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

St. Patrick's Benevolent Society.
Of Rock Island.
Citizens Generally. "a - r~i
The procession moved, to the solemn
music of dirgc, through several of the
principal streets, the sidewalks along
which were filled 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 abiding to Mitchell and his broth
er.in-law, John Martin, as among the first
and 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 and suffer.
ed, unaccompTished, 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 in-
trodueed 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 giver
in print. Mr. Cannon said: 10 E
Mr.. Chairman, Fslloso Citizens, and Irish
men Of Davenport and Rock Island:
In accepting the, invitation to, addres,
this meeting, | took upon myself at once
the painful and gratifying task; painful be
cause had 10 consider the deaths of Mitch
el spd Martin ia their unfortunate conse
quences to Ireland. and gratifying because
l regard this permission, for such it is, t,
speak upon the lives and labors of thos,
men as the proudest privilege Of my politi
cal lie. From early childhood / have
been taught to regard John Mitchell as tn,
most uncomproinising, incorruptible foC
to British tyranny in my native land, and
therefore the most fitting example of Irisl
national thought. Born in the north O
Ireland, of Presbyterian parents, his fathe
minister Of that faith. and one of tina
memorable band who cast their fortunes
with their suffering country in the never
o-betorgotten year when Ireland exhibited
an endurance, q patient striving and he
rolsm that deied, deies and will defy, tn,
efforts OF hireling press to blot from tn,
literature Of the world-he spent the few
first years of his life at Duugiren, and
his young intellect began to exert itself /
was directed by that patriotic father to tn
contemplation of the beauties, history auC
manifold sufferings, and all-surpassing con
stancy OF Ireland. At the age of eight h,
removed with his parents to Newry, wher
he became acquainted, at school, with III
gentle thoughtful boy, John Martin-ap,
who knows how much the naughty, DARN,
spirit OF Mitchell effected in the breast O
Martin.or how much of the contemplative
angelic nature of Martin contributed TO
wards the almost womanly tenderness.
Mitchell was at times capable of exhibit
ing towards those he loved. Certain it is
friend never loved friend better than thes,
men loved each other, and the death O
Martin, through grief at the loss of hi
trlend,is wonderful testimony to the low,
that bound them. rr
There followed an account of Mitchell
early life, his connection with the .Natio,
Newspaper, &C.
He lett the Nation Newspaper to a man
nger that was beginning to temporize, anC
started the United IrfSbaaez. He could no
accept the only slavish doctrine ever ut
tered by Daniel OConnell, viz: that n,
political amelioration was" worth the shed
ding of drop of blood" Goaded to dar,
every thing by the maddcning sight of ;
nation ground to the dust by taxation, CO
ercion laws, rack renting absentee land
lord system, and unique, but reru thin
soup proselytizing agency, he challenged
the government on their right to thus de
grade people, He was not man to ex
hibit the ....-
1.-THE patient folly that on Bonded knee L.
Gives back the steel that stabbed him."
His letters to Lord Clarendon. English
man, and one to the Orangemen of the
north, settled the matter. Il shall max,
them, said he, in open day pack jury
W NouhtCt uies OF SNOW the WOrfu now rot
ten IS the thread that binds this country t.
England. Being arrested, it was found
that there was no existing law under which
he could be convicted. A servile parIia
ment gave. the world striking illustrator
OF what beautiful thing that Britist con
stltutlon Is, which is so Landed, so bespat
tered with all sorts of praise from the
ballad mougers TO the jurists. The parlia
ment rushed law through under which
riitchell might he-convieted, and called the
thlng 'ueasonfelony Robert Holmes,
Drother mi law Of Robert Emmet, who had
never stood in that Green street court bouse
since the day his high.sould. chiyalarons
relative left its dock Tor the gaIlows. under.
took to cross its accursed threshold in do,
fence of Mitchell after u voluntary retire.
ment OF over forty years tits slorions n
contemplate the prisoner and his counsel
the one young. ardent, patriotic, spurninp
sham and shameful compromise: the 9th.
er old, withered with the frosts of more
than three score winters upon his brow
but the patriotic FIRE Of youths still ahamt
in his bosom. One charged with coDspir
ing to free his country, the counsel ayow
Ing the self'same sentiments, and justify,