Irish News.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 42, 8 February 1889, Page 9

Irish News.

Carlow«— Bev. John Phelan'occupied the chair at the last meeting of the Rathvilly National League. The following was passed without disaent : — That we thank Mr. Gladstone for his powerful advocacy of tbe Irish cause at Biimingham, and we pray that he may be spared to seethe realisation of the noble project to which he has devoted the remainder of bis life — seU-^overnment for Ireland.

Clare* — Mr. Studdert, agent on the Vandeleur estate, near Kilrush, has had notices served on two tenants, on whose holdings League cottages have been erected for evicted tenants, of his intention to raise their rente The police and emergencymen are day and night watching the crops of the evicted holdings, lest the remainder of tbe potato and root crops should be taken away from tbem. There are rumours of a settlement to be effected with the Campaigner!.

Several writs of ejectment were served on Mr. Studdert, agent of Captain Vandelenr's estate, at the suit of the tenants, to evict Captain Vandeleur from the holdings on this estate from which they we-e evicted last July. The tenants claim that tbe evictions were irregular. Several actions are to be brought by the tenants against Captain Vandeleur, hid agent, Mr. StudJert, Colonel Turner, Captain, Croker, Sheriff of ClarejDistrict, Inspectors Dunning and Hill, claim* ing damages varying from £303 to £500 for tbe loss the tenant* have sustained in being illegally evicted out of their holdings by violence, as well as for the destruction of their houses, and the bodily injuries sustained by tbe tenants during their evictions, and in the case of Mathias McGrath by tbe death of his wife.

Cork* — The election of officers of the Inniecarra National League took place at the League rooms, Cloghroe, November 11. The following were elected: President, Rev. T. L. Murray; VicePresident, Rev. W. McAuliffa ; secretary, J. E. O'Callaghan ; treasurer, B . Lane ; committee, Messrs. Ryan, O'Sullivan, Coakley, Byrne Donovon, O'Callaghan, Cremen, Bures, Mullane, Corcoran. Carroll, Keeffe, Browne, Twomey, and Donoghue. Father McAuliffe after thanking the members for the honour conferred on him, said : " For the relief of our poor oppressed country, let us hope that before the next annual election of officers, the present Government, with its hellish train cf cruelties, will have descended to tbe dishonoured grave it has been so persiVently, though unwittingly, digging for itself. But if humanity and civilisation, so often and so grossly outraged will fail within this peroid to regaiu their righteous position, we shall know how to discharge our duiy when the time comes round.

Derry* — A numerously attended meeting of the Drapers tenants has been hold at the Draper's Arms Hotel, Money more, for the purpose of considering what course they should puisue regarding the civil bill processts and writs lately issued against them by tbe Company. Ihe meeting consisted of 400 tenants who sigmd agreements about two years ago for the purchase of their holdings from the Company under the Ashbourne Act. The sale had not yet been completed, and, therefore, tbe Company have not been advanced the purchase money from the Government. Benjamin Barefoot, who occupied the chair, read a letter wnieh he had received from the secretary of the Company, Mr. Sawyer, in 1886, and was to theeffict that on the payment of one yearo rent all arrears antecedent to 1886 Would be wiped out, and that no more ient would be required of purchasing tenants by the Company, though the Com p my were aware that it might be a senous loss to them, as a considerable time might intervene until the completion of the sale. On thtse grounds it was unanimously resolved by the meeting to defend tbe case at thd Quarter Sessions.

In a public letter on the Parnell Commission now sitting in London, Jußtin Me Jarthy, Member for Derry city, says : — I have no doubt whatever as to the result ot the trial. I know Mr. Pamell intimately, and therefore I have no doubt. I believe the tribunal was unfairly chosen, and I believe the Government were pleased with the choice because some of the judges are strongly cppjseJ to the Home Rule agitation. Hut I believe, that nevertheless, ihe judge*. when §et down to their judicial work will act with pel feet impartiality. Therefore, I am quite confident about the result. Mr. Parnell mould have brought an action against the Tunes when ho was refused the Committee ot Inquiry which cc afked far. a committee of Members of the House of Commons— but lor the urgent remonstrances and i.dvice of the leaders of the Liberal party. Gladstone, iiarcourt, and John Morley were all against bringing an ac ion in London. They imisted that to refer any case in wuich Mr. Pamell was concerned to a jury ot London Bhopkeepeis was to decide its fate beforehand. Mr. Parnell therefore gave way. Again, when he demanded some soit of inquisition, and accepted in principle the Court ot Inquiry which tbe Government offered, and which we were told in tbe first instance wu to be composed "chiefly ''of judges of the higher courts, the Liberal leaders were strongly opposed to tbe cours ■ be was taking. Mr. I'arnell, however, was firm, he could not be shaken. Tuere are few things, indeed, winch he would not do in deference to the advice of Mr. Gladstone, but this he could not do. He was not supmed at the remonstrances of the Liberal leaders. "They cant know,' he ■aid, " what we know. It is quite natural they should think that we may in the earlier period of this movement have djue or sanctioned some wild things, but we kn jw that we did not."

