Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-04-01
ssENGLISH RULE AND IRISH DIS.
CONTENT.o
An interesting subis

An Interesting Subject Ably Treated.
Notwithstanding the threatening appear
aHce of the weather Sunday evening, there
was q very fattering audience present at
Masonic Hall on the occasion of the deliv-
cry of Rev. Eugene Sbeehy's lecture on
the subject of "English Rule and Irish Dis
content" and well repaid we're those pres
ent for having ventured out at the risk Of q
drenching.
The st. Joseph Total Abstinence Band
was in attendance, and previous to the lee
ture played a number of Irish airs.
The lecturer came upon the stand at
eight O'Clock, and Immediately won the ia
vorable opinion Of the audience by his ap-
pearance. He looked to be about thirty
years of age, his face bearing the impress
of years of Thoughtful study, while bis
eyes gave evidence that he possessed, to a
marked degree, that bumor for which his
countrymen are SO famous, which fact was
fully demonstrated by the bright flashes of
wit with which the more serious and
pathetic portions of his lecture were in
terspersed.
Having been introduced in neat man
ner by Mr.. P. McGovern, the lecturer said
that bis subject, as announced on the cards
and through the daily papers, was, English
Rule and Irish Discomfort, or Cause ard
Effect" There is no country on the globe,
excepting France, perhaps, whose history
is so replete With all that wins the aamira-
ton of man as that of England. She has
extended her dominion over seas unknown
to the Romans; she has whitened the ocean
with the sails Of her commerce, she has
belted this wide earth with her colonies,
and, in these later days, with her depen-
denotes; but, on tie other hand, there is
no nation en- earth that has so trafficked in
the blood and tears Of an oppressed and
down-,rodden people.
Here the lecturer drew a graphic picture
of the natural beauties of the Emerald
Isle," and her great wealth OF all that goes
to make people prosperous and infuen-
tisl, and compared Ireland's present con-
dition, under English rule, with what it
would be if she were an independent gov
eminent.
A noted French writer, who died last
week, says that ''hate of England, her laws
and her institutions, is an Irishman's ma
tive passion" (Applause.)
Reformation" was the plea under which
Henry the Second first began the destruc-
ton of Ireland. Under the preteXt Of ''the
Penal Code" war fare was made upon the
intellect, the eonsciences, the property, the
industry, the trade, the good name, and
lastly, upon the lives, of the Irish people.
For two hundred and fifty years war had
been made upon the schools of Ireland.
But during that period the glory of the ma
ton had been in standing up as one man TO
protect their MISUNDERSTANDING up in
the presence of loss of property, exile, i'm
prisonment, aye, and death, if the Otfense
were repeated. The Irish hedge schools
and the Irish hedge schoolmsster, arr
memories which should be forever cherished
in the hearts Of her people. (Applause.)
Up to the year SO of the present century
there were no public schools in Ireland, ard
yet her people were tainted with ignorance
s'An ignorant Irishman;" yet Ireland, wher
nation controlling her own affairs, had
Europe. (Applause.)
A war was made upon our consciences
In 1914 statute against the conscience OF
Ireland was passed, making it treason fol
any registeted priest to be found within the
realT and was TO be punished in this wise;
He was to be hung, then beheaded, then
boweled, then bis head was to be set up on
a spike in public place. There was re-
ward of five pounds offered for the
head of priest, five pounds for the head
of schoolmaster, five pounds for the head
of nun, and fifty pounds for the head of q
bishop! (Hisses)
A war was made upon our property
The lands Of Ireland changed hands five
times over, and q law was enacted by which
an Irisbman could not own over an acre Of
arabic land and half an acre of bog.
A war was made upon the industry OF
Ireland, and her wooden mills and all KINDS
of manufacturing establishments were
suffered to fell into decay.
A war was made upon the good name Of
the Irish people, who were deprived Of their
useful industry, and then spoken of as
being "laZy and improvident." These
charges England, with voice and pen, has
published to the world.
War was made upon our lives. Out oil
hell, there is no deeper, blacker woe than
that which England, for centuries, poured
upon the people of Ireland.
Lord Chesterfield, as vice royal in Ire
land, won the affections of the hish peo-
pie. At one time he employed a live
1dplSS lOT COdCuuldD, auu AOT JulS uO was
demonstrated with by one Of his courtiers
Said he, my lord, you have actually one
of those Papists in your employ as
coaehman." "Well," Lord Chesterfield re-
piled, 81 shall take good care that
he don't drive me to mass" At another
time he was told, while in bed one morn
ing, that ''the Papists in Connaught were
rising" He immediately looked at his
watch, and replied, 'sWell, its high time
they were rising. 1t is nearly 8 O'Clock
aud it is time for me to rise too" (Laugh-
ter.)
Irishmen to-day have three rights: They
have the right to talk, the right to starve
and the right to leave. Oaughter.)
Many may think that it is not my place
as an Irish clergyman, an Irish priest, &c
stir up anger against England in the hearts
Of my countrymen. Well, it is satisfac
ton to me to know there is no need Of it.
(Applause)