Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-12-12

Great Demonstration at the Opera House
Last Evening In Honor of the DIstin-
guished Visitor and His Cause-Recep-
tion Address of Mayor ce-Eloquent
and Statistical Portrayal of Ireland's
Wrongs by the Eloquent Visitor.
For some time past the friends of Ireland
in st. Paul, and that embraces nearly the en-
tire population of the city, but more especial
ly the members of the Land League have been
more or less interested in the anticipted arri-
val in this city of Hon. T. P. OConnor, NJ.
P, one of the noted and historic members of
the English parliament, who is compeer of
Parnell, Dillon, Davitt and Others in their
struggle for Irish rights. Mr.. O'Connor was
expected in this city on Saturday afternoon,
but was detained, so that he did not arrive un-
til yesterday afternoon by the $50 train. He
was met at the depot by Messrs. Dillon,
O'Brien, w. L. Kelly, G. M. Mccarthy, R. j.
Markoe, John Bell, and others of the reception
committee, who escorted him to the Mer-
chants hotel. Owing to the uncertainty
of his arrival, the reception committee
was not as full as it otherwise
would have been. The few hours intervening
between his arrival and the address at the
Opera house in the evening was occupied by
the distinguished stranger in receiving those
with man whose name is as we'll known on
this side of the Atlantic as the other.
At little before o'clock p. m. the Emmett
Light Guards and the Knights of St. Paul
headed by the Great Union band marched to
the Merchants hotel for the purpose of acting
as an escort to Mr.. O'Connor from the hotel
to the Opera house. Long before the process
sion reached the Opera house every seat was
filled with an anxious waiting audience.
Mr.. O'Connor was escorted to the green
room, where he was introduced to number
of our leading citizens. At little after
o'clock he was escorted to the stage and his
appearance was greeted with round after
round of applause. Upon the stage was seat
ed Hon. E. Rice, mayor of the city, Hon. W.
p. Murray, Col. A. Allen, Rev. DR.. Weschler,
Hon. W. Fl. Mead, w. L. Kelly, John Bell,
Major Newson, s. L. Pierce, J. w. McClung,
James KING, Col. Ahern, Dillon O'Brien, r.
l.. Markoe, Alderman John O'Connor, Mat
thew Breen, and other prominent citizens. AZ
ter series of popular airs from the Great
Union band the vast assemblage was called to
order by c. NJ. Mccarthy, Esq, president of
the st. Paul Land League, who, in few well
chosen words, alluded to the object of this
meeting, and concluded by introducing Mayor
Rice, who spoke substantially as follows:
MAYOR RICE's ADDRESS.
Mr.. President, Ladies and Gentlemen:
Away off in the Atlantic ocean, toward the
North sea, there is beautiful island inhabited
by "brave men and fair women,'' who for CEN
turies past have complained of oppression and
misrule. We know they have suffered as few,
if any other nationalities have.
They have presented to the world for it's
good, brilliant array of orators, dlVines,
jurists, poets, journalists, statesmen and great
generals, who have commanded the respect
and admiration of the highest and remotest
civilization.
They are endeavoring to free themselves
from their misery, and are appealing to the
patriotic and just sentiment OF other national
tiles for encouragement and sympathy in their
struggles to better their condition Is there
any person in this land-certainly not iu this
great Northwestern region-whose heart does
not 60 out with the greatest warmth towards
unhappy Ireland?
None such have or ever will exist in the
United States of America.
Whatever feasible plan may be devised for
their relief will receive our support, as we
hail with joy every concession made in their
interest by the government of Great Britain.
AS to what are the wisest meas
half, men, of course. differ, but I
take pleasure in presenting to you gen.
tlemen possessing, in great degree, the con-
fldence OF the Irish people in Ireland; and, as
l understand, on very intimate terms with
one OF their foremost and trusted leaders,
James Stuart Parnell !; gentleman whose oc-
cupation was that of a Journalist, but who,
by the choice of his constituents, has been
elevated down to become member of the
British parliament for Galway.
He will tell you the story of their difficult
les, and present his views as to how the great
question that SO sorely afflicts the Irish peo-
pie, may be solved.
know you will give him most respectful
hearing. Ladies and gentlemen, present to
you the Hon. T. P. O'Connor, member of the
British parliament for Galway, ireland.
''THE MEMBER FROM GALWAY"
At the conclusion of Mayor Rice's remarks,
which were interrupted several times by loud
applause, three cheers were given for the
"Member from Galway with vim that
made the spacious auditorium ring. Mr..
O'Connor's appearance in front of the foot
lights drew out another round of applause
which lasted for several minutes. Quiet being
restored, Mr.. O'Connor commenced by saying
that he must apologize for sore throat, but
he hoped he never should lack voice to speak
in the cause of justice. (Applause.) He first
took up the subject of the Gladstone land bill,
and denied Indignantly that Ireland owed Gny-
thingIto Mr.. Gladstone for his so-called efforts
in her behalf, Whatever Ireland had obtained
had been through the efforts of her own people
and her own leaders. He the rapidly
renewed the course which Mr.. Glad
stone had pursued, and asserted that
up to and including the queens speech of
May, 1880, not word had been said in regard
to the Irish land question. This had been
studiously ignored. 1t was reserved for
thirty five Irishmen, who pledged themselves
to follow where Parnell might lead (vociferous
applapse) to open the question. They took
prompt and positive action in calling the at
tention of parliament to the Irish question.
Leaving this the speaker referred to the fact
that the potato crop was the great staple pro-
duction of Ireland. 1t was this crop which
formed the partition wall between the tenant
farmer and famine. In 1876 the crop of pota.
toes amounted to 6O,OOO, 600 bushels, in 1877
this was reduced to 10000, 900, in 1878 it was
81, ,000 900, and in 1879 there was only Is, ,OOO,-
600 bushels. Plague, famine and eviction fol-
lowed. 1t was then that Parnell, the Columbus
of the Irish cause, came to the front.
The eloquent speaker then gave a graphic
description of what famine was in Ireland.
Following this he alluded in sarcastic Ian
guage to the Queens speech of 1880, which
contained words of sympathy for all the