LAND LEAGUE CONVENTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6214, 17 October 1881, Page 6

LAND LEAGUE CONVENTION.

The Executive Committee submit resolutions to the National Land League Convention at Dublin on September 14th declaring that the cause of the political and society ills which are impoverishing the country is the detestable system of alien rule, and that the people can never be prosperous and content until they enjoy the of self-govern-ment, for which they will never cease to struggle. The Cooreion Act is denounced as having been devised in a spirit of malignant hypocrisy, and executed for the gratification of private vindictiveuess, and for the suppression of admitted public rights upon men who bore a heavy share in the movement which led the Government to initiate the Land Bill. The Land Bill is characterised as radically insufficient, and cannot be accepted as a. just, wise, or even temporary settlement of the question. The convention is invited to solemnly pledge itself to determined adherence to the principles of the Land League until its aims are accomplished. It is decided to establish a Labour League, the Executive Committee to be affiliated with the work in conjunction with the Land League, but to be composed entirely of representative bona fide labourers. The objects are the extension of the franchise to labourers, the return of labour representatives to Parliament, and the establishment of a peasant proprietary. About 1000 delegates attended the opening proceedings, including 21 members of Parliament. Paruell took the chair, amidst the greatest enthusiasm, and iu his opening speech recapitulated the resolutions. He considered that no settlement could be arrived at until that iu regard to rent was disposed of, which the Land Act did not do, but left the rent question as a continual cause of discontent and strife between the various classes in Ireland. He charged the Government with designedly so arranging it, and warned the farmers not to trust to the Laud Act, which was intended to break up the League. Nobody should appeal to the Land Courts until a test case, prepared by the League, had been submitted. They should press forward t(? abolish landlordism, and to legislative independence. He advised farmers to borrow money under the Land Act, so as to give work to labourers, and invited the latter to join branches of the League. He pledged himself to head the labourers movement, if the farmers would not give them fair play. Paruell re-asserted that fair rent would be the land i* a state of nature, before it was improved by the tenant or his predecessor. In regard to the industrial question he said: "Irishmen should encourage home manufactures, if they had to pay dearer than for foreign goods. Things not procurable in Ireland should be bought in America. English goods should not be bought iu any event." On Sexton's motions the resolutions were moved collectively, and carried by acclama-

The reading of telegrams occupied an hour. Among the moat notable were threats to stop American subscriptions, in the event of the agitation slackening np. There was a large attendance of priests. The London Times, discussing the convention, says: The note which Land Leaguers uniformly breathe is a threat of continued agitation. There is no sign from first to last of any intention on the part of men who live by agitation to accept the Land Act as a settlement of the Irish question once and for all. Ireland must understand that this kingdom is and will continue to be politically a United Kingdom. Great Britain will no more tolerate secession, than the United States tolerated it in ISGO. The Land League unanimously adopted resolutions calling on the farmers to prove their sympathy for the labourers, by erecting dwellings for them, and enabling them to live in something like comfort and decency. A resolution was adopted recommending all Leaguers to use Irish manufactures, and empowering the branches to adopt measures to encourage native industry. Johnson, founder and secretary of the Irish Labourers' League, spoke, saying the labourers would show the world they could best attain their ends by joining hands with Parnell. He said all efforts to separate them would prove futile. Resolutions were adopted adding to the Land League's present title the words, " and labour and industrial union." immediately after the Dublin Convention a series of monster land meetings will be commenced. The first will be at Irishtown, where Davitt I began the League movement in 1579. Parnell is to preside. Parnell's speech, in which he said thoy proposed to test the Act, not to use it, was a surprise. The country continues very unsettled. The system of intimidation remains in force, and serious outrages on property are reported. There is a very bitter feeling between the police and the people. The Methodist Ecumenical Council adopted resolutions against the opium traffic, and calling upon Government to suppress it. The Trades Union Congress adopted i resolutions of sympathy with President Gar- j

field, for which Minister Lowell thanked them by letter. . . Lefroy, the Brighton murderer, la writing his own obituary. Mr. Gladstone will give up the whole session to domestic reforms, and he and his colleagues will soon return from their brief holiday to prepare the bill of fare. The farmers are threshing, and the result is poor indeed. In the North of Scotland the root crops will be an almost total failure, and in Ireland the potatoes are seriously damaged. An exhibition of smoke-consuming inventions will be held in London on the 24th October.