The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-01-05
HON. J. O'CONNOR POWER.
His Lecture Last Night.

ST. Patrick's Hall, last evening. ut 7.3a
O'Clock, presented an enliyened appearance a.
dense throng poured in. awaiting the ar
rival OF the guest of the evening, Hon. J.
OConnor Power, M. P. These were fully
$500 people present, anxious to hear the dis.
course of the great orator. The hall was taste
fully decorated with Irish and American flags.
and to add to the lveliness of the scene
band dscoursed patriotic airs. The audience
was most select and frequently evidenced their
love OF the "auld countrie" by bursts of ap-
plause.
MIR. Power was felicitousy introduced by
Jno. A. Gilmore, Esq.
After being introduced by Mr.. Gilmore,
Mr.. Power spoke as follows:
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Ge,,ten,en-Let
me assure you that l feel very proud and
happy of being honorod by this excellent
opportunity of addressing the citizens OF New
Orleans on the great question of Irish indie
peudence. [Cheers. During the four
months in which / have been occupied as an
humble advocate OF Irish nationality in this
free land, l can remember no meeting that
was more important in lis component parts,
or in its public character, than the meeting
which l have now the honor to address.
| [Cheers.
l was anxious to have some acquaintance
, with the city of New Otleans, CT this vast
commercial metropolis of this portion of the
American Union, that is so justly celebrated
| for the intelligence and unbounded hospi-
tally OF its people. l have come three thou
sand miles across the sea to speak to you ON
the condition Of Ireland. Ihave come amongst
people tonight, whose hearts beat warm in
| sympathy with the wronged and suffering Of
Ireland. [Cheers]
| This is not the first time in which public
opinion in this free land has been appealed
to for judgment in the great cause of Ireland
| vs.. England. You have all been made aware
of the unhappy condition of that land, as far
as it was possible, through the columns of the
public press.
The Irish people have been in sympathy
with the cause Of American freedom ever
since that happy morning on which the flag
Of the Republic was first unfurled. Ireland
| rejoiced when Washington received the sword
of CORVALLIS at Yorktown. The cause of
Washington was pleaded by Irish Statement
on the floor of the British Parliament
[Cheers].
But don't mistake me; have not come
here tonight to make an appeal for American
aid in the great cause of Irish independence,
pie words should reach the ears of the Ameri-
can people. because believe that when the
Irish question shall have been presented to
them IN its true colors they will recognizes the
cause of Ireland as the cause of humanity
[cheers that it is therefore entitled to that
sympathy which the American people have
never yet withheld from a people struggling
to be free. [Cheers.
! do not come here tonight, citizens of New
Orleans, to speak to you as an individual /
come here commanded to speak to you in the
name Of the counties OF Ireland. l come here
to denounce and repudiate English rule in
Ireland. [Great cheers l have no hostility
to the Engiishman as an individual. / know
many of them who possess all the qualifica-
tions Of gentlemen, and, therefore, have noble
qualities. | come here to night not to stir up
feelings of race or of discord, but simply to
proclaim that the struggle for national indie
pendence in Ireland has never yet ceased to
exist. [Great cheers.
You cannot, my friends, have failed to notice
the growing sympathy which has been within
the past five or Six years manifested by the
American people for that of unhappy
cipally due to the misrepresenta-
tons which have been made respecting the
| political conditions of that country. [Cheers.I
am not here tonight to speak on behalf
OF the Protestant patriots of 1882. l am not
speaking here to night on behalf of the
Catholic patriots of 1848. am not speaking
on behalf of the Irish patriots of 1876. or on
behalf of any party or creed, but simply upon
tn subject Of "Lberty in Ireland" and
upon the unconstitutional usurpations by the
Imperial Parliament
The speaker dwelt at some length upon ths
many ipjusl ices that had been imposed upon
Ireland during the last century
He concluded by expressing the brightest
hopes for Ireland's future. Altogether tho
lecture was most interesting one.
On next Friday evening Mr.. Power will
lecture in Mobile, and will return in time to
lecture in this city next Sunday evening, in
St. Patricks Hall, on the subject of " Liberty
| in Tro1opd -