National Republican., 1876-01-21
the EVERGREEN ISLE.
LECTUR: OF JOHN 1GoIE0R POWER, Mp.
BRILLIANT ASSEMBLY AT FORO's
tgHEsT WORDS lF IN nER HEPnsEETLTIE
GLOWING Tribute TO Bis CONSTITUENTS
DISCUSSION OF lRSH SOCIAL QUESTIONS
Why Her Industries Are Unavailable

In accordance with announcement, Mr.. John
O'Connor Poser, representative In the brltlsn
House of Commons for the county Of mayo, He-
land Iectured last night at Ford's Opera House.
his subject being "The Condition OF Ireland
Social, Political and Industrial" swas to be
expected, the announcement Of the appearance
of one of the representatives of Home Rule, ana
his promised discourse on theme 80 dear to
large number of our citizens, crowded the coy
theatre with an audience at once interested and
obseryant.
In personal appearance Mr.. Power is q fair
type of the race from which he sprung: OF
medium stature, fair complexion, light hair,
frank, blue eyes, easy, graceful manner, excita-
BILE to q degree, enthusiastic when he warns
with the uppermost subject Of his soul-his
eountry's wrong. He made his bow to ash'
ington audience worthy alike Of his and their
reputation. If one disposed to erfticise there
were several minor points On which the lecturer
might be taken to task, but, as he rang out IN
pure and simple English, and with emphasis
enough to prove bis sincerity in the story OF MS
country's wrongs, and added to them in genuine
Irish fashion his words Of admiration for the me
could but admire and Ioin in the hearty ap-
plsuse which interrupted his u;Terances through
at S o'clock the curtain was raised and Mr..
Power, accompanied by Senator Jones, OF RIA;
Hon; n. p. Banks, of Mass.; Hon. S, 5; Cox, OF
Society, No. J, and Mr.. John Connell, commander
If the knights Of s. Patrick, came upon tne
pearsnce M had sui tnbsided, Mr. Banks introduced
the lecturer as follows:
REMARKS OF Mr.. EANKs.
Mr.. Banks said the telegraph made them ac-
Quainted with the doings OF all the woTld, the
Interests Of all nations, and the progress made
fr m time to time in the struggle for equal rights
and universal liberty. 1twasimpossioIe for them
here in this country to regard with indinerence
~ rInan hasa hn nu-a- In
same great end and more especially was TINS
true in viewing the struggles OF the lrsh patrot3
Whatever concerned Ireland concerned our whole
country. They wished the Irish people to enjoy
the same liberties. They respected and honored
the men who had been true enough and fearless
oppressors Of their land. While they were strug.
gIing TO forget Il past, and cover the errors Of
the past with the veil of amnesty, they wished
the same oblivion OF the past for those struggling
for the same liberties and rights that they had
won. There was every reason TO believe that
their hopes would soon be accomplished. IL was
their pleasure TO meet from time 90 time one from
the numbers of noble men, who cane here to
speak Of the struggles of their country for liberty
from personal observation. Such a one, Hon.
o'Connor Power, a Distinguished mem Der OF the
British Parliament, would then address them
upon the social, political and industrial condition
OF Ireland.
THE LECTURE.
Mr.. Power then advanced. He assured his
hearers that be felt very proud and happy in
being afforded opportunity of raising his voice
in this the capital Of the freest nation on the
globe in behalf Of struggling ireland. This was
not the first time that the tribunal OF this great
country had been appealed to for Judgment be-
tween ireland and England. He mad watched
an Irish patriot had made such an appeal aud
the sympathy of the country had been with
Ireland.
This was so because the balance of Irish and
English opinion in the Enited States was thor.
oughly preserved. They had here transplanted
Irish nation, who exercised an influence upon
public opinion. England, though not represented
by numbers, had literature which exerted
great influence upon the people Of this country.
sented here at the national capital by recog-
nized ambassador and consuls in every city. Here
he stood q penant at: the bar Of America and
where, If lot in America, should
PROSECUTED FREEDOM
find q voice? They were about to celebrate
Centennial in honor Of Declaration OF lndepend-
ence but they should take care that 1t was not an
act Of treason they celebrated. 1t was an act of
treason, but tres SON that was right because sue
cessfuI. He could find in American history SYM
pathy for the cause of ireland. When the flag of
Ireland was for America. Irish statesmen in the
Irish House of Parliament boldly advocated the
cause Of Washington; and when CORVALLIS sur.
rendered to him his sword the Irish people re-
Joiced; and they have sought since then, on hos
pitable shores, refuge from English tyranny.
