Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-10-29

In obedience to the call issued by the
Irish Land League of Savannah, for mass
meeting to express the feeling of Irishmen
and friends OF Ireland regarding the recent
imprisonment of Charles Stewart Parnell by
the British Government, the Theatre was
packed last evening with an enthusiastic
sssemblsge. The meeting was called to
order by Mr.. NJ. J. Doyle, President of the
League, and, on motion, Hon. John F.
Wheaton was unanimously elected Chair
man, and Mr.. F. E. Rebarer, Secretary.
The first speaker introduced was Rev.
Father O'Brien. This gentleman has made
a careful and conscientious study Of the
Irish land question, and of the wrongs
which the Irish people suffer through the
| unjust laws which prevail in that country.
He spoke at length in defense of
Irish liberty and against the injustice
done to Irishmen. Ireland, he declared,
will agitate until she gets her rights, and he
urged upon the people and friends OF Ire
| land to remain steadfast to their convictions,
and in the end justice would be secured.
| He did not advocate the rule Of passion or
| lawlessness. but he claimed that Irishmen
peTsistently fighting for their rights against,
oppression, were not traitors but would COM
mSnd the sympathy of the world. He con-
cluded by quoting the words OF Patrick
Henry, elf this be treason, make the most
of it." and "Give me liberty or give me
| DEATH" and expressed the earnest hope that
the great principle of freedom for which
down trodden Ireland fought might meet
with the sympathy Of the world.
After he had concluded, amid much ap-
| plause, Captain George A. Mercer was intro
/ duced by the Chairman. That gentleman
i was warmly received by the audience. He
1 haoror, hrrc aviu that ha infapflv
familiar with tie Irish land laws not to
/ feel great hesitaneY in attempt ing to
| address so intelligent an assemblae oDg
/ that subject, still he warmly appre-
ciated the great principle of liberty
against oppression, and he fully
agreed with the sentiment OF Commodore
/ Decatur, "My country, NAV she be ever
| right. But right or wrong, my country"
/ This was the sentiment that prevailed in the
Irish heart, and in the utterance Of such
sentiments Irishmen had q right to claim
| the sympathy of warm and feeling hearts,
| Agitation in Ireland had done good in the
past, and promised good In the future. 10
the Cromwellian days Ireland was depress-
/ ed and downheaTted, but fidelity to the cause
of IRISH freedom had enabled her to rise fresh
and vigorous, and to day her persistent agi-
tatiOn for her rights appealed to the better
feelings of all gallant and intelligent ma
lures. He continued In an eloquent and
| impressive manner to advocate public sym
patby for Ireland, and believed that the
sentiment of the world would evidently Sc
| cure to her her rights. "Let Irishmen,n
said he, "be firm and true, and relief will
| come"
After the conclusion of Captain MERGERS
| remarks (and In this necessarily hasty re-
port we cannot begin to do him iustice) a
motion was made by Mr.. Thomas d. Down
| ing that ga committee Of three be appointed
| 81 nhs 70 roeo1nffonc as
will convey the sense Of this me .ting in
reference to the Irish land bill and the
arrest of Charles Stewart Psrnell." The
| motion was unanimously carried, and in
accordance Herewith the chair appointed
| Messrs. Thomas ID. Downing, L. H de Mont
mollin and Daniel Hogan as such commit
| tee. Thay retired to draw up the proper
resolutions, and pending their action Mr..
