THE IRISH LAND LEAGUE.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2436, 8 January 1881, Page 4

THE IRISH LAND LEAGUE.

A long report is published of an interview between Mr Redpath and Mr Parnell, in which the latter says, speaking of the Land League ; In the nine months of its existence it has done remarkable work. In one campaign we have made the very name of landlordism a byword throughout the world.

How was it no one ever took this land question thoroughly in hand before ?

Bad times caused the movement last year, and we simply rose to preach a remedy.

The people of Connaught seem to have learnt your firm grip lesson very thoroughly. The need in the west was greatest, but now Land League branches are spreading in every county. Our idea is to get the country into a net-work of organisation, so that a tenant in Donegal cannot be struck without the tenant in Kerry feeling the blow. Actively to resent it, I presume ?

It is simply a question of organsiation. Every trade so protects itself throughout the length and breadth of Great Britain, and why not the Irish farmers ?

But have you funds for such a propagandy as you propose ? Money continues to flow in from America, where Davitt is hard at work ; but sixpence a-ycar from every farmer in Ireland would bring in £IO,OOO per annum. Yes, if they mean business. If they don’t they’ll stick, that’s all.

And why have you, Mr Parnell, taken up this work ? Why, I suppose, first, because nobody else did, though I give the credit mainly to other men ; and, next, because I hold that there cannot be real national life in a country whose chief class are kept little better than serfs. Then there is a political idea at the root of the land movement ?

Social and political questions are often closely allied. We cut the rope nearest the throat.

But is this movement not opposed by the Nationalists and the priests ? Indeed it is not. I should despair of Ireland if the most active forces in the country arrayed themselves against a movement like this. Is it true that the British Ambassador at Rome endeavored to have influence brought to bear on the Irish heirarchy ?

I do not know. It has been charged, and might, perhaps, explain some of the pronouncements we have had. I thought myself that O’Connell had crushed that out, but while I was in America one of the highest Catholic dignitaries told me that the pressure of British diplomatists had been unavailingly used to influence the American bishops against us, so as to operate on their flocks. The Britishers mistook their men when they thought to make American Republicans English tools. They cannot find Irish ecclesiastics more pliable. The attitude of a man of Dr Croke’s eminence and experience is a tower of strength to the cause. Then, Mr Parnell, have you opposed the priests ?

I am afraid we are getting on delicate ground. There can be no principle of opposition between the Irish popular party and a patriotic body of men like the clergy of Ireland. I cannot better illustrate this than by mentioning that at my last election for Meath, His Lordship, l)r Nulty, instituted a collection at all the churches to defray the expenses of my contest.