The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-05-24
The Land .saxue.
ADDRESS OF TpE RrcnNcD LAND LEAGUE rC
cITIzexs or IRISH BflTH AND DESCENT.

A
CITIZENS or IRISH BrrH AND DESCENT.
AT the last regular meeting OF the Land
| League the undersigned others were In
structed TO issue an address V the citizens
OF Richmond Of Irish birth and descent,
and to all Others who nay belD sympathy
with a nation whose people ar suffering a
great calamity. The address ! as follows ::
The human mind cannot coniure up
anything more hidesus than the Inhabitants
Of a country dying for tie wantof food IN
the midst OF plenty. We venture 10 sag
that an analogy OF thecondffjor OF Ireland
at the present time caDnot be bund in the
history Of any other na'ioD ani, knowing
as we do the love OF liberty, oliustice and
fair play that permeates througi the breast
OF every honest and upright citizen OF
Richmond, we feel that they vii not mis-
Judge our motives nor mlscotstTue our
acts when we submit 10 them tie aim and
object OF the Richmond Land Lague. We
deem ID unnecessary TO enter into the
details Of the terrible suffering now pre-
vailing in that beautiful but Unfortunate
island, as recital Of them would only
make the heart sick and humanity shud-
der. Ireland is like unto a beggar on
bended knees, with outstretched hands
supplicating aid from every nation.
Those who compose the League have no
desire that the land OF their birth and
that OF their ancestors should be like q
cringing mendlcant. Our object to
endeavor 10 prevent this and place the
responsibility Of her wretch,d condition
on the shoulders OF those to whom 1t De-
longs, and hold them up 10 the. ssorn and
contempt Of the Christian world.
Mr. James Redpath, the correspondent OF
the New York Tribune, who has rturDed
from visit to the land that was the beacon
light OF Europe as fur back as tbs fourth
century OF the Cbristiin era, says: "On the
seacoast people are eating the black sea-
weed to keep from starving. have
heard so much and have seen so much OF
the sorrows Of the west OF Ireland that
when the memory If them rises before me
stand appalled, at The vision, and in the
silence OF my climber have wept
in the endeayor TO describe it. III
could put the picture into words
/ could not utter the words. must
call witnesses less sensitive" We
cannot bring ourselves to the task OF de-
picting those horrible but nevertheless toe
true scenes OF which MIR. Redpath was an
eyewitness. Mr.. Redpath asks: "What i
the duty of the friends OF Ireland?" and
his answer ought TO lind an echo through
out the world. lie SAYS: "First, to feeC
the people who are starving, and after tha
to help them to improve their condition.
This Is Just what the Land League propose
to do. Our object is to aid our suffering
kindred morally and financially, and ash
the cooperation OF every friend OF the op
pressed, regardless Of creed or nationality
TO come forward and lend a helping hand
"AIl thugs, therefore, that We ewould tina
men should do unto you. do We also unt'
them" We venture to assert that neye
was a more humane task undertaken D.
men than that which the Land League hav
resolved 10 accomplishments, to save IN
rack-rented peasantry OF Ireland iron
death brought on by starvation, and TO tax
measures to prevent recurrence OF tnos
artificial famines. II is well.known fac
that there Is an abundance OF food produce'
on the farms OF Ireland, but ii has to be sol'
| TO pay the erorbitant rents to be spent II
the gambling dens OF Daden.Daden an
elsewhere.
DIR. John llcGee. a noted priest OF Stri
bally. writing TO the New York Irtbun
commissioner, states: ''Tbis land systeI
OF ours pays out, from the sweat and toll {
our inhabitants, S90,000,000 yearly to 81
or seven thousand landlords, who do n'
thing hn...orrmeiit hn. t'c. s. or hpnt the tenantrl
gytsteln abstracts S35,000,00O more from IN tn
land in imperial taxation, while there IS re
for food, clothing, and suslenance OF nv Nv
millions OF people not more tnan 3O,00o,oo
or $40 per head yearly" Can anybod
wonder that the people OF Ireland suii'
from hunger and want? The system Is
monstrosity and must be changed.
A meeting OF the Land League VIII iai
place at Cathedral Hall, corner Ninth az
Marshall streets, Sunday evening at
O'Clock. Able speakers have been lnyi'e
and are expected TO be present to ADORE
the meetiHg. We cordially invite our II
loW-citlzens to attend.
WILLIAM II. WARD, President
p. McGovERN, First Nice-PresIdent
JAMES HAYES. Second Vice-President;
p. KINNEY. Recording Secretary;
J.V. ReDDY, Corresponding Secretary
ID. HORGAN, Financial Secretary;
+. p. MURPHY, Treasurer.
p. 5. Admission free.