Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-07-21
Opinion on the Riots,

The Irish brigade association held the meet
ing adjourned from Sunday night at the Astor
house yesterday evening, Captain Benson pre-
siding. Among those present were Major HOr-
gan, Colonel Qunlan, Captain NJ. W. Wall,
Captain j. GoSson, Major Hsverty, Captain
Laffan, Captain w. L. d. O'Grady, Colonel
James E. Magee, Captain Charles j. Clark,
Lieutenant Z. j. Heay, Captain Thomas STAN
ley, Captain Thomas Morley, Colonel John
Mechan and others. The committee appointed
at the last meeting tOconSider the plan of call
ing public meeting of the Irish people, as an
expression of their sentiments in regard to the
riots Of the twelfth instant, reported progress
through Major Haverty without giving any
particulars.
1t was moved that the report be accepted, and
Colonel Magee moved as an amendment that
the committee be discharged from further action
in regard to it.
MIR. Stephen j. Meany, who is an honorary
member of the association, spoke on the amend
ment. He said:
"This is a matter of the last Importance to
the whole Irish people of America. 1t was de-
cided at previous meeting to call a meeting of
the Irish people with reference to this matter.
If that committee is wiped out by the passage of
the amendment, it is virtual abandonment of
the whole scheme of holding meeting. Now
if any body ought to express opinion on the
subject of the riots, it is this body composed of
men who have shown their devotion to the
is part of the history of the country. Nobody
could suspect it of sinister intentions. Nobody
need ask what are its politics AS lriShmen,
we have reached crisis as serious for us as the
crisis of 1861 was for this government. The
Irish people took side then, and showed their
devotion to the republic. They showed that
the Irish could be depended upon TO sustain
the laws. We are now challenged again
and clasSed as rioters Who defends
usP Which one of the men that we
have built up in political power stands for
ward to defend us from these disgraceful impu-
tatlons cast on us in the papers by parcel of
Bohemians? When even the London Times
takes up the question of these riots, and asks if
the troubles of ireland are not shown to have
been due to the natural tendency to disorder of
her people, shall we not stand forward to free
the Irish people from these foul aspersonsP If
the committee appointed to take measures for
TINS end 10 discharged, you lay the whole thing
on the table and will have no meeting, Now |
want a meeting, and believe that meeting
called by this organization, which has earned
the confidence of the whole community, will
bring out the best Irish element. And when
such meeting is held the decent Irish people
VIII show that they had no connection with
these disgraceful riots, and the man who charges
1t upon them hereafter will have to face the
opinion OF all the respectable partof the popula-
ton"
Col. Magee, in support of his motion, said
we are HOl II pOlltlcal organization, nut q So
cial one, aiming only to have our little annual
ball and picnic for pleasant time. think the
Orangemen and Hibernans were both in the
wrong on the 12th inst, | freely say, but do
not know that it is our business TO interfere"
(NOices-"That is the idea" go on.')
Col. Magee then stated that he considered the
object of the body to be purely social. In an
swer, the constitution of the organization was
read, showing that anything promoting the ma
tlonality of Ireland was within its scope.
MIR. Meany said that Slur had been cast upon
the Irish character, stamping all the Irish of
this city with the stigma of rioters, and he con-
sidered that this association was a proper body
to come forward to yindicate this insulted char
acter Of the Irish people, who would otherwise
suffer for the evil doings or few riotous vaga-
bonds.
The amendment was lost, and the report of the
committee was received and the committee con-
tlnned The following was then offered " Re
SotCed, That we, as body, dscaim all connec-
ton with the parade of the 18th of July" 1t
was moved to lay this resolution on the table,
and the motion was carried. The society then
adjourned, subject to the call of the chair,
The committee on the meeting state that they
have conferred with many patriotic Irishmen
with reference to the proposed meeting, and that
1t will no doubt result in a positive demonstra-
ton against the action of all concerned in the
riots. The meeting will probably be held at the
Cooper Institute within ten day. Charles
OCOnor John McKeon and other gentlemen
are expected to speak, though no definite ar
engagements have yet been made