Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-03-19
pLuCKY JOHN MITCHELL.

"I Was n COnfederate-BO We're All
the Hest Men Met In America"
From the Cork Examiner.
A large audience assembled at the
Theater Royal last night to hear Mr.
Mitchell's lecture, which was looked for
ward to with a great deal of interest.
For half an hour the house waited with
the greatest impatience, Willing away
the time by facetious remarks and ironi
cal entreaties for cheers for Judge
Keogh;" then it was whispered around
that Mr.. Mitchell had taken very i'll and
could not possibly come down. After
preparing himself for the lecture it ap.
peared he tainted, and any movement on
his part would, it was feared be very
dangerous At this crisis some members
OF the committee were dispatched to
Sundays Well, and Mr.. Mitchell max
ing great effort, rose from his sick
couch and accompanied them back to
the theater. AT nine clock the curtain
rose, and Mr.. Mitchell was seen sitting
in an armchair, looking very i'll and
physically PROSTATE. Mr.. Mitchell was
greeted with tremendous cheering, re-
newed again aud again, the entire audi.
ence rising and waving hats and pocket.
haudkerchiefs. When the excitement
had subsided Mr.. Haly, T. c., moved
that Alderman Dwyer take the chair.
Mr.. Mitchelfs lecture was read for
him, as has been announced, by another
gentleman. In the course of his lecture
he said: "The Prime Minister has dared
to say that my alleged disability rests
upon two distinct grounds-one, that |
am now a felon, and this is the only le-
gal ground alleged; the other is, that |
broke my parole of honor, a matter
which has nothing to do with the law of
the case at all, and is only dragged in TO
cover me with execration, aud to bring
my constituents into contempt for hav.
ing elected such a person. The London
Times, indeed, has discovered a third
disgraceful crime Of which / have been
guilty-yiz that was Southern Con
federate during the war in America. AS
to this last charge, | own the soft inn
parchment. | was a Confederate, and
so were all the best men / met in Amer.
ica Hear, hear My three sons
served in the Confederate army, and
two Of them fell in battle. | am not
such craven recreant as to affect to be
ashamed Of that cause. AS for the other
far more dreadful crime charged against
me-namely, that broke my parole of
honor in escaping from renal colony,
| might, perhaps, content yself with |
referring to the authority Of Mr.. Martin,
member of Meath; of Mr.. Smyth, mem
Der for Westmeath, and of Mr.. Smith
0'Brien cheers who have all indig-
nantly vindicated me against that ruff.
fan charge. Does Mr.. Disraeli imagine
for moment that if had done the
shameful deed he attributes to me |
could now stand up and look my coun-
trymen in the faceT
Mr. Mitchell went on from this point
to defend his action in escaping from
the penal settlement as already given.
He said: The events passed more than
a quarter of century ago, and the only
OF all the details is that which
have given myself in journal which
| kept at the time. That journal, how
ever, was published in America and its
circulation was prevented in this coun-
try by the interference of Dublin Castle,
so that probably not one in forty of
those now present ever saw it. / hold
that volume now in my hand, aud shall
presently read the page of It referring
10 my escape. But first point your at
Lention to this fact that | was three
years at large in Van Diemens Land,
confined there only by the promise
which had given, although there was
20 day or night when might have quit
ted the colony with ease and security, if
had condescended to escape clandes-
timely, and therefore dishonorably."