Michael Davitt.

Thames Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 6863, 23 April 1891, Page 4

Michael Davitt.

DISQUALIFIED TO SIT ON THE LABOB COMMISSION.

[Pbbss Association.] ! London, April 20. In the House of Commons to-day Mr Justin McCarthy's motion, "That the name of Michael Davitt be.added to the Soyal Labor Commission," was discussed. Mr W. H. Smith, on behalf of the Go* yarnment, declared' that Mr Davitt was not qualified to act as a Commissioner, he having been convicted on a charge of felony.

Michael Davitt was born in 1846 in the village of Straide, Mayo. His father, who was a small farmer, was evicted when Davitt was but four years of age; and he has frequently referred in speeches and writings to this event, as coloring his wnole life, and forming the groundwork of his political creed and action. For several years ho lived in Haslingden, Lancashire; when a boy be lost his right arm through an accident in a mill. After this he was employed by a stationer in the town. He became connected with the Fenian movement, and was present at the attaok on Chester Castle. Afterwards he was engaged in buying and transporting arms to Ireland, and being deteoted, was tried, convicted, and sentenced to fifteen years' penal servitude. He was released after seven years and '■even months of his sentence had ex» 1 piredi . While in America be fell in with ! some leading Irish Americans, who had conceived the idea of a now land movement in Ireland, on the basis of peasant ■ proprietary, and accepted their views. On his return to Ireland he succeeded, after many difficulties, in gaining the adhesion of Beveral influential persons—and finally of Mr Parnell—to his views- He organised a number of meetings first in County Mayo, where, owing to the three bad harvests of 1877, 1878, and 1879, there . was great distress, and an inability to meet existing rents. The first meeting -was held at Iriahtown, in that county,, in April, 1879* and from this.meeting the - birth of the Land League is usually dated. Davitt was not present owing to some accident. He then took a very active part •in organising the new movement; again Tisited America j and-shortly after his return was again arrested, and sent back to . penal servitude. He was released after fifteen months' imprisonment. He was one of the parties concerned in the charges ', made in the articles on " ParneHism and Crime," and conducted his own case, . making a poweful and effective speech in his own defence (1889). Wrote an article on the Parnell Commission Beport in the Nineteenth Century. (March, 1890). Commenced the Labor World, aotiDg as editor (October, 1890).