Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-02-18
Mr.. ParneIl's Letter to the Land


Editor Morning Netcs: In Mr.. Par
nelrs letter to the Land League, as given
in your issue of to day, February nth.
Mr.. Parnell writes: IF we are worthy
of the occasion here the American PEG.
pie and the Irish nation IN america will
give Us a proportlonate sympathy and
practical help, while the slightest finch
ing or reaction in Ireland aoiU produce
disastrous results in America" CIhe
italics are ours.)
After reading this sentence, We rubbed
our eyes, doubling if we had read it
alright, and asked ourself, "Where is
the Irish nation in American" what
practical help can the American people
give to Ireland in a war with England,
under existing treaties with Great Britain,
without involving the United States in a
war with England7" "And what dssds-
trous results can be produced in America
by the reaction of Mr.. Parnen and his
friends?"
The Irish people have in their suffer
ing the warmest sympathies OF the peo-
pie of this country. who have IN the
past, as in the present, demonstrated
them by their generous contributions OF
money and materials. But with the
domestic politics of Ireland the Ameri-
can people can have nothing to do with
out violating their own fundamental
principle of non-intervention. Besides,
if we could interfere, there is no evil
dence that the Irish nation" in Ireland
is unanimous in its support of the po-
litical careering of Mr.. Parnell and his
followers. And conservative lrishmen
who hdve become citizens Of the United
Suites, and honorably observe the obli-
cations of their naturalization oaths, are
by no means agreed in their views of
Mr.. Parnell's policy for righting the
wrongs of the subjects of British rule
in their old country. 1t is evident
that the clergy in Ireland, while
feeling deeply the injuries endured by
their parishioners under the present land
laws, deprecate the violence which the
Parnell men would uselessly inaugurate
in Understanding. They see that Great
Britain never will, or can, permit Ire
land TO be separate and independent
nation, so long as she can prevent it /;
and they wisely aim to modify the injus-
tice and injuries of present oppressive
laws, which are as detrimental indirect
" to England as directly to
Ireland. The popular mind of
the English race is awakening to
a sense of Ireland's wrongs. and would
compel Parliament to redress them; but
it won't be bullied into anything, and
therefore, when Mr.. Parnell threatens,
they button their coats over their kindly
feelings. And if Mr.. Parnell attempts TO
scare the United States with disastrous
results" that may ensue from the course
of himself and friends, he will find that
he has only attempted the role of a
harmless 'sscarecrow.
Mr. Parnell would be an OConnell;
but unfortunately for his ambition the
mantle of the Great AgitatOr has not
fallen upon him. He lacks the one great
gift, the soul inspiring influence and
Guidance THAT made OCOnnell what he
was) of religion. Daniel O'Connell was
grand in his consistent, intiexlble, I'M
wavering, undismayed, courageous
patriotism, founded upon rock, His
Faith; and the house he began to build
upon it will be completed in good time
and manner, notwithstanding the bung-
ling Of impatient young workmen who
understand neither his plans nor the
foundation on which they were laid.
We are a warm friend of the Irish peo-
pie, and therefore it is that we see the
mistakes of Mr.. Parnell and the misfor-
tunes they must produce to ireland if
followed up.
A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES.