The Portland daily press., 1880-11-23
IRISH LAND LEAGUE.
Meeting in Irish American Hall
Last Night.
ADDRESSES BY SEVERAL GENTLE
MEN

| In response to a call in the morning papers
upwards of hundred gentlemen assembled i'll
the hall of the Irish American Relief Associa-
ton last evening for the purpose Of forming a
branch of the Irish National Land League in
| this city.
The meeting was called to order by Mr..
Frank Cunnil. CHAM, President of the Irish
American Relief Association He stated that
the people of ireland are today crushed under
an iniquitous land system which is the fruitful
source of all her manifold woes. We have as
sembled for the purpose of forming branch
of the Irish National Land League the object
of which is
First-To put an end to rack-renting, evic-
ton and landlord oppression.
Second-To effect such radical change in
the land SYSTEM of Ireland as will put it in the
power of every Irish farmer to become the
owner, on fair terms, of the land he tills.
AT the close of Mr.. Cunningham's remarks
Mr.. William Melaugh was chosen President
pro tenn, and William II. Looney, Secretary.
On motion of Mr.. Daniel Mannix Mr. Looney
read the constitution of the Irish National
Land League.
Mr.. John M. Todd, in response to many
calls, made very appropriate speech. He said
he was a friend of the oppressed of all nations.
The people of Ireland in their heroic efforts to
obtain possession of the land, enlisted his hear
tiest enthusiasm. 1t is the duty of all patriots
in the true sense of the term. to help the
Irish nation in its heroic efforts.
Hon. f. NJ. Fogg was then called, and was
enthusiastically received. Mr.. Fogg said the
principles for which Parnell thunders today
were near to his heart. He believed the peo-
pie of Ireland were right. They were fighting
the cause not only of Ireland but of suffer
ing and down-trodden humanity the world
over. He greatly feared that unless we were
Wig liant the people of this country would in
less than century be in the same condition in
which the people of Ireland are placed today.
1t is our duty to extend our heartfelt sympathy
to the poor tenant farmer who stretches out his
hands for help.
Elliott King, ESQ.,, was received with mani
festations of applause. Mr.. King made very
fine speech. He traced the history of the land
system of Ireland and gave vi id picture of
the suffering of the Irish farmers The land
system is the prime cause of the evils which
like pail have hung over the Irish people for
centuries. He was present as friend of hu-
manity, as friend of the oppressed wherever
he lived
VIM. III. Looney Esq, was then called up
on. Mr.. L0oney said that the struggle which
to-day convulses Ireland and commands the
attention of the civilized world, is one of the
most momentus in history. 1t is the old fight
of right against wrong, of the aristocracy
against the people. fThe Irish people are
united under that sincere and determined pat
riot, Charles S. Parnell. Ii they pursue the
path of liberty and order, if they remember
and follow the injunction of O'Connell, that
he who commits a crime helps the enemy, they
will succeed, otherwise not. He abhorred
communism and agrariauism, and said such
was not the policy of the leaders of the Land
League. If outrages were committed the true
cause was the land system and not the Land
League. In the fight between the people and
aristocracy, the people of Ireland will win as
did the people in Hungary and France. He
then spoke of the evils of absenteeism, and
the wrongs caused by the possession of the
land besng in the hands Of the non-producers.
In this struggle for existence the Irish people
deserve the hearty coperation and enthusias-
tic support of all patriotic men.
Mr.. Charles Mccarthy, Jr., then made an
excellent speech. He denounced communism.
The principles of the Land League were con-
servative in the true sense of The term. The
present agitation will be success if it is con-
Quoted on the principles of law, order and
justice. There can be no liberty without
law to define and protect it, The dreamer
the incendiary the red handed communist has
no place in the Land League. We must not
return to the bloody days of the French COM
m ne. Z The present agitation proposes to
give the tenant farmer. of Ireland an oppor-
tuLity to obtain by legal and peaceable means
possession of the land upon which he and his
ancestors have lived for centuries. Mr.. Me-
Carthy eulogized Gladstone saying that ihe
had the welfare of Ireland at heart. The
agtator and the conservative statesmen arrive
by different roads to the same goal Mr.. Nc
Carthys remarks were received with much
favor.
Mr.. James Cunningham made a forcible
and well considered speech He denounced
landlordism as the parent of all the wrongs
which has plunged his unhappy country in
the midnight of woe. They obtained the
land by confscations and outrages of the
most infamous description. The LAID should
be wrested from these vampires even if
revolution is necessary. Mr.. Cunningham
said he knew frem experience the bloody
He differed from Mr.. Looney who said that
the great motto of O'Connell "no political
victory is worth drop of human blood" should
be our watchword. He said the history of all
revolutions vindicates the sword. If necessary
Ireland should crush this foul monster land
lordism by wading through a sea of blood.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Cunningham's re-
marks forty-six gentlemen came forward. sign
ed the rolls and paid the initiation fee of one
dollar. Mr.. Cornelius Connolly and II. D.
Brady, Jr. paid five dollars each Me5srs.
Todd, Fogg, King, Turner and Springer signed
the rolls.
Upon motion of Mr.. Charles Mccarthy it
was voted to postpone the election of officers
until the next meeting.
Mr.. William McAleney moved to appoint
committee of five to draft a constitu tion and
bylaws. Carried.
Mr.. George Keey stated that owing to
meeting of the Longshoremen's Association
Its members were unable to be present.
On motion of Mr.. Mccarthy thu me- ting ad-
journed until next Monday, to meet in the
same hall Any gentleman wishing to become
member is requested to leave his name with
the secretary.