Irish Nationalists

Dublin, Sept. 1.- [Copyrighted, 1896. by the Associated Press.]- The flrst session of the Irish national convention opened at noon Tuesday in Leinster hall, which was well filled with delegates, among whom were several Jadies. It was estimated that the Irish race throughout the world was represented here Tuesday by from 600 to 700 delegates. But it was hoped that at least 1,000 more delegates would arrive the day. They come from Ireland and Great Britain as a rule, but the United States, Canada. Australia and .South África are represented by a number of delegates. The walls of Leinster hall were appropriately decorated for the occasion, and patriotic sentiments expressed for deceased statesmen of Ireland, the late Charles Stfwart Parnell included, were hung upon the walls inside of the building. Success Already Assured. John Dillon, M. P., chairman of the Irish parliamentary party, previous to the openingof the convention, expressed the opinión that its success was already assured and the attendance would be twiee as great as they had dared to hope for. He said that the delegates present represented fourfïfths of the Irish Nationalists. and that there was a grood number of Parnellites present, in spite of the opposition of the leaders of the latter party to the convention. The feeüng among the foreign delegation was that all sections should unite and nothing should be left undone to accomplish this end. With this object in view a meeting of forty foreign delegates took place Monday night. thirty-ftve of them being from the United States or Canada, at which it was proposed to appoint a committee of seven foreign elegates to personaliy interview Messrs. Redmond. Healy, and Dillon, with the object of inducing all factions to support one leader, and as an alternative ft was suggested that all donations from foreign sourees should be stopped in case the warring factions failed to come to an understanding. Oppoxed the Kesolution, The resoluüon was stubbornly opposed by M. J. Ryan of Philadelphia, who insisted that all action should be postponed until night. After a heated discussion, lasting two hours. the meeting dispersed without having accomplished anything except, it was feared. to sow seeds of discord which ma y grow further during the convention. The convention was called to order promptly at noon by Justin McCarthy, M. P„ who nominated Most Rev. Patrick O'Donnell, D. D., bishop of Raphoe. for permanent chairman. The bishop was unanimously elected. as arranged last week, amid the wildest applause. Bishop O'Donnell then read a message from the pope in which nis holiness prayed that the Irish leaders might end their dissensions. The chairman then specially welcomed the delegates from the United States and Canada and delivered an address, pleading for unity.