't say 1t is without its defects
! but at the same time we must recog.
!; Mise that when passed into law it VIII
/ have many advantages for the 1risf
people (hear, hear). We have beer
4 told that 1t will put a stop to land
sales. AS matter Of fact the lant
4 sales are stopped already-stopped FOL
want Of money (hear, hear). Fifty-twt
million pounds worth Of property Is II
court at the present time. The land.
lords have entered into contracts Y
sell and the tenants to buy and tn
1tfansactiens cannot bs carried out fort for