Donegal.— The tenants on the Conyngham estate and their sympathisers Deld a large meeting at Gknties November y. Rev. J. Murray was called upon to preside Resolutions were adopted protesting against the crutl evictions about to be carried out by the tyrannical Marquis, arid the tenants pledged themselves tj (stand togeth r and assist ihote abi ut tv be victimised by every means in their power. Rev. H. McSbane. in referring to the refusal of Agent Hammond to accept the rents less 25 per cent, said he thought v was mere fortunate that that should happen, as the poor tenants would

find the money more useful to buy Indian meal daring tbe Winter to preserve their lives. Il was sheer nonsense to pay rent to landlords and starve afterward*. The poor tenants were far too anxious to pay their rents — in fact, this was the only thing they were allowed to do without coercion in Ireland. If they only had a little patience, union, and courage justice would scon be aone them.

In the English House of Commons on November 12, Arthur O'Connor asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the attention of tbe Government has yet been directed to the fact that in large distric's of County Donegal the potato crop averages less than half the usual yiel 1, in many places the return supplying little more than bad seed for next Spring, and that the people have io consequence been compelled to sell their pigs at eieriouß loss because they are unable to feed them, while tbe small farmers have nothing to rieptod upon for food for themselves except a little oats, whether, if not fully informed, the Government will mate immediate and careful inquiry into the condition of the district and take adequate steps to meet an j impending calamity ; and whether it is the intention of the Government to proceed at once with any public works in any of the districts referred to. Tbe Solicitor-General for Ireland said that inquiries were being made into the subject matter of the question of the honourable Member. It would necessarily take bo me days before they conld be completed and therefore he aaiced the honourable gentleman to refer the question.

Dublin*— Charles McCarthy Teeling in a public letter protests against the proposed erection of a bust of Wellington in Dublin, on the ground that the " Iron Duke " maintained that he was only an Irishman by accident.

William V. Jackson, Secretary of the Association for tbe Preservation of British and Irish Industries, in a public letter says that there is an aspect of the [admirable motto. " Ireland for tho Irish," which is winning consideration for Irish agitation and respect for Irish patriotism in many quarters. If the agriculture and manufactures of Ireland could be regarded as an issue on which all Irishmen should unite it would be a great matter. Unanimity of opinion practically exists that it is suicidal to tolerate one-sided FreeTrade employers. Can that opinion not find as general an expression for the sake of tbe common weal ? It is pleasing to notice that the Irishmen in tbe United States are as true to the national claims of labour there as they are disposed to be here. As I have reason t<> know the Irish people aie alive to the desirability and necessity of nn important change which will make industry and a profitable home market possible. On the question of Protection I beg to offer one or two propositions for consideration • 1. The wealth of a country is the value of what it produces by arc and labour from its own land and water, for and by its own population. 2. Commerce is subordina'i' and secondary to native property, ait and industry. 3. The right to levy import duties on competing land and labour products is mheient in and sovereign to all self- preserving states. 4. Import duties for revenue purposes upon competing products is the only effective instrument for adjusting taxating on the imported as on the home production. 5. The law of supply and demand alone regulates price, but the artificial operation cf import duties divide such duties in thennature aad effects into two classes— (a) revenue duties and (b) Protective duties K. A duty cannot raise the price till it restricts the supply. A dnty which lestricts supply and raises price cannot at the same time yield a revenue, rrgo, a revenue duty cannot be a Protective duty, aud a Protective duty cannot be a revenue duty. But impjrt duties may be and are directly revenue and incidentally Protective, or directly Protective and incidentally revenue. 7. A return to a policy of importduties would enable the following things to be do ie — (a) Reduce existing duties on tea, tobacco, and other non-compet-ing products, especially such as are now necessaries to the people. (b) Provide a revenue from imports to the relief of taxation (c) Directly encourage and foster national and local industry by establishing a preferential position for the native industry.

