DILLON’S DECLARATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 366, 17 March 1902, Page 2

DILLON’S DECLARATION.

WOULD OVERTHROW GOVERNMENT BY PHYSICAL FORCE IF. THEY COULD.

By Telegraph— I ress Assoc’ation—Copyright LONDON, Mar. 15.

Mr Dillon, in a speech at Greenock, commenting on Lord Rosebery’s statement that the Irish had been so disloyal as not. to be entitled to self-go-vernment, asked why in the name of God, should they be loyal ? That could never be expected until they had a Government responsible to the Irish people. The existing Government had no claim to allegiance. If the Irish to-morrow were able to overthrow it by physical force they would do so.

A London cablo messages in the New York Herald of Jauuavy 31st says : " Despatches received here from Dublin contain alarming reports of the reign of terror prevailing in Roscommon County. Tenants who are suspected of paying rout are visited at night by armed men, notices are posted threatening death to traitors, and midnight meetings are of nightly occurrence, the peoplo being assembled by beacon fires. Mr John O’Donnell, member of Parliament for South Mayo, is reported to have addressed a midnight meeting at Fairmount, at which ho challenged tho Chief Secretary for Ireland, Mr Wyndhaui, to come into the open at the head of 5000 or 10,000 men, either soldiers or police. If he (Mr Wvndham) would give the men of Connaught a month to prepare, Mr O’Donnell said, he did not hesitate to declare that they would meet them, oven at great numercial odds, and settle the land question for good.”