The result of his convictions was the formation of the Irish National
Land League, which dated its birth from the great meeting projected by
Davitt and held at Irishtown in April, 1879.  Mr. Parnell was elected
President of the new organisation, Mr. Patrick Egan treasurer, and
Michael Davitt was one of the secretaries.  He has been justly called the
“Father” of the Land League.

One of the earliest acts of the Land League was to endeavour to stop the tide of emigration from Ireland.  In this connection, as certain emigration schemes had been set on foot in England, a branch of the League was founded in Liverpool at my request by Parnell and Davitt.

In consequence of the prevailing distress and impending famine, Mr. Parnell was asked by the Irish National League to go to America to get the assistance of our people there, and Mr. John Dillon was asked to accompany him.

Though there was little done by the Government to relieve the distress, the Irish people could always get coercion without stint, and Messrs. Davitt, Daly and Killen were arrested for “seditious” speeches in connection with the Land League agitation.

To protest against this, Mr. Parnell, previous to his departure for America, attended a great open-air demonstration in Liverpool.  The gathering was held in the open space in front of St. George’s Hall, and it was computed that about 50,000 people were present.  When the meeting was publicly announced, there was a proclamation from the Orange Society, calling upon the brethren to put down the “Seditious gathering.”  Upon this our committee took the precaution of enrolling stalwart “stewards” to preserve order.  Among those who offered their services were a large number of the Irish Volunteer Corps, under the command of Sergeant James MacDonnell, a County Down man of fine proportions and shrewd brain.  To him was entrusted the direction of the whole body of our men on the day of the meeting.  The advanced party also gave their services, and non-commissioned officers and men of the other volunteer corps besides the Irish, skilled in military movements, gave valuable help.  Round the platform were a select body of nearly a thousand men, many of them carrying revolvers in their pockets, ready for action.

The Orange body must have heard of our elaborate preparations, and finding “discretion the better part of valour,” they countermanded their proclamation to break up the meeting.

The authorities of the town made full preparations to cope with possible disturbances, and inside St. George’s Hall they had, carefully kept out of view, a large body of the town police, armed with revolvers in addition to their batons.  In a window of the North Western Hotel, overlooking the meeting, was the chief constable, and with him were magistrates, prepared to read the Riot Act if necessary.