Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-02-27

At o'clock Mayor Dawson read en- al
dress OF Welcome, as follows, which was
much applauded by the audience:
GENTLEMEN 1 have been appointed by the
citizens of st. Paul to extend to you . cordial
welcome. In this new land where few and
large fortunes-but where universal abundance
exists-it is hard to realize that IN country
like Ep.land-tne richest nation on the globe
that large portion of the subjects OF that ma
ton should live in constant misery and suffer
from occasional famine. Three times during
the last GO wears has Ireland suffered from the
dreadful scourge of famine. What spectacle
for the world to look at, England, Though
the lord mayor of London, telegraph'ng to
America for aid to prevent starvation among
her own subjects. 1t is disgrace to
the nation. Ireland is blessed with
fruitful soil and genial climate,
her population is small compared with the pop
ulation of many parts of Europe. France,
Belgium and Holland each has larger popu-
lation to the square mile, but there IL no famine
in France, no famine in Belgium, 20 famine
in Holland. Then why has there been famine
Why is there at this moment famine in Ireland
We believe as YOU believe, that the landed
system of ireland has been the cause and Is
the cause of the present as well as the past
distress.
Gentlemen, the Irishman in America can bet
Ter understand this question than the native
American. When q wrong has long been In ex-
istence 1t is hard to correct. Twenty years ago
negro slavery existed in the United states.
Well do remember the Southern planter talk
of the sacred rights of property, lust as the
LANDLORDS of Ireland and England now
talk of the rights of property.
A few determined men in the United States
commenced to agitate the question, and some
of the ablest of them went to England TO agitate
the question there. They acted wisely when
they did 30. The speeches made in England
were more generally read in America than II
they had been made IN the United Statos. You
gentlemen have acted wisely in CLOSING the
United States as your field of action. Your
speeches will be read more attentively in Eng
land than if they had been made in London or
Dublin You are directing the gaze OF the CIV
ilized against a system OF tenant farming In
Ireland that has produced three crops OF lam
inc since 1920 With the slave owners of the
South as individuals in most cases, there was
little fault to find. They were generally good
men, but the system of labor was liable to
abuse, and the civilization of the age justly
condemned it.
With the Irish landlord will not quarrel,
there are many just men among them. Against
the whole system the whole civilized world pro-
tests, and, in my opinion, all that 10 needed Is
exposure of its evils and constant agitation to
cnLlrelY uprOOt IL.
The English government ought to completely
change it. This will cost money and labor, but
it can be easily done, simply by purchasing the
land at a fair price from the landlord
and selling it at fair price to
tho occupants. It will cost less to make this
change than England has spent many a time in
a single war.
During the present century England has made
many reforms both in England and Ireland, and
when her landed system is changed to meet the
present wants of the age, her people will won
der why they had not made the change long
ago. With tenant proprietorship and home
rule famine in Ireland will be unknown. God
speed you in this work. Saint Paul will always
take a lively interest in your success, and will
extend to you a hearty sympathy 30 long as you
are true to the principles You now advocate.
As the chief magistrate of this city, 1t ID my
pleasant duty tc Offer you the freedom ana hos
pitality of st. Paul.
At the conclusion Of this address of vel
come, on motion of G. NJ. MacCarthy, Esq,
Mayor Dawson vas elected to preside over
the meeting, and NJ. j. o Connor was select
ed as secretary. The mayor then introduced
RI. Rev, John Ireland, who was greeted with
unanimous applause, and whose eloquent adj
dress here following was frequently interrupt
ed with lively manifestations of approval.