Galway* — There was a crowded meeting of this branch on November 11. J. Mcllroy was called to the chair. The following resolution was passed with acclamation. — That we pledge oniSLhcs to support the Irish party under the leadership ot C. 8. Pan oil. whose wisdom and zeal have done so much to bring tbe Home-Knh" cause within a measurable distance of success, and we protest a^ain^t Baifour's action in sending to prison the tried patriots, P. \V. Gilleian, M. J, Coen, and H. McNeill, members of this branch.

The poor tenants of Woodford are suffering very severe'y from the effects of evictions, trials, and imprisonments. la no part of the West was there such a stand made against the cruelties of rack-ren ■ ing as in Woodfoid. and a strong appeal is made in their behalf. Contributions to out Tenants' Defence Fund will be thankfully received by the respected priests of our parish— Rev. P. J. Coen anil Rev. William Roche. Our venerated Bishop, Most Rev. Dr. Duggin, whose sympathy for the oppressed is so well and widely known, will also leceive and forward to our Committee any donations sent to him.

Kerry. —J. D. Sbeehan, M.P., was senteDcad to one month's imprisonment at Killarney Coercion Court on Novtmber VI. I). .1. O'Connor, T.C., was remanded to Tralee Gaol f jr eisht days'. Ihey were charged with being receivers under the Plan ot Campaign.

A specially-convened meeting of the Killarney branch of the League was held on November 13 for the purpose of expressing its condemnation at the arrest and imprisonment of J. D. Sheehan and D. J. O'Connor. There were present :— D. Shea, J. O'Leary, Sc, N. Fiynn, D. Sheehan, W. Daly. J. McGuinnees, M. Kelleher D. Ri >r,nan, D. Mahony, P. Spillane, D. Guerin, and J Buckl-j. The following was one of the resolutions passed :— That weexpiess our condemnation cf the action of the Tory lanllord Govern jaent in arresting our fellow-Nationalists, J. D. Sheehan and D. J. O (Joncor, on a trumped-up charge ; that we pympathise heartily with them in their imprisonment, and that despite the worst measures of O rcion and oppression which Balfour may resort to we are determined to do our duty to our country, which we hope e'er long to §cc enjoying the blessings of national independence.

At the recent Petty Hessions in Killorglin, before E. M. Eagar. T. Power, and J. Dodi, J.P.s, Michael and John Kiordan, of Keelolougb, and Timothy and Margaret dhill, of Ballinakilla, were fioei for trespassing on the farms from which they were evicted, and being unable, in consequence of their po^eriy, to pay the fine, they were arrested and lodged iv Tralee Gaol for seven days each.

Kildare* — A great National demonstration was held at Clongorey on November 12, and was addressed by Dr. Tanner, M.P., J. L, Carew, M.P.. and D. Sheehy, M.P. The Plan of Campaign has been adopted in the locality by the tenants on the estate of P. D. O'Kelly. Dr. Tanner addressed the meeting for over two hours. He •aid that in this movement they were fighting for their rights, their lands, and their lives. It was a pleasure to him to read the words ■poken some time ago by their parish pries', Father Kinsella, when be said he could not stand by while the crowbar was being used against the homesteads of his people. (Loud Cheers )

A force of 100 police was drafted into Clougorey the other day for the purpose of protecting T. H. B. Routledge, agent on tha estate of P. D. O' Kelly, who, with a squadron of emergency meo, endeavoured to sell the property of the tenants. Tne crops were sold to Woods, the emergencyman. J. L. Uarew, M.P., and E. M. Hurley protested against the tale as being illegal. The attempt to draw away the corn was given up, as owing to the way in which the approaches were blocked it was simply an impossibility to effect an entrance. Toe people have smashed down all the bridges on the roads leading to Clongorey, and felled huge trees which tney stretched across the road, and which will be a well-nigh impassable barrier t) the emergency men on their next visit.

King's County.— On November 8 the Sheriff's deputy, accompanied by a email force of constabulary, evicted three tenant* on the estate of tne Marquis of Downsnire, near Edenderry. The first tenant evicted was Peter Hanburg, of Ballykillen ; be was re-admitted M caretaker. Daniel Dunne, of Cloncannon, was next visited. Thia poor man has a large family of ten children, his wife, aad aged mother, and is greatly to be pi ied. Having evicted them the crowbai -brigade proceeded to Daniel Farrell's. Here some half'dozen of hia neighbours had congregated and witnessed the eviction. Neither Dunne nor Farrell have been re-idniitted. Danne has his family in an oat-bouse. George Rus«ell, bailiff oa tne estate, visited him since hit eviction, but would gwe no information as to what he was to do with the crops. The interest of the^e three tenants m their farms was sold by the Sheriff about a year ago, but no settlement could be effected.

