National Republican., 1880-01-05
PARNELL And IRELAND.
Explanation Of the Land Leagu3r's
Visit to America.
Meeting of Irish Americans aud Sympa.
til zcrs Last Night-Gilnore's Garden
Crowded - Mr.. Parncll Explains
the Double Object of Ills
Errand-Tho Defenderuf
the Landlords Kissed.
The PurnoIl Reception Meeting Last Night.

The Pnrnell Reception Meeting Last Night.
NEW YoRK, Jan. 4.--Scldom has such large
crowd of Irish Americans gathered together as
wero assembled tonight in Madison Square
Garden to tender public welcome to MIR. Par.
ncll
The asscmblage, however, was n mixed one,
and included many ladies. a detachment OF
the Irish volunteers of Staten Island was
tlanked on each side of the platform, and Gil.
more's band occupied place IN the southern
gallery. Tho audience numbered about 5000
persons, and was orderly throughout, although
a large force Of policemen was on hand in case
of need.
Hon. Thurlow Weed, Judges Gldersleovc
and Alkcr and other prominent citzcns were
seated on the platform. Mes5rs. Parnull aud
Dillon at longth appeared, and were received
with the utmost enthusiasm.
Judge Allser called the meeting to order,
and Judge Gildersleovo presidol, both m liking
brief addresses.
MR.. PARNELL's SPEECH.
On being introduced, Mr.. Pamol thanked
those present or their kind aud cordial re.
cepton, apoOgi2od for his imperfcctions aud
regretted that the great cause which lie had
been called upon to plead had not boon in.
trusted TO better aud ablcr hands. "But,
ladies and geutlomen," said he, 81 fear not for
this cause, imperfect and inadequate us may
you. feel confident that from lis greatness
and justncss it needs no great effort OH my
part to set IL before yOu in such way us to
have the heUrticst sympathy of this great and
free Nation. The American people occupy to-
day proud position in respect to this question
ii position of which |, rs one who boasts OF
some American blood InppRusel feel Justly
proud, aud l am glad when | think that | may
have had somo small share in directing the
attention of this country to our cause.
The American Nation has, by common con.
sent, been made tho
ARBITRATOR IN THIS GREAT STRUGGLE
for the land Of Ireland. Within tho last rcw
days most extraordinary oCctiranCo has taken
plaC9. Tho landlords Of Ireland for the first
tlatc i'll history have recognized their true
position as culprlts, and have come before the
bar Of American public opinion to plead their
cause as best they may. [Applausc.l l re-
joice that the pages Of tho New York Herald-
[groans and hisses there Is no necessity to
hiss the Now York Herald; It has really been
indirectly of the greatest possible service to
our cause, aud l rejoice that its pages have been
opened to the landlord side of the question.
| rejoice that man of tho great ability
of Mr.. Kavanagh, has come forward to make
the best defense that ho can for the accurscd
system that prevails in Ireland. [Groaus aud
Misses. The thinking people in this country
will now feel an interest in tho question
which they could not hayo felt before, and it
is fitting that tho people of America should
know the very best that can be said for the
landlords Now, l wish to explain very
shortly my objects in
VISITING THIS COUNTRY,
and may say that the intention we originally
have had has been considerably modified by
circumstances. Originally wo proposed only
| to ad lrcss you on behalf of our political or.
ganizltion, but because events i'll Ireland have
eliminated SO rapidly the terrible fear of
widespread famine is so imminent, that wo
feel constrained to abandon our original in
tontion and leave ourselves open tO receive
from the people of America money for pur.
poses of political organization, and also money
| for the relief OF the present distress in ire
| land. We propose then to form two funds
one for the relief of distress and the other for
the purely political purpose Of forwarding our
organization. Applause. These fands will
be kept entirely distinct, so that tho donors
will DO afforded an opportunity of doing as they
| please in the matter. IL has been suggested
bya very influential paper in this city that
we ought to devote our attention only to tho
| relief of the distress, and that we should Join
| the committee which has been proposed by
the Now York Herald [groans and hisscsl for
tho relief OF the distress of the Irish
landlords and British government in
| general. But if we accept the very good ad-
us in the shape Of words during the last few
days. am afraid that we should incur the
imputation Of putting the cart before the
| horse.
THE CAUSE OF PRESENT DISTRESS
is the unequal and artificial system of land
tenure which prevails in Ireland. The ef-
feet of that cause is, of course, distress, and
while we take care to do the best we Cln-aud
| the best we can will be but little--to relieve
the distress, we must also take care that we
take advantage of tho unexampled opportu.
nifty which is now presented to us
| for the purpose Of sweeping away the
bad system. In 1917, and subsequent
years, when tho great Irish famine
took place, America. came forward tho first
| among nations, with uGcXamplUd libcrality.
Bat did that lbcrality prevent tho famine
Did ii prevent millions from dying of slarvl-
tion or pestilCnCG which follOwod2 Did 1t
prevent the Punishment of many more
| millions? Did itprGvcnt scenes in ireland IN
! those years sccnes Oh board emigrWnG ships
| No no charity that can be given by America
will avail to prevent Irish distress. That
must bo the duty of the British government,
and we must see that we shame that govern
ment into sense of its obligations.
| Are w0 to bU compelled continuously
every ten or twelve years TO appear as
mendicant3 before the world? Then l
say to the people Of this country, If
you WISH 10 rescue us lIph lNUl position ntlp
us in destroying the system which brings it
on. America subscribed, aud subscribed lib
orally, In those years People Of ireland liv.
ing in this country hGyo been subscribing ever
since. Every cent Of their hard.eancd money
sent over there with such true devotion to
their fcllow.countrymen has gone in payment
Of excessive rents aud in
BoLsTERING UP THIS TERRIBLE SYSTEM
81 said Just now that we must shame the
British government into u sense Of its oblga.
tions TO ireland In this ga.ter. What was the
chief secretg.y's reply to those who waited
upon hin. and urged him to establish fuel
depots throughout the west OF Ireland for |
must nlain TO those VINO are not acquainted
witt ash matters that almost the entire popu.
ation of Ireland depends for its fuel upon the
turf that is cut in bogq This fuel, owing to
excessive rains throughout the whole summer
is in state Of mud ii Is entirely unfit to
burn, aud in addition TO the pressure Of hunger
we hayo added the pressure Of cold. Well Mr.
LowtheI[ hisscsl, whom he was asked to ostab.
lish fuel dopots-and | only mention this as
an exlmple of the manner in which our off,
ctals over there treat this questionable, oh
they have fuel enough to burn bon fires IN
honor Of tha release of Mr.. Dayitt.' Because
A few dried or haf-driod furze bushes were
d. 81. l.; s,, a.. go 81