The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1874-09-17
CIRCULAR
Hibernian Benevolent and Immigrant
Aid Association Of Mississippi.
TO the Lris1me,l of Mississippi

10 the Irishnaesa of Mississippi
FELLOW CoUHrRYMEN: Aupreciatino
as we do, the imperative necessity for a
immediate and practical union of all Irish
men IN this country, and being actuate,
solely IN this undertaking by fraterna
and patriotic motives, we have, therefore
determined, upon full consideration Q
| the many advantages likely to flow from
such course, to issue, for general distri
button among the Irishmen of Mississippi
this Address, believing that it is oni,
necessary for Irishmen to be reminded
IN order to ensure a speedy and energetic
/ performance of their duty. We do not
now, remember Of a single Irish Associa
ton that existed in Mississippi previous
to the late war, although the Irish popu
lation was then, as now, of large anc
respectable character. Since then. how
ever. many of our countrymen have beer
| awakened to the necessity and Importance
of associating themselves together for the
mutual aid and Improvement of each
other, as well as for the purpose OF
assuming for themselves and their chill
dren that position in the social scale and
body polite which their intelligence and
strength, together with their moral char
aeter and citizenship, justly entities
them.
day, there are in Mississippi, several
Irish Societies in successful operation, the
most prominent, however, of which are
those known as the Hibernian Benevolent
ana Mutual Aid Associations. These are
ali in a thriving and Furnishing condition,
and are united together in one Crane
Body under the name of the Hiberpian
Benevolent and Immigrant Aid Associa
ton fthe State OF Mississippi. This body.
since its organization, two years ago, has
already accomplished great good in the
advancement OF those laudable objects for
which it was originally organized
AT the late session of the State Associ-
alton, the subiec: of immigration was a
prominent topic of discussion, and it was
resolved to address ourselves earnestly to
the work ofinducing to our section at least
small per cent. of the emigrants from
Ireland who now are persuaded to remain
in the crowded cities of the East upon
their arrival. Knowing that we have
here as genial a cline, and as hospitable
and generous a people as can be found
upon the habitable globe, where energy
and industry will not fail to secure their
compromising rewards, we feel it duty
to invite to our section those who are
driven by poverty and political oppression
from the land of their birth. We, who
have spied out this land, send glad tidings
and cordial welcome to the oppressed OF
Old Ireland. No industriously disposed
man need be idle for one hour in Mis-
sissippi. There is a demand for labor
and skill, and our Association will cheer
fully act as medium between those who
seek and those who have employment to
give. If there are large landowners who
wish to secure honest and industrious
settlers, either by donations of land. or
by sale on reasonable terms, we shall be
pleased to hear from them, and to make
known in Ireland, from time to time,
such substantial invitations fron our
people. AS an Association, we have vet
no capital at our control, but we have
willing hearts and ready hands to do what
we can in developing the boundless re-
sources of Mississippi; and, in adding to
her wealth and prosperity, confer at the
same time lasting benefits upon those
whom we cannot forget, although the
wide ocean stands between. Who will
help us in this good work Who will be
the first to say, offer YOU a section, half
section, or one hundred acres of land for
bona tfde settlers? We wish to reduce the
theory OF immigration to practical results,
and will gratefully acknowledge any CO
operation that may be extended.
Now, then, fellow-countrymen, while
our first duty is to our God, the next we
owe to our adopted country upon whose
shores no Irishmans foot e'er
trod without feeling the iron chains OF
imposed upon him by the most
vindictive and despotic of governments,
suddenly slip from his tettered limbs and
simultaneously experiencing that lightness
of heart, elasticity Of step and freshness
Of spirit, which are indigenous only to
that soil which basks under the radiating
beams of liberty's sun. In thus recoguiz
ing the deep debt of gratitude, which all
Irishmen owe to this glorious land, we
must not forget our duty to the land that
bore us-to our impoverished and persecu-
ted brethren in Ireland, whose SORROWS
and misfortunes are entitled, as matter
Of right, to that aid and sympathy from
US, of which they are so much in need, and
which, were our positions reversed, they
would, with characteristic promtitude,
freely and unhesitatinglY bestow. In
short we cannot, and mast not forget them
in their distress. To ignore and pass by
the plaintive appeals for succor
and relief which are borne to us upon
every wind that sweeps across the broad
Atlantic, would be to stlgmatize ourselves
IS a base and selfish people who are emf
1ently unworthy the respect and conf
lence of our fellow men.
In conclusion, then, we confidently
assert that tie release of our eountrymen
abroad from English bondage, the
permanent restoration of universal liber-
Y in Ireland and the advancement and
protection of our own interest here, can
De accomplished in but one way, and
hat is by associating ourselves together
n regularly organized societies, and there
~ proving to the world at large, and the
British Ministry in particular, that the
irish people of America are INDIvIsIBLY
UNITED.
w. F. FITZGERALD,
= J. F. O'SULLIvAN, jackson.