The Standard announced on Wednesday that the Round Table Conference
convened by Captain Shawe-Taylor to promote an amicable understanding between landlords and tenants in Ireland would be held in Dublin before the end of the present month. It was further stated, on the same authority, that the Duke of Abercorn, Lord Barrymore, Colonel Saunderson, The O'Conor Don, Mr. T. W. Russell, and the Lord Mayor of Dublin (who has offered the use of the Mansion House for the Conference) have consented to attend; that two of the most prominent members of the Nationalist party will complete the number of delegates ; and that the proceedings, though purely informal and unofficial, have the good wishes of the Chief Secretary. Simultaneously with this announcement the Dublin correspondent of the Times stated that "none of the gentlemen invited as representing the interests of the land- lords, it is understood, have so far signified any intention of being present, and it is difficult to see what would be gained from a conference between Mr. T. W. Russell and the Nation- alist representatives," while a leading article contended that it was idle to discuss the projects of well-meaning but in- aignificant persons until the advocates of the Conference could put forward a really influential list of persons representing the Irish landlords. We should have thought that the four names mentioned above satisfied these requirements fairly enough. Imany case, we strongly deprecate the tendency to run down the Conference because its original promoters are not men of commanding position. It does not invariably answer to wait for the lead of leaders. We may note that Lord Mayo has written to the Times approving of the " round table " principle, and setting forth an alternative scheme by which the repre- sentatives should be selected.
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