America noble heart is touched by Irish misery,
and her generous hand is rendered for her re.
lief. Ireland has followed up the history of the
United States, her trials and her trlumphs A
to see engraved on Irish hearts the motto Of
Byron" Those who would be free, themselves
must strike the blow" The freedom Of ireland
will and great intellect OF the Irish people. His
simple words would reach the heart of America
when the Irish question was seen In Its true
colors. The cause of Ireland was the common
cause Of humanity, and entitled her TO the SYM
pathy Of the whole civilized world. America has
never yet withheld her hand TO assist an enslaved
people struggling to be free.
They were assembled TO discuss
AN IMPORTANT QUESTION,
tie social politics and Industrial condition OF Ire
land. The Irish land was the basis Of her social
system. There we're In Ireland at present 60 900
agricultural tenances, and more than jO0,O01 OF
these were what they called. tenants at will, who
might at any moment be turned out OF possession.
no superior title than that which was founded
In conhscation and blood. They held by the sane
tion Of the Crown what their ancestors had
He wished to point out that the manner in which
the land had been acquired had good deal to do
with the way 1t had been managed. What was
i'll gotten was generally ill-spent.
He came here to repudiate q system destruc-
tive to Irish freedom. These confscations OF
the social condition Of ireland. They began as
far back as Edward VI, and continued through
the reign of Elizabeth to the time OF Cromwell
and his cruel persecution and Charles II. He
did not refer to the facts because he anticipated
another cenfscation, but because those who had
seized the lands had used their power to effect
These causes had had most depressing effect
upon the 1rith social system. The products of
the country had been spent in other lands. The
people had been divided in two great classes one
Of which was at the very bottom Of the scale.
when the coniseators found themselves suddenly
ses1s ssSs tssy
and to spend the most they could. In this man
ner their expenditures soon outran their incomes,
and they turned their attention to increasing
their revenues. The most inscriptions means
for grinding the tenants were used.
He quoted John Stuart Mill, who said that
would affect the condition Of the Irish tenant.
Socially there was no middle class in Ireland.
He drew an amusing sketch of the Irish squireens,
middle class. For perseyering idleness aud
Scientific dissipation they had no equals. The
income Of one OF this class seldom exceeded but q
few hundred pounds q year, and they found It
necessary with this to sustain the position Of an
aristocrat.
THERE WERE TWO CLASSES,
the very rich and the very poor, but in these
classes thsrs % ,ti. meTs many N N.Y. suSdiysi0Is No
He quoted as an illustration portion Of Man.
gan's poem shout the woman who possessed three
Ss to spssi of the
warm Irish hospitality. the holy attachment for
kindred, the patriotism. the extraordinary re-
tSoush /. light However to LOOK Il the question @
set down for him-not with the eye Of q states
man, not with the eye Of politician, but to look
tical question, involving the peace, the happi.
mesa and the prosperity Of the Irish people.
In speaking OF the political condition OF the
country he warned his hearers from being mis-.
led by the common representations OF the Irish
people in English history. During the first four
hundred years Of England's occupation she had
TO encourage men who refused to acknowledge her
authority, even while the soil was crimson with
her blood. The spirit OF calumny and misrepre.
sentation, BY which the character had been hid.
den from the nations Of Europe down to this very
hour the streams Of fslsehood had descended It'll
many had come to regard their race with feeling
Of indifference only one remove from contempt.
It would only be when the truth was written that
o race Of heroes would be revealed, and men
would be startled out OF their preIudIces.
1t was plainly told In history that whenever
| England was powerful abroad, ireland enjoyed
no mercy or consideration, but whenever
HER ARMIES WERE HUNBLIp
L ireland enjoyed some leniency at her hands
l such was the character of English Legislation
l actuated by fear. There never was time wher
England had dared to submit the issues to the
i people Of Ireland. and he repudiated the idea
that their national rights had been ever surrend
cred. The struggle for Irish nationality voulc
i still be waged In one form or another. They dit
| not seek to detract from English power, but they
presented the spectacle Of their country oppressed
l and persecuted. The hand of God had marked
ireland a. distinct nation, but she had consented