National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-01-21
HOUR OF NEED.


meeting, as expressed In the resolutions adopted
an executive committee Of twenty-five gentlemen
with power TO add to their number and I'LL vacan-
cies, be now appointed to carry out all measures
which may be necessary for raising funds and re-
coiving subscriptions and donations and trans
hitting the same In the most appropriate manner
and that said committee be, and 10 hereby EN-
powered TO adopt suitable rules and regulations TO
TO appoint treasurer and collectors and other OIL
GERS, and 70 do all things necessary for
carrying out these purposes. And said committee
At the conclusion OF It's labors shall publish full
and correct account of the disposition made OF oil
subscriptions and donations that shall have come
Into It's hands tho members of the committee TO
VI. S. Cox, ". Gait j. F. Ennis, II. Hume, i. shana
han. J. lyman, 8. Wolf J. A. McDevitt ]. u. Power
a. s. SOlomons. w. II. Plunkett. f. Temple, J. NJ
keogh j. saul, T. Antisell II. EiChorn, j. X.
y Beirne, u. BTOsnan, Arthur Small, q. T. Hardin,
J. Raglan, ". L. Urel and James Fullerton.
A letter was read from
SECRETARY SHERMAN.
The letter expressed the regret of tho writer
at being unable to attend the meeting. In
referring to the appeal for aid the letter said :
Such an appeal made now when this country
enjoys unexampled plenty and prosperity, ought
70 be-and Will be-respOnded to with generous
liberalty and necessarily will excite lively In
lerGsl IN the causes near and remote Of the period
Teal recurrence Of great destitutiOn among the
poorer classes of Ireland.
Tho letter then reviews the causes Of the
present distress In Ireland, which are sum.
moned up rs follows:
First-rhe almost entire dependence Of the popu.
laton upon agriculture. Second-rhe precarious-
ness and insecurity ofthe tenure ofand by the cult
Nators of the soil uud third-Tho total want of CON
troll by the people Of Ireland over It's own revenue
power aud resources, greatly aggravated BY the non
residents large portion of the owners Of the soil
In conclusion, the letter said:
Who can doubt that If the existing land tenure
In Ireland. so eloquently depicted by such states
men as Bright and Mill were so modified as TO Sc
cure fixed tenure to the CutlvatOrs Of the soil in
harmony with justice tothe proprietors and proper
encouragement were given to manufactures and
commerce securing Il greater diversity Of labor
ana production the Emerald Isle would yield food
enough and employment enough TO make happy
homes where now want and destitutiOn IRE.
vail2 II the resources OF Ireland were thus de.
yeloped and diversified, the suffering which now
follow each partial failure of crop could be
averted; but under the present policy the country
must rs during the famine years Of lsi6-g. be con-
and sailing vessels, laden with provisions,
leave the Irish ports while the people are
famishing by the wayside Ireland has an
uncommonly fertile soil and a people noted for
their laborious industry; it is rich in minerals
containing gold, silver, copper, lead, coal and sui
and excellent states, while its lakes and rivers
abound with every variety of edible fish. All
power over these sources of wealth and revenue
was transferred by the act Of legislative union to
the Parliament in London. While It is the duty
a. am sure 1t is the desire OF the citizens Of our
free and prosperous country TO render to the Irish
people all possible did in their distress II is equally
our right and duty TO express the hope that either
by the action Of the British Parliament or what is
better, by free concession to the Irish people Of
home rule they may, by wise legislation, be re-
leased SO far as human laws eau release them,
from the causes and sources of their present suf.
fering.
Letters were also read from Senators Logan,
Ferry and Davis Illinos) and Simon Wolf,
esq, tho latter inclosing q crisp SEQ note. This
ended business for the evening, and at late
hour the meeting adjourned.