TO hear speeches clamouring for land purchase delivered in the Inniskilling Townhall on Tuesday, brought one back a quarter of a century.

The meeting was one of unpurchased tenants in Fermanagh, and it was summoned by Mr. W.J. Brown, J.P., who presided. About 150 tenant farmers were present from all parts of the county.

The Chairman dealt at length with the question of land purchased and the different acts passed. He, here and there, talked of the Irish Parliamentary Party and Home Rule. Now they had Home Rule and where was land purchase? Their Northern Government should tackle the question and have compulsory purchase, which should be only 10 years purchase. He would be generous and allow the landlords 15 years purchase, thought they had been thieves and tyrants in the past. He advised the farmers to combine and pay no rent until they their land sold.

The day the landlords signed the agreement, then, and not till then, should they pay. Let them all express their opinion upon this subject which was the most important that could be put upon the programme of Irish progress at the present time. Mr. Timothy Healy, the new Governor General of Southern Ireland, had lately made a speech in favour of compulsory purchase. What were they in the North going to do? They had physical and mental power and other powers to put against the landlords, who had ever been their oppressors. (Applause). The reason landlords would not sell was because the farmers were too docile, and apparently willing to go on paying. (Hear, hear). If the landlords do not give what is just, then the farmers would act in such a way as to defend their wives and children and defeat their oppressors who were Shylocks, who always wanted their pound of flesh. (Applause). The landlords were invited to the meeting. Not one appeared. Not one of them wanted to sell. What they wanted to do was keep the farmers as serfs. (Applause).