National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-02-04
Tho Mansion nouse Committee.


citv, numbering about forty gentlemen, called
upon Mr.. Parncll ut Wizards Hotel for the
purpose OF paying their respects aud express.
ing their sympathy with his mission to the
United States. After formal introduclions,
Dr. Thomas Antisel, president Of tho asso.
citation, made q very handsome address, OF
which the following Is an outline:
The Robert Emmett Association was graft.
fed to have the opportunity of meeting Mr..
Parnoll and the gentlemen with him. They
rendered their thanks to him for his fearless
and able advocacy Of justice for Ireland, and
begged tn express to him, in the strongest
manner possible an earnest hope for the speedy
success of tho movement Of which he is the
trusted leader. He assured Mr.. ParnCll that
the Robert Emmett Association would do every
thing which was within its legitimate power
TO assist in keeping before the American PEG.
pic the true situation OF affairs In Ireland, and
TO the full extent of its humble means would
render, from time to time, pecuuiary assist
ance to the Land League and Home Rule Re.
| form movement in Ireland. DIR. Autisell fur.
Their said that the Robert Emmett SssS.
citation WAS proud 70 meet tho cham.
riYu Of The Cause Of tho tenant farmers of Ire.
land, to thank him for his noble efforts In
that cause, and to wish him God-speed in his
present mission of justice and humanity. And
while lie could scarcely hope that the Just
|
near future, he was not without hope that ut
no very distant day the noble efforts of Mr..
Purnell aud the Land League of Ireland
would DO crowned with the full measure of
success.
Mr.. Parncll said in reply that he and the
gentlemen with him felt deeply the honor paid
them by this visit Of the Robert Emmett Asso'
citation Of Washington. Looking around him.
he felt satisfied that the sympathy and iuflu.
cnce of the Robert Emmett Association could
not fail to be Of immense Importance when di-
rcctcd to the advancement OF the cause which
he had tue honor to REPRESENT aud, abiding
10 the hope expressed by DR.. Antiscll, he be-
lieved that, not only was the present move.
ment for the reform of the land laws of Ire
land the most important which had ever taken
place there, but also that every Indication
pointed TO its successful issue ia the near fl.
ture. Mr.. Parnell then went on to say that
having understood that the gentlemen of the
Robert Emmett Association had taken an
important part In the generous work of
raising fund In the District of Columbia for
the reliofOf the distress now prevailing in Ire
land, he felt compelled, in justice to the sui.
ferers and to the cause which he represented,
to tell the association in all candor, aud In the
spirit in which he knew his uttcrnnces would
DO received, that the channel which had been
selected for the distribution Of that fund was
hostile to the interests of the tenant farmer:
that not single gentleman engaged in the
administration of the Mansion House fund was
in favor of the movement for the removal of
the causes which have produced periodic dis
tress IN Ireland In word, the Mansion
, House committe is n land lord s committee and
constantly exerts its influence in tho most
, improper manner, to prevent the oppressed
tenantry from attending the lawful public
meetings Of the Land League. The gentle
men around him would easily understand
that to compel the victims of vicious Ian
N lafg
for tho means Of subsistence would
be only to place them still more
completely at the mercy of the landlords
I The gentlemen whom lie was addressing must
at once perceive that any funds sent to the
Mansion House committee could only be used
in the interests of the landlords, and for the
) still greater degradation Of the unfortunate
= people who are forced by the cravings of
famine to apply to such source for relief No
one could regret more deeply than he the
necessity which compelled him to make this
statement; but his personal honor aud duty to
the oppressed and lamine.strickcn people left
him no alternative, He felt the more con-
strained to say this because lie well knew that
the generous people of America do not desire
that one dollar contributed 10y thom should be
used, either directly or indirectly, as II duress
upon the starving tenant farmers.
Dr. Autisell stated in reply that he was
: deeply panied to learn that any mistake had
been made in the selection OF the channel for
the distribution Of tic funds collected In this
District. Speaking for himself and for the
members of the Robert Emmett Association, he
could say that it was not until this moment
= suspected that the names of Z. j. Smythe and
d Messrs. Sullivan aud Gray would have ap.
. peDred upon the Mansion-HUuse committee
had that committee not been in full sympathy
, with the cause of the tenant farmers. 1t was
u further thought that The fact that the names
, Of prominent clerRymen Of all denominations
= were upon that committee would insure the
= proper and most liberal administration of its
fund. What had already been done could
not, Of course, DO recalled but he felt assured
that the executive committee of this District,
com posed as 1t is of some Of our most inn
portant philosophical and philanthrOpic
citizens, would, whom the matter is brought
before them, take the proper steps TO transmit
such funds Us are now on haud, or which may
be collected, to AN agency which will not be
subject to such improper influences as those
described by Mr.. Purnel.
Mr.. Dillon was then called upon and mad G
a short address, in which he emphasized what
y Mr. Parnell had said regarding the Mansion
= House committee.
General James Il. OBclne, secretary Of the
executive committee OF the Irish Relief Fund
n Of this District, was called upon, aud he sci
forth in feeling and appropriate language the
causes which had operated upon and influenced
the committee In the selection o.; the Mansion
Aluuaf - tue lluaNbc lOI VIC ulolll
- button of the fund raised here. lie thought
indeed he might say he knew, the gentlemen
Of the executive committee desired to senC
the money contributed hero to the place whcr,
n it would do tho most good, and he now re
A. GREETED to learn that mistake he'd been mado
al lie had no doubt, however, the executive com
IS mittee would see that tho mistake would no
be repeated,
8: Dr. Autiseil, in the course Of an informa
Il. conversation which cnsucd at this point, tool
In occasion to call Mr. Paruols attention to th,
Il recent action Of the Robert Emmett Associa
lc ton OF this city, looking TO the establishment
- of clubs in this country auxiliary TO thu
ie Home Rule and Land'Leaguo organizations il
7; Ireland, MI Paruell expressed bis entire ap
- proyul of the movement, and said that sucI
o. clubs would be Of vast service, and truste,
u. that no effort would be spared to establish
u. them at once. lie had read tho resolutions o
:" tho Robert Emmett Association in regard L
- the matter, aud would take great pleasure il
SO transmitting tho copy delivered to him to tn
." proper officers of The league in Dublin. III
association then withdrew after cordiu
y. interchange OF sdeuB.
ty Masonic Hall was crowded full last night o.
~ the occasion Of the entertainment given by TN
ia ladies uf the Irish Relief As.ociati0u honda