The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-12-24
The Speeches.

were received with outbursts of applause,
which they SO deservedly merited.
The Speeches.
MIR. DILLON o'BR1EN's REMARKS.
At o'clock the meeting was called to order
by MIR. Dillon O'Brien. He followed in few
remarks expressive of his sympathy for Ire
lands wrongs. and his accord in this move
ment for her relief. His remarks were inter
rupted by applause, and at the conclusion the
approval was prolonged for several minutes.
At this jnncture MIR. @. M. MacCarthy was
elected secretary of the meeting.
EoN. VIM. DAwsoN's ADDRESS.
The Hon. William Dawson, presiding officer,
was then introduced, and spoke substantially
as follows:
honor have received before from my fellow
citizens of St. Paul. I am sorry that am not
able to present this situation in the manner its
Importance demands. The situation of Ireland
cannot be viewed properly without taking into
consideration the government of England. I
admire the good in that government, but alb.
hoz its evils. do not think the landlords
any other class of men.
There are good landlords as we'll as bad; the
evil consists in the abuse Of the privilege.
Ireland has had three famines, viz: 1922, 1916,
and the one under which she is now suffering,
and it may safely be said that with her fertility
of soil and natural resources, nothing but
pernicious system of government could pro-
duce famine. (Applause). The speaker here
adverted to the system of slavery as formerly
applied to the English colonies, and to the sys-
tenn of emancipation going forward in the
West Indies. Isympathize with the Irish peo-
pie from my heart. It ia natural that should
do 80.
1sympathize with their SORROWS aud rejoice
at their prosperity, and feel justly proud at
whatever they have done. (Applause.)
REV. FATHER sHANLEY's ADDRESS.
Next in order Father Stanley was introduced.
he was greeted with great applause. Father
Stanley had regrets and pleasure to express in
appearing before the meeting. He was Bishop
1reland's substitute, and he regretted that the
meeting was deprived of the privilege of list
ening to Bishop Ireland: Yet withal,. the
speaker felt happy to he able to express his
own views. (Applause.)
The speaker then took up the land question,
and reviewed it at length, giving salient points
of history relative to its imposition.
Before the tenth century the Irish enjoyed
their own laws, etc. All thi. order of things
had been upset. It was partially due to the
simplicity of the people, and largely due to
the craft and avarice of the invaders. The
speaker then related how the land of Ireland,
under Henry II, had been divided into two
sections, and one apportioned to some lord.
Against this the people protested. Then Ire
land was castillated, yet the people fought
against the iniquitods land system. The annals
of Munster give such picture of humiliation
as history fails to record of any other nation.
Fraude, historian, even gives graphic picture
of the cruelty. The duke of Alva had been
cruel. but he spared children. But Sir Philip
Carew had not spared even ''the cules," as he
Obi hiatt
swept from the face of the earth.
The Cromwellian period was also alluded to.
and the cruelty which banished three provinces
to the cliffs to linger in starvation, was told
with fiery eloquence. Famine then laid her
CHASTITY hands upon Ireland, and from that
the features and griped the vitals of
the Irish peasantry. This would
hold good 80 long as the present inquitous
system obtained. The Irish only asked that
they be given a chance to live, and did not ask
that the inher;tors should give up their land,
but to make the rent such that labor would re-
suit in life.
Starvation would be banished from the land
ijustice and equity were melted out. Father
Stanley here related joke exemplary of the
condition to which the Irish had been reduced.
An Irishman entered junk shop. DE you
buy bones and old rags said he. Il do" wa,
the reply. ''Then put me on the scales and
Yes, this Irishman was only personal ex.
ample of what England had done for the Irish
All asked was a chance to live, and that rents
should be reduced or the people liberated from
q system which Slapped their life and made la
Dor actually unremunerative. In this connec
ton Father Stanley contrasted Belgium and
Ireland, the former was nothing in resources
as compared with Ireland, yet a beggar wal
unknown in Belgium. It was all told in thu
simple story, that thess tiliers o
own their lands. In conclusio,
Father Stanley declared himself an Irishmal
to the backbone and he was in full sympathy
with old Ireland in her hour of great suffer
ing.
At the conclusion of his remarks Fathe
Stanley was enthusiastically applauded.
Sunsp0I7ettc Letters.
Secretary MacCarthY read the following let
ten: p.
BISHOP aRACE's LETTER.
ST.. PAUL, 18th December, 1879.
DEAR Sm: have the pleasure to acknOw
edge the receipt of your kind invitation to
present at the meeting Of the citizens of 81
Paul, to be held this evening. While pleadin
in excuse my inability to be present, it is hart
~ necessary should ask you to assure II
meeting that the object for which it hssxa
sembled has my deepest sympathy. Pefhal
this present distress which has come upon tt
people of Ireland is Intended, under tho prov
dence OF God, to bring into prominence anew
under more suspicious circumstances tina
Of all the ills of Ireland and its people. II
- all khor nfnf Fl