Limerick* — A very determined resistance was offered at an eviction at Lisataioon, near Rathkeale, the tenant Deing Mary Soanlon, and the landlord Charles Roche. When sub-Sheriff Hobson, who was accompanied by a force of police, arrived at the house he found it strongly barnca ici, the defiant shouts of the occupants indicating that they meant to fight it out. Sledges and crowbars were put into operation. As soon as a breach was made, boiling water and meal were pi ched out. The scene that ensued was of a most exciting character, the men and women in the house, who seemed to have au abundant supply of liquid ammunition, throwing it out at the sheriff, bailiffs, and policemen from unexpected points, where loopholes had been|made The sheriff himseif was rather badly scalded. After three hours' battering at the doors and windows and the dodging of boiling water, retreats and advances, a large breach was made a.id the police rushed in. After a violent struggle the occupants, three men and two women, were brought out under arrest. Afterwards William Mulcahy was evicted from his holding, an 1 also George Fosberry of Kiddlestown,

L,on{£ford. — P. L'lughran occupied the chair at the recent meeting ot the Carrickredmoud National League branch. The following resolution was adopted by the meeting : — That we condemn in the strongest manner the conduct of Land-tmef Duff of Moriune, in taking proceedings to evict Mr. Kenny from his holding:

MayO« — The Kilmovee branch of the League held a special meetiug on November 11, Very Rev. Canon O'Hara presiding. The following was passed : — Kesolve'i, That we consider the abatement offered to the tenants on tho Dillon property inadequate this year in consequence of the failure of the crops ; and that we call upon al the branches of the League on the property to support the demand o 33^ per cent rental which was unanimously adopted at the Cunven toon lately held in Baliyhaunis

In a recently published work by Shaw Lefevre, an English Home Ruler, entitled " incidents of Coercion,"' which is a narrative of what the writer saw during a tour in Ireland in the year 1882, there are many passages which paint graphically the condition of the tenants on several estates throughout the country and which tell of the hard■hips inflicted on them by the fell system of Irish landlordism. Mr Lefevre writes of the Dillon estate in this County as follows -.—Lord Dillon's agent, Mr. Strickland, resided in a part of the family mansion in the miadle of one of the largest and most beautiful parks in the west of Ireland. The house, with the exception of the rooms occupied by the agent, was unfurnished and dilapidated. None of the pucces•lve heaus of the Dillon f mily have retried there 6ince tbe beginning of the century. Duiing these M) years they have drawn their large rental f rom the district an>l have spent it in England. Nocapi'al has ever been expended by them in improving their Irish property, unless it were money lent by the 8ta r e for drainage for which the tenants have paid interest. Every improvement WLich has brought the land into cultivaticn from its original condition cf waste bog has been effected by the tenants ; all the houses and buildings have been erected by them. When Arthur Youn? visited this district at the end of the lest century the rental of the estate was £5,000. This has been gradually increased to €21 000, ihe nominal rectal when I was there.

Mcatll»— A general meeting of the Oldcas'le National League was held In the League Rooms on November 11. Rev. W. P. Kearney presided. There were also present :— James Tuite, Michael Fox, J»eter Grace, Robert Reid. T. Dolan, Matthew Hand. Michael Tujie,

M. Bowon. M. Galligan, J. Hnyden. In the course of his address the reverend chairman said :— ln Vmerict thing? had happened qiite recently that gave the lie to Mr. Chamberlain's a^s^rtijn that the

Irish had no influence in the States. Lord Sacksville, the British Ambassador at Washington, had the impertinence to interfere in the election of the President of the United States. He wanted to influence persons in favour of Salisbury's CeerJon Government and to secure the return of a President who would be more or less aati-Irish. Lord Salisbury was at once communicated with, and told, in the words of the old soog, "to make room for his uncle." Salisbury hesitated a little, whereupon Lord Sackville got his walking papers and was told to take himself off in double-quick time. This sack of Sackrille was carried out in deference tj the Irish voters' feelings and to gain tbeir support.

