The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-02-24

Ger Hlbernlans, council of regular trade
ana iaoor unions, besides very large
NUMBER OF organizations from outside the
city, ana many persons not regularly con-
nected with any of the above societies but
10 latl sympathy with the reception and
mission OF Parnell, constituted the process
sion' Admission was fifty cents and
reserved seats were 81 each. The capaci-
lV OF the building was tested to its ut
most.
1t is estimated that 10000 to 25 900
people were inside the space allotted to
speaking. The crowd was SO dense and
tnS CONFUSION so great that it was with
dimculty that those even near to the
speakers could hear them. It was inn
possible Tor late corners to get near
enough the stand TO catch the words of
the speakers, and equally impossible to
go through into or out of the crowd
"hich surged and cheered around the
stand ihe enthusiasm was unbouuded
| ana was Dy no means confined entirely to
irlsh citizens. Governor Cullom intro
duced the speakers with an expression of
sympathy for their suffering countrymen,
ana or nope tor their speedy relief from
their present distress. He was followed
by Hon. Thomas Hoyne. who vindicated
Parnell from the aspersons which have
been cast at him. complimented him on
the gallant hght he had made in Parlia-
ment, traced his connection with the
merlcan war for independence through
his ancestry, denounced the British gov
ernment tor its neglect to provide against
the famine and suffering in Ireland and
against the oppression which bore heavily
on the Irish tenant. He extended hearty
welcome to the Irish agitators. Regrets
were read from the Governors of ali the
states Of the Northwest, from Chicago
congressman, from Senators Blaine and
Window, from Representatives Hayes and
Springer. Greene B. Raum and some
thirty others.
Speeches by Parnell aud Dillon fol-
lowed, but nothing was said which had
not already been heard 10 other cities,
Resolutions were adopted expressing
profound sympathy with the Irish peo-
pie in their cruel sufferings and prom
ising substantial assistance; that the
famine which is constantly recurring in
Ireland is not the fault of the soil nor
habits of the thrifty Irish people, but to
an Infamous land system, to maintain which
the country is drained of food and heredi-
tary nonresident landlords send no equiYa-
lent back for what they. take away; that
the Irish Land League have the unquali-
fed endorsement OF this assembly 10 their
efforts to secure the amendment of the
laws and for their having made known the
sufferings and wrongs of their starving
people; that the Irish people are entitled
TO make their own soil, and to self govern
ment; that the British government having
robbed its Irish subjects and eoafscated
their lands. arouses the honest indignation
of the civilized world by proposing emigra-
ton as the only remedy. that a hearty
greeting be extended to John Dillon. the
Irish martyrs beir, and John Murdoch.
intrc cpid Scotchmap, who is demanding of
the British government justice to Ireland
also welcoming Parnel az descendant
OF the man who stood in Parliament with
the American rebels of The revolution.
The meeting broke up about midnight. |
The receipts are estimated not far from
$4,000