CUTTING "THE LAND LEAGUE OATS."

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VII, Issue 397, 19 November 1880, Page 16

CUTTING "THE LAND LEAGUE OATS."

We (Nation) slightly abridge as follows a special telegram from the Ireeman correspondent, dated Claremorris, Tuesday night (Sept.

For the last week the following placard has been posted in Claremorris and some adjoining parishes :—: — " Hold the harvest 1 Last spring 2000 men collected at Bflllintaffy to sow the Land League farms. The crops are now ripe, and again the same men are called on to reap them. At his post, then, every man. Come without fear and show your pluck, and that you are determined to keep your crops. Bring your scythes and hooks, and let every man who has a horse and cart bring them also to carry away in triumph the fruits of labour free of rent and taxes. The day is coming when every man's crop shall be free. To the front, then, on next Tuesday, the 14th inst., men of Claremorris and Gallen ! Noble women and brave peasant girls, come you also, and help to bind up the first sheaves of corn free of rent and taxes that have ever been reaped in Ireland. The land for the people 1 The crops for the people ! Hold the harvest ! God save Ireland !"

About eleven o'clock this morning a brake, in which were seated the members of the Claremorris brass band, Btopped at the presbytery for the Rev. James Corbett, C.C., and then at Ansborough Hotel for Mr. Redpath, the American correspondent, and Mr. J. P. Quin, the Land League representative. The brake was driven through the streets of the town, the band playing " God save Ireland." A large number of cars followed, and as the cavalcade went through the Btreets towards Ballintaffy, women, men, and children rushed to the doors shouting, " God bless you Father Corbett." Ballintaffy is fonr miles from Claremorris. On the way the party overtook dozens of carts and large numbers of men on foot carrying scythes and sickles. I arrived at Ballintaffy about noon. More than an acre of " the Land League oats," as they are called here, had already been cut. About 100 men, women, and young children were employed cutting and binding the oats. The arrival of the Rev. Mr. Corbett was received with loud and long continued cheering by the reapers and binders. Men and women arrived until there were five or six hundred persons pTesent, each of whom worked. Women apologised for the absence of their husbands by saying they were in England earning the " rint." Men and women were present from Claremorris and surrounding parishes, including Kiltrinagh, Bohola, Balla, Facefield, Barnacarroll, Lagatample, Cloonconnor, Futagh, Drutnkeen, Killeen, Ballyknave, Facefield Bries, Castlegar, Irishtown, Ballindine, Crossboyne, Mayfield, Aughervilla, Drimineen, tec. Quite a delegation from Claremorria, Westport, and Balla, elegantly attired, were present to witness and take part in the work. I noticed some ladies dressed in the highest of fashion taking off their kid gloves, going down among the barefooted peasant women, and bindiDg the sheaves. Mr. Kedpath assisted in carrying the sheaves to the carts. Five or six acres of oats were cut and carried to the carts, which conveyed them to Claremorris in a few hours. After the work was completed a meeting was held. The Rev. James Corbett was moved to the chair, which was composed of a stook of Gats. The Rev. Mr. Corbett praised the people for having exhibited such a spirit of independence in coming to the defence of the rights of their own class. He explained some circumstances connected with the holdings, and then introduced Mr, James Redpath, who was received with loud cheers for " the Stars and Stripes," " The land of the free and the home of the brave."

Mr. Eedpath praised tie patriot priest who had brought out his people last spring and planted these oats under the very shadow of British bayonets, for the constabulary, angry and armed, were there that day. Where were they to-day ? Conquered by an unarmed and heroic priest and people. This should teach the Irish nation a lesson — the irresistible force of moral courage and determination. Mr. Redpath then made an appeal for union of action aDd harmony among Irisnmen of all classes. He reviewed briefly the history of Ireland, and showed that although the Irish were the " fightingest " race on this planet, England bad been able to conquer them, and maintain its conquest by Making Irishmen fight among themselves. Mr. Kedpath spoke in eulogistic terms of the noble conduct of the " barefooted ladies," who had shown that whenever they were called on to do duty work for Ireland they would rally, but never would do duty work for landlords again. He contrasted in sarcastic terms the conduct of the barefooted ladies before him, who cheerfully worked for their country, with the conduct of the Queen, who gave only one day's wages to the starving poor of Ireland. Ireland's liberation must come from Ireland's unity and courage, and not from English justice or patronage. He did not join in the eulogiums of Bright and Forster which some Irishmen uttered. He called them " buckshot Quakers," and earnestly urged the tenantry to refuse to listen to pleas for fair rents and long leases, but to insist on a peasant proprietory. Half a loaf was not better than nothing if they could get the whole loaf, and the loaf was theirs. At the conclusion of Mr. Redpath's speech three cbeers were given for him, and three more for the American Republic. A large number of carts were employed all day in carrying the oats to Claremorris. When the work was done the largest brake, containing the band, followed by a long string of outside cars and a number of carts loaded -with oats, moved back to Claremorris- On passing the residence of a landlord some one shouted out " Death to landlordism," and Mr. Redpath requested the band to play a funeral dirge. The band struck up the " Dead March in Saul " amid great applause. On the seat of the brake was a president of a branch of the Laud League, carrying in his arms a sheaf of the oats. Every man in the cars wore an ear of the corn in his hat, and the ladies and. children were similarly decorated.

Messrs. Coxhead and Le Sueur, Princes-street, Dunedin, continue to receive the moat flattering testimony to the excellence of their photographs.