The Irish standard., 1909-02-13
THE DUBLIN CONVENTION,

THE DUBLIN CONVENTION.
At the convention held in Dublin
last Tuesday to consider the matter
of accepting or rejecting the Birre'l
land bill, after heated disSu sion
between the parliamentary leaders it
was resolved by an overwhelming ma
jority Of the 1000 delegates in attend
ance that the bill be accepted, subject
to necessary amendments.
John E. Redmond was also endorsed
as the national leader. a tribute highly
deserved by the successor Of Parnell.
The Irish leader favored the accept
ance Of the Birrell bill and declared
that the Chief Secretary had accom-
plished great work in retrieving the
Irish taxpayers of their liability Cor
$2,500,000 a year, to which they were
subject under the wyndham act, that
he. had compelled obstructive land
lords to sell, and that such bill should
not be thrown to the dust heap. Will
liam O'Brien spoke against the bill
and advocated policy Of hostility to-
wards the Liberals. but he was in
corrupted, and Mr.. Redmond was sus-
tanned. his resolution being ad opted
with only ten dissenting votes. This
was remarkable victory for Redmond
ond O'Brien was down and out.
We have previously stated in these
columns that Birrell is the only Eng
lishman filling the office of Chief Sec
rotary during our recollection that ap-
pears to be honest and sincere IN do
ing justice to Ireland. He has already
worked successfully for national uni
versity and is determined to exterm.-
nate landlordism by his bill. It would
lie ungrateful on the part of tho .cish
party to oppose Birrell after what he
has done and is trying to do Tor the
settlement Of. the university and land
questions. The Irish party should not
join the Tory leaders in attacking ard
frustrating such salutary measures.
How could they support the Tory party
when Sir Edward Carson, at one time
Solicitor General for Ireland. made
such a vicious attack as the followi ag
upon Mr.. Birrell few days before.
"As man who has held high Office
in Ireland I declare that at the pres
ent moment the condition Of Ireland
is the gravest scandal under any gov.
eminent Of any country that has oeen
seen in our time and is foul stain
en- the British flag. I am not going
t. make any personal attack on Mr..
Rirrell. He is beneath contempt. He
Is a mere party puppet playing the
party game for the sake Of irish
votes" $751;. .
At the opening Of the convention
messages Of congratulation, encourage
ment and good wishes from America,
Australia, and elsewhere were read.
The greeting to the league from Am
erica contained also the Intelligence
that the sum Of $4,000 was now on lis
way and that another remittance or
the Irish cause would follow apaedily.
At the close Of the convention, q
Home Rule resolution was adopted
declaring that this question must be
made vital issue at the next general
election so there could be no misuuder-
standing on the other side Of the chan
mel regarding what was meant. The
mayor Of Sligo. who seconded his mu-
ton, explained that what was demand
ed was ireland for the Irish, with cal
own native government in College
Green,
Some dispatches from Tory sources
that have appeared In American news
papers represent the Dublin :onven-
ton as veritable Donnybrook fair
There was considerable excitement, o.
course. as at American conventions
but these reports about the irish are
grossly exaggerated. The convention
cid splendid work in spite of the OPP.
position of an active minority.