THE NATIONAL CONVENTION

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVII, Issue 13, 1 April 1909, Page 507

THE NATIONAL CONVENTION

On Tuesday,- February 9, the great National Convention under the auspices of the United Irish League took

place in the Mansion House, Dublin. There lias probably never been an occasion (says the Freeman's Journal) wlen such an .exceptionally large number of delegates attended. It probably exceeded in some respects the largest of the great conventions in numbers in its va,rie,d and representative character. .Although the business was fixed to begin at half -past 11 o'clock, the precincts of the Mansion House presented a very animated' scene long before that hour. ' The Round Room, it need scarcely be said, was densely crowded. Every available seat on the ground floor was occupied, and the galleries were filled at quite an early hour. There was an exceptionally- large number of clergy present. The entrance at half-past 11 o'clock of Mr. John Redmond was the signal for loud and prolonged cheers. . Rev. Father " Cannon and Mr. Joseph Devlin, M.P., were appointed secretaries of the convention. Father Cannon said that letters had been received from Cardinal Logue . and many Irish Bishops. A cable message from Cardinal Moran was as follows: — 'Heartiest of congratulations to Irish Party on past victories, -presage of future triumphs. Australia united with you, wishing convention complete success.' A cablegram from the United Irish League of America was to the following effect : — •' Philadelphia draft for £1000 on way, making £5000 since October 1. Another remittance will follow speedily. Friends of cause here an- • ticipate splendid harmonious convention. Sustain loyally United Party under your leadership.' After the opening remarks by Mr. Redmond, Monsignor Kelly, Dean of Clonmacnoise, moved the first resolution as follows: — 'That .this convention, representing Irish national opinion, places upon record its profound conviction that nothing can satisfy the national aspirations of Ireland or bring peace and contentment to our people but a measure of self-government which will give to the Irish people the legislative and executive control of all purely Irish .affairs ; and that we invite all the Nationalist forces of the country to unite with the Irish Parliamentary Pa-rty in working to make Home Rule the vital issue at the next general election.' The resolution, which was seconded by the Mayor ot Sligo, was agreed to. The next resolution, expressing the renewed confidence of the Irish people in the Irish Parliamentary Party, .was moved by the Rev. M. B. Kennedy (Fermoy), and was carried almost unanimously after some amendments moved by Messrs. Cruise O'Brien, Ginnell, and E. T. Keane (Kilkenny) had been negatived. The Chairman then addressed the convention on Mr. Birrell's "new Land Bill, and moved the following resolution :— ' That the Land Bill introduced by Mr. Birrell on November 23, 1908, containing, as it does, many of the provisions for which the United Irish League has been fighting for the past eight years, deserves the favorable consideration of the country; that we heartily approve of the action of the Irish Party in voting for the second reading of the bill, and declaring their determination " to press in committee for the removal of its defects; and that we call \ipon the Government to redeem their pledge by reintroduc-" ing the bill immediately on the re-opening of the new session, and pressing it through all its stages as rapidly -as ' possible.' Every syllable of Mr. Redmond's address was heard with the utmost attention. The British Parliament in its soberest mood was never more restrained, more ap- " preciative, more thoroughly deliberative in its demeanor than this mighty meeting of 3000 or 3500 Irishmen drawn impartially from all the Irish provinces and from all classes. Mr. Redmond's telling periods were heard and weighed — every word; and when he turned to the financial / clauses of the Act there was not a man in the splendid hall who did not'thoroughly understand every point made by the speaker. Mr. William O'Jrien moved an amendment to the effect that Mr. Birrell's Land Bill or any similar measure would lead to the stoppage of land purchase for a number of years. He delivered a lengthy speech in support of his motion, but evidently~the convention was out of sympathy with his views, and his arguments did' not carry conviction. Mr. O'Brien's proposition was supported by Messrs. T. O'Donnell, Crean, and Rev. Father Clancy (Kilkeel) 5> biit the convention negatived it by a vote_of 3000 to 10, ' and then passed the original motion. The other resolutions passed related to proposed-amend-ments to the new Land Bill," the restoration of evicted tenants, advances to laborers to enable them to purchase untenanted lands, etc. _ The business of the convention was brought to a conclusion on February 10. Mr. Dillon moved the thanks of the convention to the Irish in America for the welcome accorded to. the envoys. The resolution was adopted. A letter was read from the Archbishop of Cashel, approving of the work of the Irish Party, and a cablegram was sent to Cardinal Moran thanking him for the message of the previous day.