P. ]. O'COnnOr addressed the meeting.
He said he felt proud at the popular sym
| pathy exhibited in the cause of Ireland's
freedom, and that the British Government,
| though It might arrest Parnell, could not
| arrest Irish sentiment. The English Gov
ernment arrested Parnell because it was
afraid of him. but, despite that arrest, the
Irish Land League would live, and he
solemnly believed that it would continue its
| mission until Ireland was free. The Land
! League did not favor assassination; it only
demanded justice, and he believed
! that public sentiment would yet make Eng
! lish rule 10 Ireland go down in a storm Of
revolution. All the country was filled with
| grief at the last effort of the British Gov
| eminent to crush out Irish liberty, aad he
| implored the assistance OF America until
| the world should witness the dawn Of Ire
lands resurrection. Applause.
| At the conclusion Of Mr.. orc nnor's re-
marks the Chairman ANNOUNCED that the
| Committee on Resolutions Were ready to
/ Ill -.
| OF the committee, read the following:
WHEREAS, Believing that organized and
| determined action Is necessary to the success
| of land reform IN Ireland, and believing that
such action, within constitutional limits, was
adopted by the Executive of the Irish Ma
iional Land League; be it therefore
ReSOlUed, That the British Ministry in en-
deavoring to suppress freedom OF speech in
Ireland and put an end to the rights Of the
Irish people to hold public meetings-acts
| they have inaugurated by the arrest of
Chrales Stewart Parnell and the Irish Lead
| ers-deseTves our severest condemnation;
whilst to the outspoken defenders OF the
peoples rights we pledge our undated con
| fidence aud deep sympathy, and hereby
promise them our hearty aid and support;
and, be 1t further
| RESOLVED, That no settlement of the land
Que stion will be accepted as final or salts
/ factory which does not secure to the i'm
proven of the soil the fruits of his industry
and the value of his improvements, and
which will not afford every facility for the
| land of Ireland to become the heritage and
| inheritance of the Irish race.
| These resolutions were adopted without
dissenting voice, after which Mr.. MOntmOl-
| lin, in response to calls, addressed the meet
! ing in happy style. He said he was not
| familiar with the Land League movement,
but he did feel great sympathy for Ireland.
/ fri
| dark days of reconstruction, when Pope,
with his headquarters in the saddle, lOrded
| it despoticslly over the people of this State,
| and he felt that similar feelings as then
| governed Georgia now actuated the PEG
| pie of the Emerald Isle. He continued at
/ some length in this strain, and at the COZ
| clusiOn of his remarks was loudly cheered.
Mr. s B. Adams followed next in an elo-
| quent address, in which, after a2Ologizipg
| for the unavoidable absence Of Mr.. a. P.
| Adams, who was out of the city, and Hon.
| II. B. Tompkins who was confined to his
| room through sickness, he spoke at some
! length regarding Mr.. Parnelfs arrest as be
| ing contrary to the rights Of man and OF
law. AS he understood It, Mr..
| Parnell did not advise instruction
or lswlessness, but passive resistance. he
| had committed no overt act, but had been
/ arrested solely because he advocated anne
| Iteration in the land system of Ireland.
| That system, SAID the speaker, needed anne
| Iteration. Any system was bad which pre-
vented the tillers of tie soil from being
| owners of land, and some means should be
/ adopted by which Irish tilers could become
/ landed pFoprietors. he believed reform in
| this direction would come, and Ireland's
sons would yet prove triumphant.
After Mr.. Adams had concluded his re-
marks, Capt. Robt. Falligsnt was called on.
/ He acknowledged the call, and addressed
| the meeting from 8 different standpoint from
| that occupied by previous speakers. He
| expressed the greatest sympathy for Ire
land, but took the ground that If the Irish
| Laud League expected to carry their ends by
| Communism they would fail; that If the
principle "to the original owners justly be-
| long the land' should prevail, all landown-
ers in America would be forced to yield up
| their lands to the Indians. This principle
/ he believed to be wrong, and he was con-
WINGED that the League should not adopt it.
| He advocated conservatism and an appeal
to the courts for redressing wrong.
A voiee-When we do that the British Gov
| eminent only give US buckshOt.
Captain Falligant-l do not believe that.
| England has a record for liberty and will
not meet proper agitation with buckshot.
| The speaker continued to advance his
\ views at some length, taking the ground
i that the Irish should meet law with law, be
| conservative, and act according to the die
/ tates of justice and religion, and right and
| justice would finally triumph. He closed
| by paying high tribute to lrelaRd's glory