Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-07-05
LAND LEAGUE EXCURSION TO
TXBEE.
A Day 90 be II embeTed-Incidents
of the Excursion

ed upon the country unuer mOre peculiar
circumstances. The memories OF the past,
the impending anxiety and agony OF the
moment, and hopes of the future, combined
to make 1t a day of unusual and thrilling
interest.
The Savannah Land League, in their
espousal Of the cause of Ireland, decided to
make an excursion to TYbee on the 4th OF
July to raise funds to aid the brave people
of Ireland In their life and death struggle
with landlordism. A more beautiful day
than that which they selected could not be
desired. The heat and brilliancy of the
sun was tempered with refreshing breezes,
which made the day throughout exceedingly
pleasant and agreeable.
The League met at their hall in the morn
ing, and formed In procession to escort
their distinguished guest, John H Parnell,
ESQ, of West Point, Ga, brother OF Charles
Stewart Parnell, President of the Irish Ma
tional Land League, and tllustrious leader
of the Irish people, to the favorite steamer
Plant. announced to leave at O'Clock a.
m. Mr.. Parnell is of tall stature, command
ing figure, and unassuming manner, and has
made favorable impression upon all with
whom he came in contact. He was accom-
panied from the hall by Captain NJ. j. Doyle,
President of the League, and by
Messrs. Luke Carson and 7. j..
O'Connor, who occupied one OF Mr..
Carson's finest carriages, drawn by mag
nifcent pair of grays, who led the process
siop, beguiled by the beautiful strains or
the Mechanics Brass Band, followed by the
Land League, numbering about one hun
dred and fifty members, under the direction
of their Grand Marshal. Sergeant j. B. Kill
lourhy, and bearing aloft their new and
splendid banner, which was held by their
efficient Sergeant-at Arms, Mr.. Martin
Houihan.
The ag is of original design, by Mr..
Joseph P. White, and executed by the &C.
complished artist, Mr.. Timothy O'Neil, and
is the gift of these two gentlemen. Inc
fl ag is of large size, the ground OF simmer
ing green, the union, or Jack, or royal pur-
pie, surmounted by the sunburst, which re-
presents the ancient flag of the Milesians.
Beneath is a baton, wrapped with ribbon Of
orange aud green. The golden harp, repre-
senting Ireland under Christian civilization,
occupies the centre, the base of which is en-
circled by a wreath of orange lilies and
green shamrocks. The flag is exceedingly
unique and beautiful.
The badge worn by the members Is the
design of Mr.. Michael j. McDermott; is
composed of silken ribbon of orange
and green, and rosette OF the same
color, with golden fringe. The appearance
of the boat on the water with the Ameri-
can and Land League flags hutteriDg IN
the breeze, and the gay processionists, FUR
nished picture fit for poets pen or artists
pencil. The beauty and chiValry OF SaVan-
nah was fully represented. On the way
down the youths and maidens INDUCED IN
terpsichorean exercises, tripping 1t nimbly
on the light fantastic toe. Arriving at Ty-
bee, the excursionists repaired to the OceaH
House, kept by Mr.. Ybanes, who did all
In his power to make their stay pleasant
and comfortable.
At the entrance of the hotel we noticed
the motto In orange and green, "Welcome,
Parnell" At the entrance OF the dancing
pavilion appeared the motto, 1--WE are Irish
everywhere" In the rear was the motto,
"Leinster, Ulster, Connaught, Munster
united we stand, divided we fall" A
gayer scene than the pavilion presented
could not be we'll imagined, dancing being
given preference to all other amusements.
Upon a given signal the excursionists,
who numbered about a thousand, were as
sembled in the grand hall, Captain Doyle
mounted the platform and announced that
formal presentation of the new flag would
take place, upon which Mr.. Thomas d.
Downing came forward and presented the
flag to Capt. NJ. j. Doyle, President of the
League, in the following terms:
Two members of the League. Messrs.
j. P. White and Timothy O'Neil, have
honored me with the pleasing duty of pre-
senting this flag to you. as President OF the
Savannah Branch No. l of the Irish National
Land Lesgue, and as a representative of
that agitation now being pursued to advance
the interests of the Irish people at home and
abroad an agitation not confined to the
boundaries of the British Empire, limitless
as the boundaries of that kingdom are,
but carried on practically, and
with success, wherever au exile from Erin
has found a second home. An agitation
which every patriotic Irishman desires 10
be continued even If to obtain its object
every hilltop In Ireland was turned into
Mount Calvary and her peaceful and fertile
valleys into Roman Amphitheatres, where
British tyranny and oppression would have
to succumb to advancing civilIzatio and
the peoples rights. Accept then, sir, this
flag, and may it be an omen of victory to
Mr. Parnell aud his adherents, as it has been
in centuries past to our fOrefathers on many
hotly contested battlefield, fought for in
dependence.
Captain Doyle returned thanks In elo-
ouentte terms, and stated that Mr.. p. j. O'Con-
nor, a young man of eminent ability, would
supplement anv words he had left unsaid.
There were loud calls for Mr.. Parnell, who,
however, did not appear. Mr.. O'Connor
took the stand and delivered neat and elo-
quent speech, of which the following is
synopsis:
Mr.. President, Members Of the Irish National
Land League, Ladies and Gentlemen:
scarcely expected to be called upon on
this occasion to make an address. but l
would consider myself ungrateful IL | did
not respond after having been so fiattering
| ly called upon. 1t affords me not only an
| inexpressiole pleasure to accept this
beautiful flag in behalf of the Irish Nation
4 I \ 7 # IL kV,k IL -
| note the presence of Mr.. John II. Parnell,
brother of the illustrious leader of the Irish
people, Charles Stewart Parnell. The fame
aud lustre which distinguished bis ancestry
| for their hearty, honest hate of
British oppression, and their practical Irish
patriotism, are happily blended In his char
acter and that of his distinguished brother.
The speaker then referred at length
| to the present agitation in Ireland, and
spoke most eloquently Of the results.
| He urged unity, and predicted that
the day would yet come when every
! Irishman would become Leonidas, every
| battle field q Marathon, and every mountain
pass a Thermopyl@. He concluded by say
| ing that he hoped that that God, whom the
people OF Ireland so faithfully served, de-
spite the rack and the gibbet, would bless
their undertaking, and predicted that the
Ireland of history would yet appear In its
| spleDdor and renown, and he could then
truly say:
| Thy sun is but rising when others have set,
| The full moon of freedom shall beam around
thee yet"
Mr. President, accept, then, this magnifi
| cent flag, aud may we live to see that day
when the orange and green will be united
and similar flag be unfurled from an Irish
| Parliament.
Mr.. O'Connor's speech was received with
rounds of applause, after which dancing
was resumed and continued until the de-
| parture of the boat at O'Clock p m.
1t is eminently just to say that the thanks
OF the excursionists are due to Mr.. John
Rourke, Chairman of the Boat Committee,
Mr.. VIM. II. Ray, Chairman of Excursion
Committee, Mr.. Joseph F. Doyle, floor
manager, and the members of the various
committees, for the efficiency with which
they discharged their duties; also to the
officers of the boat.
Nothing occurred to mar the pleasure Of
the day, the excursion being one of the
most enjoyable and successful that has ever
left our wharves.
Bed Bugs. Reaches.
| Rats mice ants flies vermin mosoIi-