National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-02-13
HOME RULE FOR IRELAND
ENTHUSIASTIC MASS MEETING OF
DISTRICT SYMP.4THIzERS.

BTIRRING ADDRESSES ON THE s.CBJECT BY
MR.. +. MCNERHANY, GAIT. HYNES, OF
ARKANSAS; HON. JOHN NJ. LANGsToN,
MAJOR McwILLIAMS AND OTHERS-LET.
TIERS FROM HON. A. H. STEPHENS, GEN.
JAMES SHIELDS AND GOVERNOR. sHEr
HERD-wORDs OF CHEER FROM TIKI
CAPITAL TO STRUGGLING IRIsHMEN.
A mass meeting of the friends of ireland WI
held last night at Lincoln hall, to express sym
pathy for the movement now in progress in that
country to establish home. rule or local govern.
ment. The meeting was held under the auspices
OF the HoAc>Rule League recently organised IN
this city. The hall was we'll hllef, manysadies
being smeng the auditors. The platform was
handsomely decorated with Irish and American
iiags, and on the walls we're suspended PORTRAITS
of Daniel O'Conneu and VIM, smith orLxien, and
also sne engraving OF the old lrish Al
The sssemblsge was called to orde. by Capt.
Daniel McMahon, who remarked that she friends
Of Ireland have good reason to congratulate one
snether at bohodirg this immense gathering in
response to o call fer rally of Irelands friends
And the patriots OF ireland will be~cheercd and
STIMULATED xith aibrighter Ihope whom they shall
hear of the srst OF our glorious republic earn
sstly and enthusiastically championng the justice
From this hall tonight there shall 90 forth a
sentiment worthy of a mass meeting of American
sands natural and inalienable right to Legislative
independence, and to convey to Sir Isaac Butt
and his eompatriots, to all the good people Of
ireland, the assurance that in Ire2ands demand
for home rule we recognize the assertion OF fun
,damental principle of natural justice: the mani
aeststion ola spirit worthy OF me ar,sh race ana
Capt McMahon nominated the following ON
GERS, who were unanimously elected: President,
D. A. Brosnan and il. Dease: secretary, Major
VIM. MaeWilliams.
On assuming the chair MI: McNerhany read
the following letter from Gov. Shepherd:
LETTER OF GOV. SHEPHERD.
EXECUTIVE oFFIcr,l
WAsHINGToN, February II. ls74.
BehasS, Daniel Brosnan.
GENTLEaEN: The Governor directs me to reply
to your invitation to the meeting to be held on
Thursday evening, for the expression Of SYM
patty NTH the movement in favor Of home rule
efforts Of that people to secure their rights. and
much regrets that 6 previous engagement for that
evening will prevent his ATTENDANCE;
very respectfully sec,e,a AVN TO a5 Go2ernor
The following letter Of apology for non-appear-
nace was read from Hon. Alexander H. Stephens,
of Georgia:
LETTER FROM HON. A. Il. STEPHENS.
w. s MATIoSAL 4 HOTEL,
sP:M. leth February. 1874.
DEAR SIR greatly regret that severe bodily
indispostion renders it cat of my power to be
With you at the mass meeting OF your association
Be assured no one sympathjzes more profoundly
pie Of III Ireland and no one lives Who holds the
principles OF Home Rule" or local self govern
ment in q higher or more sacred regard than do.
1t was upon these principles the whole frame
work Of our matchIess system Of American free
institutions was based and upon the maintenance
Of which depends chiefly not only the preserva,
hopes Of mankind in all clires and countries.
Yours truly, ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS.
p. 81 may, on some future occasion, be able
10 be with your association. A. H. 5.
REMARKS OF Mr.. N'HERHASY.
Mr.. McNerhany then ad dressed the meeting
and said that having been honored by q call TO
preside he would probably be expected to say
something explanatory Of the aims and ends Of
the home rule movement.
Home rule for Ireland simply meant that the
irish have an inalienable right to manage their
domestic affairs in their own way; that while
recognizing the authority or the British Crown
yet in Legislation upon all matters of local char
lcter pertaining to the home interests of the Irish
people, il was right and proper that Ireland
should have her own Legislature, occupying q re-
iation to the British Parliament similar to that
which State Legislature in this country.holIs to
the Congress Of the United States.
This demand was both Just and reasonable: and
although it did not comprehend as much as every
friend OF Ireland could wish, yet it was all that
he Irish people now asked, and they were the
oest judges of their own wants and necessities.
