The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-08-16
From Our Own Correspondent
OUR IRISH LETTER.
DUBLIN. July 2sth. 1874.

DUBLIN, July 2Sth, 1874
After an exile of nearly twenty -seven years,
John Mitchel-the greatest, most heroic, and
most unbending of the patriots of 45-landed
la. Saturday at Queenstown from the Idaho
steamship, having with him his daughter and a
medical friend from Philadelphia. Not having
been expected until within only q couple of
hours of his arrival, and even then by only two
or three friends, there were not many to meet
him. But those few friends were to the fore,
having gone out in the tender to the roadstead,
and presently when it became noised about
that the illustrous exile had really come, q
great crowd assembled. who received him with
deafening cheers. He came rapidly to Cork
and put up at the Imperial Hotel, where more
of his old friends greeted him. He then pro-
ceeded to Sundays well, to the house of Mr..
George Barry. Here, in the course of the even
ing, he was presented with an address of well
come by the Nationalist of Cork, and hither
came later on a vast torchlight procession
which completely filled the street. In response
10 loud calls, Mr.. Mitchell spoke few words of
thanks to the assemblage. On Sunday he was
too wearied to go out, and at his special re
quest no public demonstration was attempted.
On this day (Tuesday), however, he travelled
up by the early train to Dublin, and few
hours ago left by the Drogheda Railway for
Newry. I understand it is his desire not to
enter the political field, at any rate for some
time, and not even to accept any public COM
pliment which would involve his speaking in
public. OF course, but for this there would be
just now some memorable scenes in our
Island. The people only wish they can get tho
opportunity to show how they love and esteem
Mr.. Mitchell. For the past two days there have
been large crowds with bands playing ma
tional airs) awaiting the arrival of each train
from Cork, in expectation that Mr. Mitchell
would arrive by it, but he avoided them at
last by getting out not ut the terminus but at
the next station to it-Inchcou. At to what
will be the attitude of the government in his
regard, I incline to think that there is not
slight reason to apprehend any interference
with his liberty. Every class in Ireland, 1
believe, would cry shame on the government
that would not allow him now to spend the
remainder of his days in the country he han
loved 30 well and for which he has suffered
much.
1t is a curious coincidence that the return
of Mr.. Mitchell to Ireland should synchronise
with the second return of Sir Charles Gavan
Duffy. The former was the second editor of
the Nation, Gavan Duffy the third. Both
worked together for a long time and esteemed
each other much. But an enlargement at
last arose between them which exists to the
present day as much as ever it did. How
different have been their fortunes! Gavan
Duffy voluntarily exiled himself to Australia
to become Prime Minister of the colony of
Victoria, q Knight of the British Empire, and
the possessor of Il pension of thousand
year and of fortune which have seen estl'
mated at Gl00, 000-all of which things, 1t
must be added, he obtained by fair aud honor
able means and without sacrifice of principle.
Mitchell was exIled perforce, escaped to Tree
America from Van Dieman's Land, and lived
more than twenty years in the States NOBLE
indeed, but a troublous and sorrowful exist
ence Now he has come be me, perhaps, to die,
and Gavan Duffy is to be here next week. The
latter however, will only remain two or three
weeks, as he has been ordered for the sake of
his heal to Spa in the Alps, and l believe
he will spend the winter at Aise les Bains.
There was a great debate in the House of
Commons on Saturday on the Coercion Act. 1t
came on quite unexpectedly, for the House
never sits on Saturday. Consequently, about
half the Home Rule members were absent.
Every year the government of the day intro
duces bill sufficiently described by its title
the Expiring Acts Continuance Bill. Generally
speakiug, it passes without opposition, for the
Acts it proposes to continue are ones upon the
necess ty for which every one is agreed. This
year amongst thirty odd such the government
ccolly aud quietly placed two Irish Coercion
Acts. These two they actually proposed to
-ano,- for two veara. although they would not