Queen's County.— There was a representative meeting of Bailyroan National League on November 11. Dr. Edward Murphy was moved to the chair. The following resolution was unanimously passsd : — That we strongly disapprove of the action of W. H. Cobbe, Nationalist Guardian of Emo division of Mountmellick Unijn in opposing his brother Nationalists relative to the dismissal of the soliciior to the Board under the Labourers' Act ; and that we have no confidence iv the present solicitor to carry out the Act, as he ii the landlords' friend.

ROBCOmmon« — Fairymount and Tybohine LN.L. has condemned the mean action of Land-thief Da Freyne m serving F. Tansy with an ejectment decree because his bod attended the Fairymonnt demonstration .

A splendid meeting cf the members of the CasMerea " suppressed " branch was held at Cloontrask, about one mile from the town. As usual, the greatest precautions were taken by the Balfourian batonmen to prevent a meeting being held, as all day the prominent members of the executive were followed about, particularly Mr. Fit cgi boon, who had Sergemt Byrne everywhere on his track*. Howe»er, there were peelers everywhere to be seen except at the place of meeting. In the evening, when the meeting waa just over, Mr. Fitc^ibbon turned up, accompanied by his escort, just to let them see how a meeting can be held without their presence. When they arrived on the scene the large gathering left no doubts on their minds. Messrs. Conry. T. Fannon, M. Hayden.T. Egan, and D. Mulrennan attended. Mr. Harden presided. Between 30 and 40 new members took cards of membership, and the following resolution was adopted : — That we once more avow our allegiance to our trusted leader, C. 8. Parnell. and we beg to assure him of our unswerving devotion to the cause of Irish freedom, for being the advocate of which he has been continually subjected to the foulest calumuies by the Tory Press of Great Britain.

Tipperary. — The Quarter Sessions for the Cashel division were opcuea at lipperary November 11, by W. Anderson, Q.C., who was accompanied on the bench by a large numoer of magistrates. The spirit license applications were first taken up. H. H. Townsend said before the magistrates would enter upon the hearing of these applications he, as a person interested in the moral and material welfare of the town of Tipperary, would respectfully desire to address a few observations on the subject of the granting of ne<v licenses. He was happy to say that the town of Tipperary was for some years past remarkably free from drunkenness. He attributed this absence of the vice of intoxication to the untiring exertions of the Catholic clergymen of the parish and to the influence which the temperance society had experienced over the men of the parish. He was desirous that this admirable condition of things should continue and he would respectfully and earnestly ask the magistrates to be c ireful before they give increased facilities for selling intoxicating driuk3. Subseqently, when several applications for new licenses nad been granted, and when Mr. Fownsend was asked fjr his vote in an individual case, he sai 1 be would rot vote, as, from the number of new licenses granted it appearrd that the Bench that day had turned itself into an antiLeague of the Cross Association an i had encouraged intoxication in Tipperary.

Tyrone.— Placards headed " National League " were extensively ported throughout Dung-innon and neighcourhood announcing that a great Nationalist demonstration would be held December 1, at the Fair Hoase, in the parish of Lonaghmore, when it will be addressed by W. O'Brien, W. J. Reynolds, E. Leamy, J. Redmond, and J. K. Kenny, M.P's. No buch plac aa " Fair House " was ever heard in the parish of Donaghmore. So the Casie authorities will have to make extraordinary efforts to discover the exact locality in which the Nationalists intend to hold the meeting.

At the recent meeting of the Carnckmore National League, Rev. B. Murphy in the chair, the following resolution, proposed by T. O'Neill and seconded by T. McKernan, was carried • — That we cordially approved of the spirit displayed by the patriotic people of Aldrummond in erecting a residence for Edward Gorman, lately evicted by A, Eliot, Omogh, and we are convinced that if a similar spirit were more generally displayed throughout the country it would show the landlord admirers of Balfourism that eviction has ceased to be a paying game.

Waterford.— At a meeting of the Knockanore Branch held November 12, I. J Walsh presiding the following resoliition was proposed by Mr. Hunt and adopted :— That Michael Hunt and family, with whom the people have been so long and justly at variance for thoir action in reference to the Rhincre* farm, having freely subBcnbed to conditions satisfactory tj the people and in accordance with the principles of tha National Lpague, we feel justified in publicly declaring that th^re now exists no cause for estrangement between the people andeaid Michael Hunt and family.

Westtneatll. - At the recent meeting of the Castletown and Finea branch of tne League Father Hughes was moved to the chair. The following resolution was passed with acclama'ion : — Resolved, That we pledge ourselves to aid and assist our noble leader, Charles Stewart Paroell, by every means in our power, and we hope to boo bun turn the tables on the mendacious London Times.