The speaker favored the movement because it
was an advance step in the cause Of freedom for Ire
land. Poor Erin had been legislated nearly unto |
death by an alien Parliament. Under its blight |
ing, influence commerce had laIguished, trade |
energy had been paralyzed, the whole land had
oeen Impoverished, ard one of the most beautiful
md bountiiul countries in the world, capable Of
Imply supporting twenty times her present popu- |
tation, had been decimated in the number Of her
brave asd generous people, WIG had been Obliged
10 s to S5sp q
maintain a pampered English aristocracy, who |
dwell not upon Irish soil, but whose proprietary
interests have drained it of its rich resources, and
made it the dark abode of poverty and famine, in
stead of the bright home Of wealth and abundance |
hat it would be if lrishmen on Irish soil were |
permitted to enjoy the fruits Of their own labor
These were some of the evils which '.home |
eule'' was intended to cure, and which, with the
he SANITY he
reptiles from the Green Isle. Then, indeed
Dear Erin like a star would rise
Above the gloom of ages,
Would bless ssh her nsfb% braves eS and d sa s
Her ancient harp, attuned again,
But In its loud, cXultant strain,
The world would join with giadness 80
.go-when the glory of the ancient kings Of Ire
land departed, down to this advanced year of
grace, in which the young republic Of the West
lands the Irish people, inbued with the spirit Of
liberty have tonGly cherished the dream of indie
pendent nationality. Subjected but not con-
through prosecutions the most brutal, bloody, and
relentless, persistently and heroically defied the
s9lossal power Of the oppressor, and kept brightly
sHqsss s szs i az: sSsFsSasTes. TIC
Although ruthlessly dispossessed of their lands
bondsmen. regarded inferior race, denied
he means of education, prohibited from prac-
ticins their religion, fettered by the most iahE-
people never forgot either God or country, but
slung with unwavering fidelity TO the ancient
faith of the cross. and nourished with answering
5eyOfiOn the noble sentiment of fraptOm
Notwithstanding the cruel, wicked and merci-
less treatment which Ireland thus received at the
trief day Of sunshine that CLEANED through the
dark and dreary years Of her bondage, she echoed,
through an independent Parliament. the voice Of
her magnanimous people. what did she say to
The minicns OF kingly power that had robbed and
prosecuted her? Did she attempt to retaiiate?
tooths'' Oh. nc, On the contrary she pro-
claimed over every inch of Irish soil perfect free
dom for all creeds and nationalities-thus enun-
eiating that great principle of civil and religious
liberty which is one of the distinguishing features
Of our own Constitution.
When, after this brief and partial respite from
British misrule, the independence Of Ireland's
Legislature was aTnihlated by the treacherous
and tyrannical power Of her INSCRIPTIONS enemy,
and new letters were forged for struggling Erin,
what were the patriotic principles upon which
Irishmen united ior the purpose Of resisting Eng
Constitution Of that formidable and historic organ.
Ization known as the United Irishmen. "a BROTH
srhood Of affection, communion Of rights. and a
|
persuasion, thereby to obtain q complete reform
81 the legislature, founded on principles of civil,
political and religious liberty" 1t was in the he
rOic but futile effort to maintain these great prin
eiples of constitutional liberty-which underlie
the fair fabric of our own repuplic-that the men,
orable battle Of Vinegar Hill was fought, and
that the green flag, bathed In blood, was fufled
On the grave Of Irish Independence.
When. again. eoon after this eanguinary crisis.
The so-called union between England and ireland
was formed-a union founded IN fraud and per-
petuated in iniquity-did the Irish people meekly
bow their necks to the British yoke Did they
forget the heroic daring, the indomitable courage
Of their glorious ancestry, and bend INCREASINGLY
to the lash Of tyranny? Let Grattan, who Joy
ously watched beside the cradle Of Irish indie
pendence, and sorrowfully followed 1t to the
grave-let the immortal Grattan answeri Let
80 1880 I"~-"'@ who SO n0bly gave mp his
siie to Esfty, va WHOSE splfaph Is .e, unwrr
.en-let Emmett answeri Let Curran, Flood,
Fitzgerald, Lowe, and TIE hosts Qf lreland's 80.
howned orators and fearless patriots-ict them
answer! Let DaCiel OConnell-he who wrung
Catholic epaLcipation, by the force Of his mighty
tntellec.- power, from hostile British Parlin-
peLa.-he who dying, gave his heart to Rome,
his body to Ireland, and his soul to God-aet
Daniel O'Connell answer! Let the undying spirit
of Irish liberty, hoping, praying, struggling for
seven long centuries-let that unconquerable
spirit answer whether Ireland has ever tamely
submitted to the alien power that holds her In
subsection!
Such are some Of the national characteristics
of people for whom the warmest sympathies Of
the whole Christian world have often been gener-
3usly expressed. Such is the stricken but ever