Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

10 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

LIBERALISM AT TONDU.

THE WELSH NATIONAL MOVEMENT.

Newyddion
Dyfynnu
Rhannu

THE WELSH NATIONAL MOVEMENT. --r- INTERESTING MEETING AT PONTYPRIDD. A very well attended meeting of the members of the Pontvpridd Liberal Club and others was held on Friday evening last at the Reception- room of the club, and presided over by Mr. W. Williams. Among others present we noticed the Revs. Fathr Smyth, W. I. Morris, and E. E. Probert; Messrs. H. S. Da vies, W. Jones, W. Tones, W R. Davies. R. H. Morgan, M.A., W. Spickett. George Williams, W. Thomas (Coedpenmaen) and others.. „ The Chairman, m the course of his opening address, thanked the committee for the honour thev had done by electing him to preside over the meetings, and put it down to the fact that they wanted3 to honour the county where he was bred and born—Cardiganshire — (laughter) — a county which could claim the honour of beina> the most pronounced nationalist county in Wales. The inhabitants were of one race, having homogeneous manners, customs, and acuities speaking one language, holding one faith, and united by various ties into one whole. (Applause.) The people of the county had always stood up for their principles and to the disgrace of their Welsh landlords be it said, that the sturdy Nonconformist farmers of Cardigan had suffered terribly in the year 1858 for acting up to their convictions. A good num- ber of them had to leave their homes and country, and seek a land where more freedom was enjoyed. Even at the present time Cardigan was to the fore in the Nationalist movement, and its people stub- bornly resisted the demands which they con- scientiously considered unjust. (Cheers.) They loudly demanded religious equality, a fair and just share of endowments for educational pur- poses, a radical reform of the land laws and other things which he might mention. There- fore ha naturally claimed tor his native county the first, place among the Welsh counties who had brought this national move- ment into prominence. (Laughter and applause.) Proceeding, Mr. Williams went on to point out what members of the young Wales party had done and were doing for their country if given tho same opportunities and privileges their brothers the other side of Offa's Dyke. He was proud to see the distinguished career and the high position which some of his countrymen occupy in the universities, and to think that whilst there they did not forget their language, their nationality, and its aspirations, and did their part to keep alive the old language, traditions and history of their native land. (Loud cheers.) They had already witnessed great changes in Wales. At one time it was called Poor little Wales," but now it was Gallant little Wales." (Applause.) This was the result of the national upheaval, and a desire to render itself of account in the forces of progress. (Loud cheers). — Mr. W. Llewellyn Williams (the editor or the South Wales Star). in the course of an able address, said that the Nationalist movement was not an [ isolated movement, but was part of a great wave that was sweeping over the different countries Europe. (Cheers.) There had been two revivals of national feelings in Wales before this since the conquest of the Principality by Edward I. The first culminated in the unsuccessful attempt of Owen Glyndwr to win Welsh Indepen- dence by force of arms and the second had been lost by the revolutionary excesses of the English Puritans and the Welshmen who tried to introduce English Puritanism into Wales. The third revival was a more hopeful one. The national character had acquired a stability (which it had hitherto lacked) through the stern discipline of the early reformers, and the present movement sprang, not from ambitious chieftains or learned patriots, but from an enlightened democracy. (Applause.) There was a danger that the Welsh national move- ment might become parochial or sectorian or factious, but he tbok a hopeful view of its future and saw its redemption from this danger in the higher education of the people. (Loud cheers.)— Mr. D. S. Davies moved a hearty vote of thanks to the speaker for his able address, and hoped that the members of the club would often hear such addresses during the coming winter. —Mr. W. Spickett seconded, and hoped the Pontypridd Liberal Club and other clubs throughout the country would take an interest in the Welsh national movement, and hoped, also, that the Pontypriddians would journey in strong force to the Cardiff Conference, where Mr. Alfred Thomas, M.P.'s Home Rule Bill would be discussed. (Cheers.)—Mr. D. Ellis, who followed, dwelt on the increase of self-respect and patriotism in Wales. — A gentleman hailing from Abergavenny, said he was an Englishman, and a 0 Church- man, but one who was at the same time in full sympathy with the aspi- rations of the Welsh people, and in favour of the Disestablishment of the State Church in Wales. (Cheers.) He hoped that these Welsh questions would be pushed more to the front, and that the Welsh people would eventually obtain their just demands. He thanked Mr. Williams for his address, which had much enlightened him as to the movement, and hoped that he would publish it. (Hear, hear.)—The Rev. Father Smythe, Mr. W. Jones, Mr. S. Shipton, W. R. Davies, and R. II. Morgan also spoke, the latter gentleman referring in flattering terms to the Open letters to leaders of Welsh public opinion" which had appeared in the South Wale* Star and which had considerably raised the standard of newspaper literature in South Wales. The vote of thanks was heartily passed, and a strong desire was expressed that the address should be Sprinted and widely circulated throughout the Principality. A cordial vote of thanks to the chairman for pre- siding brought the meeting to an end.

[No title]

YSTRADYFODWG LOCAL BOARD.…

YSTRAD SCHOOL BOARD.

PONTYPllIDD AND YSTllAD JOINT…

[No title]

Advertising

IMPORTANT NOTICE.

Advertising