The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-04-21

thusiasm.
nCf lin
The honors paid the memory of the
Irish patriot, John Mitchell last Sunday =
afternoon, were credit to the lrishmen y
Of Davenport ard Rock Island. Mitchell y
was not Of the same religious faith as nine "
tenths Of these sons of the Emerald Isle, '
but he had the same faith in the cause OF r,
ireland, the same love for her. and conse- j.
Grated all his better years and energies 70 o
her emancipation. lie failed, was Danish
eds dead, and the Irish people, the
world over, lament his loss and revere his v
memory. Here, they turned out on Sun t
day afternoon to give some token OF their
sense of his worth and loss. II
A procession was formed at the court
house, under the marshalship Of Mr.. Thos
O'Brien, in the following order:
Band.
Bearers. Hearse. Bearers.
Carriages,
with clergy, aldermen, and otner citizens'
st. Patricks Benevolent Society,"
HIbernan Benevolent Society, /
St Patricks Benevolent Society.
OF Rock Island. 81
Cltlzens denefally. i
The procession moved, to the solemn
music of dirge, through several of the
principal streets, the sidewalks along
which were filed with men and women. of
all nationaliti es. who gazed with respect
upon the solemn scene before them. In
the meantime several hundred people had
gathered in the court house square. and
after the procession and sidewalk throngs
had fled in, there was great multitude
in the park.
The assemblage was called to order by
p. J Hagarty, on whose motion Edward
Grace, ESQ.,, was elected president of the
day, and John Lillis was chosen secretary.
The president stated the object of the
meeting ,alluding to Mitchell and his broth
er.in-law, John Martin, as among the first
aud most ardent self-sacrifcing patriots
that eyer blessed Ireland in efforts for lib
erty. They have been called away, with
the object for which they toiled aud suffer
ed unaccomplished, but he hoped that
other men would ere long be raised to take
up the cause. 1t was in honor Of Mitchell
and his compatriot that the present audi
ence had assembled, and all felt proud to
honor their memory. Mr.. Grace then 10
troduced NJ. v Cannon, Esq, as orator Of
the day, who proceeded to deliver the
GRAFTON,
OF which we give brief report. Its Ian
guage tells how eloquent the matter. was
but the effect of delivery cannot be givel
in print. Mr.. Cannon said;
Mr. Chairman, FellotO Citizens, and Irish
men of Davenport and Rock Island:
In accepting the invitation to address
this meeting, / took upon myself at ono
the painful and gratifying task painful be
cause l had TO consider the deaths of Mitch
el and Martin in their unfortunate conse
quences to Ireland, and gratifying becaus
| regard this permission, for such it is, I
speak upon the lives and labors of thos
men as the proudest privilege of my polit
cal life. From early childhood l hav
been taught to regard John Mitchell as tn
most Incorporating, incorruptible fC
to British tyranny in my native land, an
therefore the most fitting example Of Iris
national thought. Born in the north {
Ireland, Of Presbyterian parents, his fathC
minister of that faith. and one of tn;
memorable baud who cast their fortune
with their suffering country in the neve
to-be torgOtten year when Ireland exEibite
an endurance, patient striving and h
roism that defed, defies and win defy, tt
efforts of q hireling press to blot from Il
literature Of the world-he spent the fe
FIRST years of his life at Dungiren, and
his young intellect began to exert itself
was directed by that patriotic father to Il
contemplation of the beauties, history al
manifold sufferings, and all-surpassing CO
stancy of Ireland. AT the age Of eight
removed with his parents to Newry, whe
he became acquainted, at school, with Il
gentle Thoughtful boy, John Martin-al
who knows how much the naughty, dariI
spirit OF Mitchell effected in the breast
Martin,or how much of the contemplativ
angelic nature of Martin contributed
wards the almost womanly tenderne
Mitchell was at times capable Of exhib
ing towards those he loved Certain it
friend never loved friend better than the
men loved each other, and the death
Martin, through grief at the loss Of
friends wonderful testimony to the 10
that bound them.
Here followed an account of Mitche
early life, has connection with the Matt
Ne1cspdper, &c,)
He left the Nation Newspaper to una
ager that was beginning to temporize, a
started the United IriShBlen He could L
accept the only slavish doctrine ever
tered by Daniel O'Connen, viz: that
political ameGoration was worth the she
ding of drop OF blood" Goaded to da
every thing by the maddening sight of
nation ground to the dust by taxation,
ercion laws, rack-renting absentee Ian
lord system, and a unique, but rery tn
soup prOselytizing agency, he challeng
the government on their right to thus
grade people, He was not man to {
hibit the rfl-r .LT-
'"The patient folly that on Bonded knee
Gives back the steel that stabbed him."
His letters to Lord Clarendon. Eugli;
man, and one to the Orangemen Of I
north.settled the matter. Il shall ma
them" said he, lin open day pack ju
to convict me, or show the world how r
ten is the thread that binds this country
England" Being arrested, il was fou
that there was no existing law under VIII
he could DO convicted. A servile parl
ment gave the world striking illustrate
of what beautiful thing that British C,
stitution is, which is SO lauded, so besp
tered with all sorts of praise from I
ballad mongers to the jarists. The par
ment rushed u law through under VIII
Mitchell might be convicted, and called |
fhinU ''IrpnSon Ielnnx, Rnhart Hail.,