The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-03-30
MEMORIAL MEETING.
The Irish-Americans Pay Tribute 10
the Memory of John Mitchell
Sneeches, Resolutions, &c

The Irish-A mericans Pay Tribute 10
the Memory of John Mitchell
sneeches. Resolutions, &c
In pursuance to call from the com
mittee of arrangements, the Irish citizens
Of Wheeling held meeting at the Court
House last night, in honor 9th memory
Of the late John Mitchell, the patriot, dis
tinouished scholar and statesman, whose
-acent death. under such peculiar circum-
stsnces. has caused every true son of Erin
70 how his head in sorrow. Considering
the short notice given, the meeting was
largely attended, some several hundred
nersons being present, among whom
were quite number who were not Irish
citizens. but took deep interest in the
proceedings. The Irish and American
asos were hung gracefully from either
side Of the eastern wall Of the court
room and several pictures, appropriate
90 tho occasion-one of Robert Emmett
also hung upon the wall.
The meeting was called to order about
eight o'clock, by Mr., f. F. Lerkin, who
nominated DR.. Galligan as President,
who was elected and took the chair.
The meeting completed its organization
nv the election of the following gentle
men:
Vice Presidents-M. j. McHale, Th"S.
O. Brien, Jno. Fitzsimmons, NJ. J.O Kane,
Thomas Fahy, Thomas Pryor, Thomas
Owens. Patrick DAILY, Michael Garvey
James Matthews, VIM. Myles, james
Duriin and John Healey.
.Secretaries-E. f. Larkin, Thos. Fahy,
and VI. J. Dougherty.
DIR. Galligan then arose and addressed
the meeting, as follows
In the early ages of the church 1t was
customary for the primitive Christians to
assemble at the resting places ofthe mar
tvrs and there, while scattering bright
flowers and clouds of incense over their
tombs, to invoke their intercession with
Divine Providence that the heroic vir-
tues which won for them the priceless
treasure of eternal felicity might BE- trans
United to posterity. If the spirit of the
great warrior and Emperor, TheodosiuS,
passed from earth, st. Ambrose found in
his death proper theme for one Of the
most eloquent and touching DISCOURSE
II loved him, said the Saint, and my
prayers and tears shall necessarily plead
before the Lord that he may be admitted
to the holy mountain OF God, the true
land Of the living"
Thus did the holy fathers seek, by
laudng the sacred dead, to encourage
the hopes Of the living in their desires
to accomplish what was really good. So
are we assembled here tonight. Thetomb
of John Mitchell has within the heart Of
every true lover Of Irish nationality
and from those hearts, whether they beat
on the land or the sea, whether on the
pleasant banks Of the Shannon or in the
matched cottage amid the wild fastness
of the Wicklow Mountains, whether on
the bleak coasts of Donegal or in the fair
valley of the Sticvcnamon, there goes out
in this hour, mingled with tears and
lamentations, words of sweetest Irish love
for the most disinterested, the purest, the
greatest patriot of the nineteenth century.
IApplausc.1 Raised among those whom
Ii might say were the natural enemies
Of their native land, his lofty mind rose
above the wretched prejudices OF his class,
and ,purninr the emoluments which his
splendid talents would have won for him,
he brought forward the nobleSts gifts of
his soul to lay them on the altar of his
country.s liberty.
Among the many aspirants for MS
toric favor none present n clearer record
than he. He was indeed Il star of the
first magnitude. The sight of his glory
will illumine the path OF heroes still un.
born, while the memory OF his actions will
east many cheering ray across the story
of his country's trials. On one occasion
when Tom Moore was present at u ban
quet given by the King OF England, he
was asked by his royal host If he were
nota relative of the Marquis of Droghcda,
who was presumed to be the head of the
Moore family in Ireland. NO, your
majesty" replied the poet, "ny father is
known as Honest Jack Moore, and keeps
Il green grocer shop at the corner Of
Angler street, Dublin When Catholic
Tom Moore uttered these words he en-
dearcd himself to every Irish peasant who
heard of his reply, but when Protestant
John Mitchell, before leaving New York,
his mind fresh with the recollection
o. his sutlerings in the penal colonies,
SAID: II will 90 back to Ireland and
I will go to Tlpperary and stand for II
seat in Parliament. | will be elected
and refused IL sitting while Il tool of Dis
raeli's will usurp my place. Then | will
canvass the next county and the same
thing will happen there. In like man
ncr | will go on until have been elect
ed and refused sitting from every
county in the Island "What do YOU
expect to gan by this?' inquired his
friend. "Pecuniarily, nothing; but it will
be q cause Of much qualification TO me if
| show to England that the asser-
ton of her statesmen is false
when they say that Ireland
acquIcsccs in her government. Then
will have proven to England and the
world that the principles of AS still live,
and that the spirit Of liberty is not yet
dead in the land OF my birth Enthu-
siastic applause | say when Protestant.
John Mitchell expressed that desire he
excited feeling of love and veneration
that does now, and will in coming years.
make the heads of Irish nationalist bow
to the magic name.
"Wlthin our hearts well hold his memory