Parnell  had  succeeded  in  blocking  the  machinery
of  the  English  House  of  Commons.  A  voice. —
*  Bad  luck  to  it.'  Mr.  Davitt. — They  were  there
to  denounce  the  landlord  system,  which  was  like
a  millstone  around  the  neck  of  Ireland.  They
should  leave  this  meeting  condemning  not  an  in-
dividual case  but  the  system  itself.  It  was  im-
posed upon  them  by  the  English  government  and
the  landlords  were  only  filling  a  territorial  gar-
rison. When  the  day  came  for  the  settlement  of
this  question  the  government's  duty  would  be  to
compensate  the  Irish  landlord.  (Hear!  hear!)
The  people  should  depend  upon  themselves  for
the  settlement  of  the  Irish  Land  question,  and  not
upon  the  Irish  Parliamentary  party.  As  regarded
that  party  he  believed  they  could  count  upon
their  fingers  the  honest  men.  If  they  resolved
that  they  should  organize  and  combine  to  defend
each  other  in  their  interests  then  they  would  find
the  Land  question  settled  within  a  shorter  time
than  was  used  in  useless  legislation.  Do  not
allow  anybody,  no  matter  (he  now  spoke  of  the
clergy  with  respect)  what  the  cut  or  color  of  his
cloth  may  be,  to  use  the  present  agitation,  or  to
use  them  in  order  that  their  personal  grievances
may  be  remedied.  At  present  the  question  of  the
day  was  the  Land  question.  (Cheers.)  He  had
great  pleasure  in  proposing  the  resolution."

And,  finally,  the  speech  of  Mr.  Parnell,  who  was
loudly  cheered,  was  as  follows :  "  In  proposing  the


THE  GREAT  IRISH  STRUGGLE.  175

second  reading  he  said  he  wished  to  refer  to  the
letter  of  His  Grace,  the  Archbishop  of  Tuam,
which  had  appeared  in  the  Freeman's  Journal.
